Looking for Bongo

by Eric Velasquez

•             Age Range: 3 - 6 years
•             Grade Level: Preschool - 1
•             Hardcover: 32 pages
•             Publisher: Holiday House
•             Language: English
•             ISBN-10: 0823435652
•             ISBN-13: 978-0823435654

Oh no! A boy's beloved stuffed toy, Bongo, is missing. No one can help him.

When he asks his abuela where Bongo is, she answers, "Yo no sé. I don't know."

Mom and Dad haven't seen Bongo either.

Gato just says "Meow," and runs away.

When Bongo finally turns up behind Dad's drum, the problem of Bongo's whereabouts is resolved . . . but it doesn't answer how Bongo got there! The boy decides to set a trap to catch the Bongo thief.

Rich illustrations help tell the story of a mystery cleverly solved in this story about a young boy and his loving Afro-Latino family.

Reviews

"This work's celebration of the diversity within Latino culture will warm hearts. . . . A sweet tale recommended for diverse toddler storytimes."—School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Home life is multi-generational and loving."—Booklist

"Velasquez's portrayal of a family that is both black and Latino (a rarity in children's books) is refreshing."—Kirkus Reviews

Eric Velasquez was born in Spanish Harlem to Afro-Puerto Rican parents and grew up in Harlem. The many awards he has won include a Pura Belpré and the Coretta-Scott King/John Steptoe Award. He illustrated Ol’ Clip-Clop by Patricia C. McKissack, which received starred reviews in Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly. He lives in New York with his family.