Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Down in Skeletown, a pair of tricksters get into mischief and hijinks in this monochromatic-flavored romp.Time to prepare for a birthday! A round-headed little skeleton, similar to those seen in Dia de los Muertos imagery, lies on the floor with a card splayed open. The word Sí hovers above this scene. A page turn reveals that the young scamp is actually blocking the lane near the card rack. A frowning adult hovers nearby, with the word No atop the page. It's a story of comical opposites, with text made up of only two words, as two young Skeletown hellions bring harmless, fun trouble to a birthday party. A big present for the birthday recipient certainly seems sweet ("Sí"), but then a jack-in-the-box pops out to cause a fright. "No" indeed. Take a small bite out of a slice of birthday cake (an easy "Sí" for most), but perhaps don't gulp down the rest of the cake (a "No" if there ever was one). And bash the piñata, but watch out for a nearby beehive! It all culminates in a daredevil bicycle trick as one of the rascals pedals up a ramp to fly over the heads of the other partygoers. "¡No!" With bold, simple, thick-lined, black-and-white images set against a scratchy red background, Montijo's Skeletown series opener oozes hilarity in an eye-popping package. The sublime, repeated juxtaposition of Sí and No offers wacky, surprising moments of levity, and it all comes together for a charming ending. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A spectacular day in Skeletown. (Picture book. 2-6)

ALA Booklist (Mon Nov 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

With a vividly illustrated Skeletown world dressed in red, black, and white, this picture book playfully invites readers to consider what constitutes right and wrong with only the words sí and no. Readers enter a comical world populated by Día de los Muertos inspired calaveras in a town that resembles the pueblos in Mexico, where a pair of young skeletons get up to all sorts of adventures. Reading on the floor? "Sí." Reading on the floor of a market, blocking all foot traffic? "No." Hitting a piñata? "Sí." Hitting a beehive next to a piñata? "¡No!" Each page has a similar rhythm, with the lively, detailed illustrations doing the bulk of the storytelling. Prereaders will have fun interpreting the reason behind each sí and no, and the final pages turn the plot toward the importance of collaboration and friendship d, of course, a little mischief, too. For more fun, skeleton-themed Spanish learning experiences, this pairs perfectly with Skeletitos: Make Every Moment Count (the book or the musical mobile app), by Susie Jaramillo.

Horn Book (Thu Sep 07 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Two skele-kids have fun picking out a present and playing at a party ("Si") and wreak havoc trampling flowers and staging a daredevil jump over friends ("!No!"). One skeleton's dismayed "Si" at having to throw out their now-broken bike is rebutted with a determined "No": they won't give up on repairing it. Now with a newly modified tandem bike, the skele-friends daredevil jump into the Skeletown sunset together. The text demonstrates a range of meanings for si and no (the only two words in the book) with black, white, and blood-orange images that are jam-packed with friendly skeleton details. Monica de los Reyes

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Down in Skeletown, a pair of tricksters get into mischief and hijinks in this monochromatic-flavored romp.Time to prepare for a birthday! A round-headed little skeleton, similar to those seen in Dia de los Muertos imagery, lies on the floor with a card splayed open. The word Sí hovers above this scene. A page turn reveals that the young scamp is actually blocking the lane near the card rack. A frowning adult hovers nearby, with the word No atop the page. It's a story of comical opposites, with text made up of only two words, as two young Skeletown hellions bring harmless, fun trouble to a birthday party. A big present for the birthday recipient certainly seems sweet ("Sí"), but then a jack-in-the-box pops out to cause a fright. "No" indeed. Take a small bite out of a slice of birthday cake (an easy "Sí" for most), but perhaps don't gulp down the rest of the cake (a "No" if there ever was one). And bash the piñata, but watch out for a nearby beehive! It all culminates in a daredevil bicycle trick as one of the rascals pedals up a ramp to fly over the heads of the other partygoers. "¡No!" With bold, simple, thick-lined, black-and-white images set against a scratchy red background, Montijo's Skeletown series opener oozes hilarity in an eye-popping package. The sublime, repeated juxtaposition of Sí and No offers wacky, surprising moments of levity, and it all comes together for a charming ending. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A spectacular day in Skeletown. (Picture book. 2-6)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Set in a Día de Muertos–inspired world and using only two words—Sí and No—this playful book from Montijo uses the concept of opposites to explore social dynamics. Thick-lined black, white, and electric orange illustrations with screenprinting textures show two mischievous little skeletons moving throughout their day in Skeletown, picking out a gift, attending a birthday party, and riding a bike. But each activity reveals two takes: an initial image of one skeleton on the floor with a greeting card (“Sí”) is followed by a page turn that reveals the same scene as taking place in a shop, with cards spread all around (“No”). Eating a slice of vs. an entire cake, hitting a piñata vs. a beehive, and riding a bike vs. taking on a dangerous stunt are only a few of the many raucous events the busy skeletons get into, alone and with others. Good-natured, bustling cartooning reveals lots to laugh about in a friendly concept book that’s overwhelmingly a “Sí.” Ages 4–8. (Aug.)