ALA Booklist (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

In this I Can Read book, Rafi and Rosi are frog siblings who live in Puerto Rico, where it's Carnival time. In the first of the four short chapters, Rafi tells his sister that she can be Carnival Queen, which is hotly disputed by her neighbor, Doa Carmen, who is one of the judges. Rafi tempers Rosi's disappointment by making her a float from a wagon. Eventually, the two get to the parade, but Rafi's mask scares Rosi, who runs off, thus scaring her brother. There are several problems here, including Rafi's propensity for upsetting Rosi. The addendum of projects (including a periscope with mirrors) doesn't mention safety or the need for adult help except for a note about attaching an elastic band to the back of a mask. The draws here are a text peppered with Spanish (there's a glossary up front), the Puerto Rican setting, and a chance to learn about a new celebration. The watercolor artwork is nice but too often illustrates the least dramatic of the events. For libraries that serve a Puerto Rican community or where there's demand for easy readers or books with Spanish words.

Horn Book (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Tree frog siblings Rafi and Rosi return in their second book for independent readers. In three short easy-to-read chapters, Rafi and his little sister enjoy the excitement of Puerto Rico's Carnival. Delacre's lively pictures capture festive details, and the text introduces a few Spanish words. The back matter provides some factual information and three activities. Glos.

Kirkus Reviews (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

It's carnival time in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and two tree frog siblings celebrate in their second outing. In each of three chapters, big brother Rafi indulges an interest while pulling a fast one over on Rosi. In the first, Rafi gains more time to create his carnival mask by encouraging Rosi to make a costume—since she's sure to win the contest for carnival queen. Inspired, Rosi gets to it, and before Rafi realizes, she's arrayed and off to the judge, only to find out that she's underage. She's crushed and Rafi, remorseful, decorates his old wagon as a carnival float. Now Rosi can be "queen for a day" in her very own parade. Delacre affectionately depicts the brief conflicts and abiding love between this busy duo, adding appealing watercolor illustrations. While Rafi is older and savvier, the verve with which Rosi approaches the panoply of childish emotions will jibe with kids fresh from such mastery themselves. Most Spanish words are seamlessly integrated, but the glossary's specific cultural information will require an adult's intercession, as will the appended activities. An appealing sequel. (Easy reader. 6-9)

School Library Journal (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

K-Gr 3-This easy reader opens with a glossary of Spanish words. Each of the three stories centers on the relationship between two Puerto Rican tree frogs as they celebrate Carnival. In the first, Rafi casually assures Rosi that she could be chosen Queen of Carnival, and she is crushed when she is told that she's too young. Rafi then decorates his wagon and pulls her up and down their street in her very own parade. The other two stories concern the Carnival parade and the periscope Rafi uses to watch it, and Rosi's fear of the terrible vejigante masks. These frog siblings are mischievous, but it is clear that they love and appreciate one another. Their emotions and experiences are universal to childhood. The charming cartoon illustrations are integral to the amusing text. A concluding "Did You Know-" section has information as well as instructions for several crafts relating to the stories.-Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.