Review by Cecilia Cackley
Description of the Book
Ugly Cat is desperate for a paleta, or ice pop, and his friend Pablo is determined to help him get one by scaring a little girl who is enjoying a coconut paleta in the park. However, things go awry when, instead of being frightened, the little girl picks up Pablo and declares that he would make a great snack for her pet snake. To make matters worse, Ugly Cat may have accidentally swallowed Pablo in all the chaos!
Ugly Cat and his impeccably dressed mouse friend, Pablo, form an unlikely and dynamic duo. Young readers will be won over by their ridiculously silly antics and their quest for delicious treats.
My Two Cents
As Pablo likes to exclaim, “Oh my galleta!” This book is charming, silly, and absolutely delightful! From the first page, I was captivated by Ugly Cat and Pablo. They make a fantastic odd couple, with one obsessed with food and the other always seeking adventure. Quintero’s dialogue is snappy, and though some of the vocabulary may be slightly advanced for elementary readers, it makes for a great read-aloud and an opportunity to introduce new words in both English and Spanish. I appreciate that the Spanish words are not italicized, and all the characters effortlessly switch between both languages, ensuring that no one is singled out as the “Other.”
Quintero subtly incorporates important lessons about kindness to friends, listening, and using words to communicate when misunderstandings arise. This book fits perfectly into the genre of buddy animal comedy, with plenty of kid appeal. The urban park setting is well-chosen, and readers will find themselves as hungry as Ugly Cat by the time they finish reading the descriptions of all the mouthwatering street food. Even better, this is a series, so students who fall in love with Ugly Cat and Pablo will soon have more adventures to giggle over.
Kudos to Scholastic for outstanding book design and back matter! Ugly Cat and Pablo each have their distinct font for dialogue, giving the pages a comic book feel when there are no speech bubbles as part of the illustrations. Almost every page is adorned with pictures, which greatly supports visual learners. The glossary at the back provides translations for the Spanish words, and there’s even a recipe for Ugly Cat’s favorite treat, paletas.
Teaching Tips
The strong characters and specific setting make this book an excellent choice for elementary school book groups. Students can discuss the motivations of each character, their misunderstandings, and predict what will happen at the cliff-hanger chapter endings. Another engaging project would be to compare the friendships in this book to other animal books with friends, such as classics Frog and Toad or George and Martha, or more contemporary stories like The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems. Students could also compare the parks and streets of Paris in Diva and Flea to those in Ugly Cat and Pablo.
About the Author
Isabel Quintero is a writer and the daughter of Mexican immigrants. She was born, raised, and currently resides in the Inland Empire of Southern California. She holds a BA in English and an MA in English Composition from California State University, San Bernardino. Quintero’s first novel, Gabi, A Girl in Pieces, published by Cinco Puntos Press, has received numerous awards, including the 2015 William C. Morris Award for Debut YA Novel and the California Book Award Gold Medal for Young Adult. The book was also featured on School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2014 and was named one of Kirkus’ Best Teen Books of 2014. Her series of chapter books for Scholastic, Inc., Ugly Cat and Pablo, was released in Spring 2017. Additionally, her first graphic novel, a biography about photographer Graciela Iturbide, was published by Getty Publications in March 2018. Quintero is not only a fiction writer but also a poet, with her work appearing in various publications such as The Great American Literary Magazine, Huizache, As/Us Journal, The Acentos Review, and The Pacific Review. To learn more about her, you can follow her on Twitter @isabelinpieces or visit her website at laisabelquintero.com.
About the Reviewer
Cecilia Cackley is a performing artist and children’s bookseller based in Washington, D.C., where she creates puppet theater for adults and teaches playwriting and creative drama to children. Her bilingual children’s plays have been produced by GALA Hispanic Theatre, and her interests in bilingual education, literacy, and immigrant advocacy often find their way into her theatrical work. You can find more of her work at www.witsendpuppets.com.
