Lowriders to the Center of the Earth

Written by Cathy Camper

Illustrated by Raul the Third

• Age Range: 9 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Series: Lowriders in Space
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1452138362

2017 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Winner

The lovable trio from the acclaimed Lowriders in Space are back! Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria, and El Chavo Octopus are living their dream at last. They're the proud owners of their very own garage. But when their beloved cat Genie goes missing, they need to do everything they can to find him. Little do they know the trail will lead them to the realm of Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of the Underworld, who is keeping Genie prisoner! With cool Spanish phrases on every page, a glossary of terms, and an action-packed plot that sneaks in science as well as Aztec lore, Lowriders to the Center of the Earth is a linguistic and visual delight. ¡Que suave!

Review

"The wild antics, exuberant illustrations, and frequent Spanish will launch the Lowriders straight into many hearts."-Booklist

"The storytelling is inventive, juggling cultural references, surreal circumstances, and educational impulses."-School Library Journal

"Solidly uplifting graphic novel that offer plenty of comedy, adventure, information, and magnificent art."-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Lowriders in Space (Book 1)

Lupe Impala, El Chavo Flapjack, and Elirio Malaria love working with cars. You name it, they can fix it. But the team's favorite cars of all are lowriders—cars that hip and hop, dip and drop, go low and slow, bajito y suavecito. The stars align when a contest for the best car around offers a prize of a trunkful of cash—just what the team needs to open their own shop! ¡Ay chihuahua! What will it take to transform a junker into the best car in the universe? Striking, unparalleled art from debut illustrator Raul the Third recalls ballpoint-pen-and-Sharpie desk-drawn doodles, while the story is sketched with Spanish, inked with science facts, and colored with true friendship. With a glossary at the back to provide definitions for Spanish and science terms, this delightful book will educate and entertain in equal measure.