Picture Books

Márquez, Melissa Cristina. El lobo de Leo. ISBN 9798217048861. SP
––––. Leo’s Lobo. ISBN 9798217048854.
ea vol: illus. by Maria Gabriela Gama. 48p. Penguin Workshop. Feb. 2026. Tr. $19.99.
K-GR 3 A first pet story with a cultural and magical twist. Disappointed that he didn’t have a connection with one of the animals at the pet adoption agency, Leo roams a busy marketplace where he comes across a refuge for magical creatures. There, he is entranced by alebrijes—chimeralike and brightly colored creatures popular in Mexican culture. Leo bonds with a neon-colored wolf/dog with wings. The alebrije chooses Leo as his owner. Montages and spreads filled with the typical trials of first-time pet ownership follow, except with a fanciful layer. Lobo (wolf in Spanish) loves to play catch, except it flies to catch the ball and drops it on Leo’s head. The pet’s waste is extra smelly and rainbow-colored. These images, done in vibrant digital art, will elicit giggles from young readers. Leo learns to lean on his family to resolve these issues, and this teamwork message will resonate with kids. The charming text shines in English and Spanish, and paired with the illustrations, make for a fun selection for storytime. Leo and his mom have brown skin while his dad and brother have lighter skin. An author’s note about the ­history of alebrijes concludes the work. VERDICT A joyful choice for picture book collections, especially for libraries in need of a culturally Latine specific take on first-time pet ownership.