Águila, María Dolores. Menudo Sunday: A Spanglish Counting Book. Erika Meza, Illus. Dial, 08/2025. [40]pp.Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-46225-6. GRADES Preschool–2. OUTSTANDING.
An extended large family gathers to prepare and eat a traditional menudo dinner in this delightful counting book. The text begins “1 Uno / One cozy casita” and continues until an accident happens at number fifteen. Then, they begin again from one to fifteen to re-cook and finally enjoy their dinner. The repetition of counting in English and Spanish, depicting both the numeral and the word make this a great choice for those practicing counting. The humorous, action-packed story broadens the book’s appeal with a strong plot and warm, accurate depictions of a contemporary, bilingual, multigenerational, Latinx family. The charcoal and pencil drawings are digitally colored in earth-toned pastels, using a style similar to animated cartoon artwork. The book ends with a glossary of the Spanish words used in the story, author’s note about her San Diego childhood, and tips on hosting a menudo Sunday dinner.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool