School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-Ray and Amelia have a typical sibling relationship-he is a slightly annoying older brother who enjoys scaring his sister. They have moved to New Mexico, where they now live with their extended family. Their father tells them the story of los abuelos-sooty, hairy mountain men who come down each winter to make sure that the children are well behaved. While the story frightens Amelia, her family reminds her that the reenactment of the abuelos' arrival includes a big party. At the end of the book, Amelia ends up rescuing her brother from one particularly scary abuelo who seems very familiar to both of them. Mora, as always, is a master storyteller. In her hands the framing story of Amelia's family and the retelling of the folktale blend seamlessly. This book is not bilingual, but there are many Spanish phrases throughout the family's conversations. Carling's pastel and colored-pencil illustrations are uneven; while the landscapes are beautiful and evoke the crispness of a snowy winter night, the people seem awkwardly posed and slightly unrealistic. However, this story will be welcomed in libraries across the Southwest. Abuelos will be fun to add to traditional winter stories.-Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Mora (The Night the Moon Fell/ La noche que se cayo la luna) introduces the intriguing midwinter New Mexican festival of "los abuelos" in this playful tale. The narrator, Amelia, is about to experience the spooky-sounding tradition for the first time, and Papu offers reassurances. "The sooty, hairy abuelos [in this case, old mountain men] come down to make sure all the children are behaving.... You know how Halloween is scary and fun? So is the coming of the abuelos." Played by costumed villagers in scary masks, the abuelos chase the children around bonfires; when one snatches her brother, Amelia grabs the abuelo's mask, only to discover her uncle beneath it. Carling's (Mama and Papa Have a Store/ La tienda de Mamu y Papu) watercolor and pastel illustrations impart Amelia's apprehension as well as family togetherness. The shadowy mountains surrounding her town are drawn to look like howling ghosts in early blue-hued spreads, while a warm yellow dominates scenes of the concluding fiesta. Ages 4-7. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
With scary shivery fun, this lively picture book tells the story of a small girl whose family moves to a New Mexican village, where she meets the traditional los abuelos, old mountain monster men who come down from their dark, smoky caves in winter to make sure that children are behaving. The colorful pictures in watercolor, pastel, and colored pencil show the girl safe in her loving family, teased by her older brother, ( Oooooo . . . Da-a-a-ark . . . They're com-m-m-ing ), and then racing around a community bonfire, while village men disguised as the hairy, sooty abuelos come stomping down through the snowy night. Amid all the chaos, the girl recognizes her uncle behind a mask and joins in the uproarious laughter. Mora's final note fills in cultural details and makes connections with cautionary tales around the world. Translated from the Spanish and framed by warm family images, this story is a great choice for Halloween sharing.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2008 Booklist
