Pedro, First-Grade Hero

June 1, 2016

Gr 1-3-This delightful collection of stories follows Pedro, a first grader, as he collects bugs, plays soccer, hunts for missing items, and even runs for president. Children will have fun accompanying him on all his adventures with his classmates. The text is just right for those ready for a longer chapter book but not quite prepared to give up the visual delights of beginning readers and picture books. Before each chapter, a page of simple sketches gives readers visual clues as to what to expect from the upcoming stories. The illustrations, on almost every page, add a wonderful pop of color with a nice hint of mixed media. The book concludes with four pages of jokes just right for children to share with friends. VERDICT Fans of Katie Woo are sure to love this collection of short stories about her friend and classmate Pedro.-Andrea Pavlik, Huntington Public Library, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 15, 2016
The creators of the Katie Woo series turn their focus to a peripheral character, first-grader Pedro--Katie's friend and schoolmate. Four short chapters--"Pedro Goes Buggy," "Pedro's Big Goal," "Pedro's Mystery Club," and "Pedro For President"--highlight a Latino main character surrounded by a superbly diverse cast. At times unsure of himself, Pedro is extremely likable, for he wants to do his best and is a fair friend. He consistently comes out on top, even when his younger brother releases all the bugs he's captured for a class assignment or when self-assured bully Roddy tries to unite opposition to Pedro's female opponent (Katie Woo) in the race for first-grade class president. Using a third-person, past-tense narrative voice, Manushkin expands her repertoire by adding a hero comparable to EllRay Jakes. What is refreshing about the book is that for the most part, aside from Roddy's gender-based bullying, the book overcomes boy-girl stereotypes: girls and boys play soccer, boys and girls run for president, girls and boys hunt for bugs, all setting a progressive standard for chapter books. With mixed-media illustrations featuring colorful bugs, soccer action, a mystery hunt, and a presidential campaign, Lyon's attention to detail in color and facial expressions complements the story nicely. This earnest Latino first-grader who overcomes obstacles and solves mysteries is a winning character. (Fiction. 5-7)

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July 1, 2016
Grades 1-3 First introduced in the popular Katie Woo series, Hispanic American Pedro now has his own spin-off series. The four episodic chapters focus on Pedro's interactions at home and school. In the first chapter, Pedro's little brother sets a jar of bugs loose in Pedro's room. Next, the first-grader diligently practices soccer in order to be chosen as goalie for his team. The third episode finds him starting a mystery club in his tree house. Finally, Pedro runs for class president against eloquent Katie Woo. Large-type text is broken up by color illustrations featuring kids with a variety of skin tones. The text lacks energy but nicely balances narrative and dialogue. The repetition is strong throughout each chapter, and the lack of contractions is helpful. A kindhearted, multicultural early chapter book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)