The Children’s Book Review | April 12, 2015
By Leigh Carrasco, Illustrated by Angela Mia De La Vega
Age Range: 7-10
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Womeldorf Press (2014)
ISBN: 978-0990402305
What to Expect: Guinea Pigs, Summer Vacation, Peru, Adventure, Spanish Words
It’s summer vacation time for BT and his mom. They are going to visit BT’s grandmother, Abuela in Spanish, at her farm in Peru and this time Jack, BT’s guinea pig, gets to go with them.
Jack is excited to explore the farm and intrigued when he discovers that there is a pack of wild guinea pigs roaming around. Ready to make some new friends, Jack sets out on an adventure that, thanks to a cook that likes to serve up fried guinea pig, turns into a dangerous escapade of survival tactics and daring rescues. Throughout the adventure and precarious escapades, the author sets the scene with her easy and entertaining descriptions of Abuela’s farm set in the Andes mountains—several illustrations are scattered among the pages to enhance the visual imagery that the text provides. The pages are also doused with just enough kid-centric humor—think, boogers—that will appeal to a reluctant child reader and soften the harshness of the crazed cook desperate to capture “Juicy Jack.”
Spanish words are interspersed well and explained within the telling of the story—the Spanish to English words glossary in the end of the book is very helpful for kids seeking further definition and explanation. The text is a larger size and well-spaced for new chapter book readers.
Some lovely underlying themes are touched on—such as acceptance and tolerance of others, and single parent families—that add extra warmth and some depth to what is really a fun and fast read for any child that has ever wondered what their pet guinea pig gets up to on those occasions when the cage door is left open.
For more information, visit: www.juicyjackadventures.com
Available Here:
Leigh began writing the Juicy Jack Adventures Series because she wanted to bring the wonders of Peru and the experiences of living in another culture to children through this fun and exciting new series. Each new adventure will take place in a different cultural site in Peru.
Angela attended both The University of Madrid, Spain, and Clarion University of Pennsylvania where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. In 2012 she was named a Living Master of Arts by the prestigious International Art Renewal Center. Her bronze sculptures are represented by some of the finest art galleries in the country. Angela’s three children and the constant love and encouragement from her parents are her work’s greatest inspiration.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. The author of “Physical Literacy 12 Steps Pledge Ambassadorship: I Dance for Physical Literacy” sponsored this non-biased review. Learn more about getting a book review …
Tags: Adventure, Angela Mia De La Vega, Dedicated Review, Guinea Pig, Juicy Jack Adventures Series, Leigh Carrasco, Peru, Pets, South America, Spanish, SummerCategory: Ages 4-8, Ages 9-12, Animal Books, Author Showcase, Bilingual Books, Books for Boys, Chapter Books, Cultural Wisdom, Travel
The Children’s Book Review, named one of the ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Great Web Sites for Kids, is powered by Bianca Schulze. Bianca is a freelance writer, bookseller, aspiring author, and mother to two daughters. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, her goal is to grow readers by showcasing useful and inspiring books! 
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Gi Hallmark, founder of The Children's Blog, is a freelance writer and mother of two lovely girls. She currently resides in Charlotte, NC, where she enjoys reading and reporting about a variety of children’s topics. For more information, visit: http://www.thechildrensblog.com/ or follow @thechildrnsblog on Twitter.