{"id":8224691126509,"title":"La Mala Suerte Is Following Me","handle":"la-mala-suerte-is-following-me","description":"\u003ch1\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ana-siqueira\"\u003eAna Siqueira\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/carlos-velez-aguilera\"\u003eCarlos Vélez Aguilera\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIn this fun picture book romp about superstitions, can Miguel learn to make his own luck—and be rid of La Mala Suerte—before it’s too late?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMiguel’s abuelita warned him that opening an umbrella in the house will bring La Mala Suerte (Mrs. Bad Luck) who will follow him wherever he goes, and now Miguel’s life is ruined! He trips, fails an exam, and he can’t block a shot to save his life at soccer practice. Nothing he tries works to get rid of Mrs. Bad Luck—looking for a four-leaf clover, his aunt’s \"existential\" oils… Now what? \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSimultaneously published in Spanish and in English with Spanish insertions, this silly and heartfelt look at superstitions will leave kids excited to get out there and make their own luck.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/abuelita-and-i-make-flan\"\u003eAbuelita and I Make Flan\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/fiona-s-luck\"\u003eFiona's Luck\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-animals-would-not-sleep\"\u003eThe Animals Would Not Sleep\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eWatch the Trailer\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-An4peJRrjQ?si=iZsO1UTlf_QJZRwm\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER SPREAD BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-spread.jpg?v=1694721598\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-cover.jpg?v=1694721600\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-cover-hires.jpeg.zip?v=1694721606\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAna Siqueira, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAna Siqueira is a Spanish-language elementary teacher and an award-winning Brazilian children’s author. Her books include \u003cem\u003eBella’s Recipe for Success \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e If Your Babysitter Is a Bruja.\u003c\/em\u003e Besides writing, Ana loves to read, teach, and play with her Cuban-Brazilian-American grandchildren.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ana-siqueira\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Ana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCarlos Vélez Aguilera, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarlos Vélez Aguilera is an award-winning illustrator from Mexico City, Mexico, who has a degree from the National University Autonomous of Mexico. He has illustrated more than twenty children's books, and he’s the author\/illustrator of \u003cem\u003eSalón Destino.\u003c\/em\u003e Carlos has been recognized with two illustration awards from the International Children's and Youth Book Fair in Mexico.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/carlos-velez-aguilera\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Carlos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMisfortune follows when La Mala Suerte comes into Miguel’s life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce the “luckiest boy in town,” Miguel invites La Mala Suerte by opening his umbrella inside the house. Abuelita cautions Miguel that Mrs. Bad Luck—cheekily depicted here as a grinning shadow—is “invisible and follows you wherever you go.” The young soccer player brushes off her warning but subsequently slips and falls as he attempts to outrun his bad luck. Uh-oh. And at school, La Mala Suerte trips him up during a math exam and fútbol practice. ¡Ay, no! Miguel tries everything to get rid of his bad luck before his upcoming soccer tournament, including sweeping away the bad luck, seeking a four-leaf clover, and using his tía’s “existential” oils. Nothing works until Mami encourages him to make his own luck. Can it really be that easy? Written in first person from Miguel’s perspective, Siqueira’s humorous take on superstitions balances zaniness and sincerity with ease, complemented by Aguilera’s vibrant, expressive artwork. The text incorporates Spanish words throughout. An appendix on common superstitions and their origins in different countries provides intriguing background information, with a brief activity and research prompt. Miguel and his family are brown-skinned and Latine, while secondary characters are racially diverse. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGood, clean superstitious fun. (glossary)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis charming story introduces young readers to the concept of superstitions in a lighthearted and positive way. When Miguel’s abuela mentions that his opening up an umbrella inside the house will bring La Mala Suerte into his life, Miguel starts to sense bad luck creeping into all of his actions and decisions. Aguilera’s illustrations of La Mala Suerte herself as an ominous black cloud out to get Miguel provides readers with a tangible depiction of this idea, and the otherwise gorgeous, color-filled panels breathe life and movement into Miguel’s vibrant energy. When Miguel’s mother insists that he makes his own luck, Miguel decides to take matters into his own hands and turn his topsy-turvy week right side up again, acing his examen and excelling at his fútbol game. From the cleverly and consistently implemented Spanglish storytelling to the glossary of Spanish terms at the back of the book, along with some additional resources on international superstitions, this book will help dispel readers’ worries and help them be inspired by Miguel’s new proactive path in life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eA soccer star finds himself burdened by a streak of bad luck. “Mi vida es perfecta,” Miguel declares, until he makes the mistake of opening an umbrella indoors. His superstitious abuela, holding an evil-eye charm, warns his action will invite La Mala Suerte, “bad luck.” Miguel is overconfident and skeptical, until he trips, fails a test, and can’t manage to block any of his teammate’s goals during soccer practice. Defeated, the boy tries every remedy he can think of, from sweeping coarse salt out of the house, to searching for four-leaf clovers, and dousing himself in essential oils. Finally, his mother provides perspective, advising him to make his own luck. From there, Miguel vows to walk carefully to avoid falls, study for an upcoming exam in advance, and practice more ahead of his tournament. The digital illustrations portray La Mala Suerte as a smirking shadow, pooling under doorways or hiding behind bushes. The images depict Miguel’s emotions through his confidence crisis. Back matter includes a “More About Superstitions” section that lists common superstitions and origins in countries around the world (many of which are incorporated in the story) and activity suggestions. Miguel has tan skin, and Spanish words are sprinkled throughout. VERDICT A humorous and unique discussion starter for similar superstitions and a worthy addition to picture book collections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnglish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-454-6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpanish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eISBN:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 978-1-62354-455-3\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 3-7\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 x 10\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: March 12, 2024\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2023-10-12T10:11:43-04:00","created_at":"2023-09-19T12:08:20-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 3-6","Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Diversity","Browse by Subject_Life Lessons \u0026 Skills","Browse by Subject_Social Studies\/Cultures","Browse by Subject_Sports","Browse by Subject_Story Time \u0026 Play"],"price":1799,"price_min":1799,"price_max":1799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":44244067057901,"title":"English Hardcover","option1":"English Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"44546","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":39023431319789,"product_id":8224691126509,"position":1,"created_at":"2023-09-19T12:13:52-04:00","updated_at":"2023-09-19T12:13:54-04:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":750,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-cover_0ce1ffda-ae29-4592-a2ca-c3a1a0f37fec.jpg?v=1695140034","variant_ids":[44244067057901]},"available":true,"name":"La Mala Suerte Is Following Me - English Hardcover","public_title":"English Hardcover","options":["English Hardcover"],"price":1799,"weight":567,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623544546","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":31632346087661,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.8,"height":750,"width":600,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-cover_0ce1ffda-ae29-4592-a2ca-c3a1a0f37fec.jpg?v=1695140034"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":44244078002413,"title":"Spanish Hardcover","option1":"Spanish Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"44553","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":39023435088109,"product_id":8224691126509,"position":2,"created_at":"2023-09-19T12:16:55-04:00","updated_at":"2023-09-19T12:16:55-04:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":750,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/spanish-mala-suerte-following-me-cover.jpg?v=1695140215","variant_ids":[44244078002413]},"available":true,"name":"La Mala Suerte Is Following Me - Spanish Hardcover","public_title":"Spanish Hardcover","options":["Spanish Hardcover"],"price":1799,"weight":567,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623544553","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":31632349921517,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.8,"height":750,"width":600,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/spanish-mala-suerte-following-me-cover.jpg?v=1695140215"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-cover_0ce1ffda-ae29-4592-a2ca-c3a1a0f37fec.jpg?v=1695140034","\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/spanish-mala-suerte-following-me-cover.jpg?v=1695140215"],"featured_image":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-cover_0ce1ffda-ae29-4592-a2ca-c3a1a0f37fec.jpg?v=1695140034","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":31632346087661,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.8,"height":750,"width":600,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-cover_0ce1ffda-ae29-4592-a2ca-c3a1a0f37fec.jpg?v=1695140034"},"aspect_ratio":0.8,"height":750,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-cover_0ce1ffda-ae29-4592-a2ca-c3a1a0f37fec.jpg?v=1695140034","width":600},{"alt":null,"id":31632349921517,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.8,"height":750,"width":600,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/spanish-mala-suerte-following-me-cover.jpg?v=1695140215"},"aspect_ratio":0.8,"height":750,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/spanish-mala-suerte-following-me-cover.jpg?v=1695140215","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch1\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ana-siqueira\"\u003eAna Siqueira\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/carlos-velez-aguilera\"\u003eCarlos Vélez Aguilera\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIn this fun picture book romp about superstitions, can Miguel learn to make his own luck—and be rid of La Mala Suerte—before it’s too late?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMiguel’s abuelita warned him that opening an umbrella in the house will bring La Mala Suerte (Mrs. Bad Luck) who will follow him wherever he goes, and now Miguel’s life is ruined! He trips, fails an exam, and he can’t block a shot to save his life at soccer practice. Nothing he tries works to get rid of Mrs. Bad Luck—looking for a four-leaf clover, his aunt’s \"existential\" oils… Now what? \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSimultaneously published in Spanish and in English with Spanish insertions, this silly and heartfelt look at superstitions will leave kids excited to get out there and make their own luck.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/abuelita-and-i-make-flan\"\u003eAbuelita and I Make Flan\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/fiona-s-luck\"\u003eFiona's Luck\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-animals-would-not-sleep\"\u003eThe Animals Would Not Sleep\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eWatch the Trailer\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-An4peJRrjQ?si=iZsO1UTlf_QJZRwm\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER SPREAD BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-spread.jpg?v=1694721598\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-cover.jpg?v=1694721600\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mala-suerte-following-me-cover-hires.jpeg.zip?v=1694721606\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAna Siqueira, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAna Siqueira is a Spanish-language elementary teacher and an award-winning Brazilian children’s author. Her books include \u003cem\u003eBella’s Recipe for Success \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e If Your Babysitter Is a Bruja.\u003c\/em\u003e Besides writing, Ana loves to read, teach, and play with her Cuban-Brazilian-American grandchildren.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ana-siqueira\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Ana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCarlos Vélez Aguilera, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarlos Vélez Aguilera is an award-winning illustrator from Mexico City, Mexico, who has a degree from the National University Autonomous of Mexico. He has illustrated more than twenty children's books, and he’s the author\/illustrator of \u003cem\u003eSalón Destino.\u003c\/em\u003e Carlos has been recognized with two illustration awards from the International Children's and Youth Book Fair in Mexico.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/carlos-velez-aguilera\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Carlos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMisfortune follows when La Mala Suerte comes into Miguel’s life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce the “luckiest boy in town,” Miguel invites La Mala Suerte by opening his umbrella inside the house. Abuelita cautions Miguel that Mrs. Bad Luck—cheekily depicted here as a grinning shadow—is “invisible and follows you wherever you go.” The young soccer player brushes off her warning but subsequently slips and falls as he attempts to outrun his bad luck. Uh-oh. And at school, La Mala Suerte trips him up during a math exam and fútbol practice. ¡Ay, no! Miguel tries everything to get rid of his bad luck before his upcoming soccer tournament, including sweeping away the bad luck, seeking a four-leaf clover, and using his tía’s “existential” oils. Nothing works until Mami encourages him to make his own luck. Can it really be that easy? Written in first person from Miguel’s perspective, Siqueira’s humorous take on superstitions balances zaniness and sincerity with ease, complemented by Aguilera’s vibrant, expressive artwork. The text incorporates Spanish words throughout. An appendix on common superstitions and their origins in different countries provides intriguing background information, with a brief activity and research prompt. Miguel and his family are brown-skinned and Latine, while secondary characters are racially diverse. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGood, clean superstitious fun. (glossary)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis charming story introduces young readers to the concept of superstitions in a lighthearted and positive way. When Miguel’s abuela mentions that his opening up an umbrella inside the house will bring La Mala Suerte into his life, Miguel starts to sense bad luck creeping into all of his actions and decisions. Aguilera’s illustrations of La Mala Suerte herself as an ominous black cloud out to get Miguel provides readers with a tangible depiction of this idea, and the otherwise gorgeous, color-filled panels breathe life and movement into Miguel’s vibrant energy. When Miguel’s mother insists that he makes his own luck, Miguel decides to take matters into his own hands and turn his topsy-turvy week right side up again, acing his examen and excelling at his fútbol game. From the cleverly and consistently implemented Spanglish storytelling to the glossary of Spanish terms at the back of the book, along with some additional resources on international superstitions, this book will help dispel readers’ worries and help them be inspired by Miguel’s new proactive path in life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eA soccer star finds himself burdened by a streak of bad luck. “Mi vida es perfecta,” Miguel declares, until he makes the mistake of opening an umbrella indoors. His superstitious abuela, holding an evil-eye charm, warns his action will invite La Mala Suerte, “bad luck.” Miguel is overconfident and skeptical, until he trips, fails a test, and can’t manage to block any of his teammate’s goals during soccer practice. Defeated, the boy tries every remedy he can think of, from sweeping coarse salt out of the house, to searching for four-leaf clovers, and dousing himself in essential oils. Finally, his mother provides perspective, advising him to make his own luck. From there, Miguel vows to walk carefully to avoid falls, study for an upcoming exam in advance, and practice more ahead of his tournament. The digital illustrations portray La Mala Suerte as a smirking shadow, pooling under doorways or hiding behind bushes. The images depict Miguel’s emotions through his confidence crisis. Back matter includes a “More About Superstitions” section that lists common superstitions and origins in countries around the world (many of which are incorporated in the story) and activity suggestions. Miguel has tan skin, and Spanish words are sprinkled throughout. VERDICT A humorous and unique discussion starter for similar superstitions and a worthy addition to picture book collections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnglish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-454-6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpanish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eISBN:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 978-1-62354-455-3\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 3-7\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 x 10\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: March 12, 2024\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}