Chato, the coolest cat in el barrio, loves to party–but not his best buddy, Novio Boy. Birthday parties always make him blue. “I’m from the pound,” he tells Chato. “I don’t know when I was born. I never knew my mami. I never even had a birthday party, or nothing.”So Chato plans the coolest surprise party for Novio Boy, inviting all of el barrio, and cooking up a storm. But he forgets the most important thing–inviting Novio Boy! Luckily, just as everyone starts remembering all the things they used to love about their long-lost friend, the birthday boy arrives with his own surprise–himself!In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called Chato’s Kitchen “Wickedly funny…Guevara’s cats are delicious send-ups of barrio characters, and Soto’s words glisten with wit. Salud to this magical pairing of talents.”
- ISBN: 9780399231599
- Author: Soto, Gary
- Published: 2000 , Putnam Juvenile
- Themes: cat, Dog, English-Spanish, Hispanic Americans, party
- Descriptors: Latinx in US, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9), United States
- No. of pages: 32
The return of Soto’s charismatic cat is welcome! The world created by the author and illustrator create a wonderful sense of community and home for the characters, where members come together to support and care for each other. This book beautifully depicts typically marginalized populations with warmth and compassion. It also broadens the definitions of home and family, making them more inclusive and challenging dominant narratives in a child-friendly way and providing the opportunity for critical literacy at a young age.