Freddie Ramos Springs into Action

August 15, 2010
Still hoping to find an occasion to be a superhero, Freddie Ramos finds it hard to keep the superspeed he gets from his shoes a secret in daily life. Mr. Vaslov, their inventor, gives him a wristband he hopes will control them, but instead of slowing down his shoes, it gives him a super spring. This sequel to Freddie Ramos Takes Off (2009) presumes knowledge of that title. There's the barest minimum of explanation of the shoes or introduction of the characters. On the other hand, there's plenty of action as Freddie twice rescues his neighbor's ball, makes excuses to avoid running so his shoes won't smoke and gets stuck in a tree before performing a heroic rescue. Freddie's Hispanic heritage shows in descriptions of food and references to his deceased abuela, both worked in naturally. Cartoon art by Benítez accompanies the large-font text; the book looks accessible, although sentences do extend across page breaks. Boys who are able early readers will particularly appreciate this series; a third title is already on the way. (Fiction. 6-8)

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

October 1, 2010

K-Gr 3-"Zoom! Zoom! Zapato!" Freddie Ramos is back. This short and sweet chapter book sees the curious and kindhearted Freddie asking part inventor, part maintenance man Mr. Vaslov if he can make an on-off switch for his super speedy purple zapatos. Mr. Vaslov tells Freddie he will work on it. All of a sudden, though, the man is missing, and then he mysteriously calls Freddie, only to hang up. Freddie zooms into action, and a technical error on the inventor's part, along with Freddie's need to help, ends up saving the day. Benitez's line illustrations are a delight; even in black and white, they jump off the page, and children will appreciate the characters' great facial expressions. The use of varying fonts and sizes adds emphasis and is likely to appeal to even the most unkeen readers. The book is peppered with Spanish words and phrases. Engaging and fast-paced, this title will bait many young imaginations, particularly among the Flat Stanley crowd.-Alison Donnelly, Collinsville Memorial Public Library, IL

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2011
In his second story, superhero kid Freddie Ramos--who's faster than a train when he dons his purple sneakers, ready to help his neighbors--embarks on another series of episodic adventures. Large font, first-person text (though it can be stilted) and cartoon action will attract young readers to this Hispanic-themed superhero story.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

August 15, 2010
Still hoping to find an occasion to be a superhero, Freddie Ramos finds it hard to keep the superspeed he gets from his shoes a secret in daily life. Mr. Vaslov, their inventor, gives him a wristband he hopes will control them, but instead of slowing down his shoes, it gives him a super spring. This sequel to Freddie Ramos Takes Off (2009) presumes knowledge of that title. There's the barest minimum of explanation of the shoes or introduction of the characters. On the other hand, there's plenty of action as Freddie twice rescues his neighbor's ball, makes excuses to avoid running so his shoes won't smoke and gets stuck in a tree before performing a heroic rescue. Freddie's Hispanic heritage shows in descriptions of food and references to his deceased abuela, both worked in naturally. Cartoon art by Ben�tez accompanies the large-font text; the book looks accessible, although sentences do extend across page breaks. Boys who are able early readers will particularly appreciate this series; a third title is already on the way. (Fiction. 6-8)

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)