The Unlikely Aventuras of Ramón and El Cucuy
by Donna Barba Higuera; illus. by Juliana Perdomo
Primary, Intermediate    Amulet/Abrams    160 pp.
8/25    9781419777424    $14.99
e-book ed.  9798887074405    $13.49

Higuera’s amusing new chapter book series is narrated by the puckish cucuy (boogeyman) from her picture books (El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!, rev. 7/21, and sequel). Cucuy must terrify one child into behaving, and he is assigned to Ramón in Seattle (also familiar to readers of the picture books). However, Ramón is unperturbed by the cucuy’s appearance. Instead, he is terrified of starting a new school the following day. After the creature wreaks havoc at home, Ramón must take him to school in hopes of avoiding more domestic disasters. Ramón’s fears are eased when he makes a new friend. Cucuy realizes he is no longer needed and can return home—but before he does, Ramón gives him his name, El Cucuy, and promises to misbehave to conjure him again. Perdomo’s cheerful black, gray, and purple illustrations bring all the antics to life and help break up the text for independent readers. El Cucuy’s limited understanding of the human world (“I lifted a white garment with holes and read the writing on the label: Fruit of the Loom. It had one opening for my head and two holes for my ears. A hat! I gasped in delight”) provides plenty of humor, while the story’s messages about the value of chosen families and the universal need for belonging come through loud and clear.

From the September/October 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.