Party animal Chato, the coolest cat in el barrio, is having a great time at the neighborhood birthday party that the mice next door are throwing for Chorizo the dog. They play shake-paws, jiggle-the-mice, and toss-the-cat-in-the-blanket. Chato's best homecat, Novio Boy, doesn't seem to be having fun. Are those tears in his eyes? He opens up to Chato, telling him, "I'm from the pound . . . I didn't know when I was born. I never knew my mami. I never even had a birthday party, or nothing."

"Pobrecito," Chato says sympathetically when he gets home, thinking about his poor friend, and decides to throw together a big surprise bash, a pachanga, for his carnal. He orders a large cake with mouse-colored frosting from the bakery, makes a piñata, and cooks up his specialty, tortillas with his pawprints pressed in. He drags the sofa outside for everyone to jump on, and hides dog bones in the flowerbed. All the neighbors show up, ready to party. There's only one little thing Chato has forgotten to do: invite the guest of honor. "Qué tonto!" (How dumb!) he says, but when the guests can't find Novio Boy in his usual hangouts, they conclude he must be dead.

Spanish words and expressions are integrated into this hip, zesty sequel to Chato's Kitchen, and there's a glossary of all of them at the front, though it would've been nice if they'd added a pronunciation guide. The vibrant illustrations of acrylic and scratchboard dance with color and the rich flavor of the animal-infused Mexican American neighborhood. You'll love hanging out with marmalade and white-furred Chato, sartorially spiffy with his pencil thin black moustache and little goatee, his green baseball cap turned sideways, and his velvet black sports jacket with purple paisley shirt.

You could make a piñata, open up some salsa and chips, and hold your own animal birthday party. Play the games Chato likes best, including one that will be especially fun to act out: Going to the Vet, where you have to scream your head off. Children can draw and describe the presents they'd give Novio Boy for his birthday. A theme of the book, about the folly of jumping to conclusions, will be interesting to discuss with your kids. Why do the partygoers assume Novio Boy is hurt or kidnapped, or even dead? (Not to worry; he's just fine.) Celebrate another set of birthdays with Mice and Beans by Pam Muñoz Ryan.


THEMES: BIRTHDAYS. CALIFORNIA. CATS. CREATIVE DRAMA. HISPANIC AMERICANS. LOS ANGELES (CALIFORNIA). MEXICAN AMERICANS. MULTICULTURAL BOOKS. PARTIES. SPANISH LANGUAGE.