Sumo Libre
by Joe Cepeda; illus. by the author
Primary    Little, Brown    40 pp.
6/24    9780316453721    $18.99

Neighbors Max and Kenji love wrestling. But Max thinks lucha libre is the “greatest,” while Kenji thinks sumo is the “best.” When they show each other their favorite moves—and try to prove which is truly the winning style—the match devolves into a real tussle. Though the two try to practice on their own (with some unsuspecting pet opponents), they quickly realize, “It’s not as much fun being a wrestling fan…by yourself.” So they hatch a plan to reunite and stage “the very first-ever SUMO LIBRE match” for the neighborhood, complete with tempura tacos. The text is subtly funny and presents a fresh cultural mashup. Cepeda’s (The Best Worst Camp Out Ever, rev. 3/24) brightly colored, hand-painted illustrations in his recognizable loose style are detailed and engaging; the annotated moves on the endpapers may inspire future sumo libre wrestlers (warn your pets!).

From the May/June 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.