MANOLITO FOUR-EYES

Reminiscent of the hero of René Goscinny’s Nicholas (2005), Manolito is a small, unpopular ten-year-old who unwittingly wreaks havoc in his Madrid neighborhood. In episodic chapters, the “chatterbox who’s misunderstood” describes his breezy adventures defending himself from the school bully, arguing with his best friend, Big Ears, over the strong-willed One-and-Only Susana, warding off a mugger and bringing world peace—or at least a stunned moment of silence—to the town’s costume contest. But no matter how bad things get, the boy’s roommate, “unconditional ally” and “whole lotta cool” Grandpa Nicolàs is ready to take the blame and offer wise sayings that help Manolito make sense of his slightly twisted yet always entertaining world. Although adults will understand the boy’s musings and his grandfather’s prostate problems more readily than children, this stands as an enjoyable tween read-aloud. Urberuaga’s energetic, cartoon-like illustrations add to the hilarity of this import, a classic in its native Spain. (Fiction. 9-12)