Although she thinks she's big enough, Lupita is told she is too small to help her mother in her Mexican restaurant. But when she spies a man stealing a special pi±ata from the restaurant, Lupita runs and tackles the thief, proving she is big enough for some things. The illustrations are warm and colorful, but the Spanish text in this bilingual book reads like a poor word-by-word translation.

PreS-Gr 2--Lupita is sure that she is big enough to help at her mother's Mexican restaurant, but her mother doesn't agree. "Too, too little," and "Muy, muy chica," she says. Of course, the girl proves that she is indeed "bastante grande" and "big enough" when she catches a thief and spoils his attempt to steal the family's prized pinata. The plot of this Spanish/English bilingual picture book is somewhat contrived, but it is still enjoyable. Although Sanchez is one of the most distinguished Hispanic picture book illustrators in the United States, these illustrations fall short of his usual outstanding work. Many of the full-paged drawings lack his typical luminescence and tenderness, and some of the characters' faces are stiff and unrealistic. An additional purchase.--Denise E. Agosto, formerly at Midland County Public Library, TX