¡Vamos! Let's Cross the Bridge

Little Lobo #3

by Raúl the Third

Little Lobo and Bernabé are back in this story about coming together and celebrating community.

People are always crossing the bridge for work, to visit family, or for play. Some going this way; others going that way. Back and forth they go. With friends on foot and in bicycles, in cars and trucks, the bridge is an incredibly busy place with many different types of vehicles.
 
Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé have a new truck and they are using it to carry party supplies over the bridge with their pals El Toro and La Oink Oink. The line is long and everyone on the bridge is stuck. How will they pass the time?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Latinx, Animals, Spanish Literature, Fiction, Transport

48 pages, Hardcover

First published October 21, 2021

About the author

Raúl The Third is an award-winning illustrator, author, and artist living in Boston. His work centers around the contemporary Mexican-American experience and his memories of growing up in El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Reviews

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great ¡Vamos! book with Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé in a new truck and they are using to carry party supplies over the bridge with their pals El Toro and La Oink Oink. The line is long and everyone on the bridge is stuck, but they pass the time watching all sorts of cool things going on around them in the busy city. Everyone eventually comes together for an epic party on the bridge between two different countries. Colorful, frantic, frenetic fun.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved everything about this book! Raul the Third shares what it is like to cross the bridge from one country to another (for work, family, play) and how to creatively pass the time while waiting! Food vendors, musicians, people selling flowers. A beautiful celebration of differences that make our world a wonderful place.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a party on the bridge as friends travel between two border towns sharing their languages and culture. The author created this book from his memories of being raised between two border towns: El Paso, TX and Juarez, Mexico. I love the color and detail in this story and it's illustrations. There's also a glossary of Spanish words in the back which are sprinkled in among the book's pages.

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not fond of this particular style of art. I personally find it too busy and chaotic though I do see there is a lot for pre-readers to pour over and interact with. I do appreciate the story of crossing the Mexican-American border and the community celebration that erupts when traffic is stopped. It is a great story for illustrating the connections between family and friends on both sides of the border.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series, so vibrant and joyful.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swear to god these just keep getting better and better. More color, more detail, and even more love and insight into what makes us special and what makes us all the same.

[Lauren W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accessed this book via my Hoopla account through my local public library as a digital text. I searched for this text after seeing it had won the Pura Belpre Award for illustrator in 2022, and after it had been recommended to me by a colleague. The book had a respectful, but still accessible take on immigration for young children. It used language that was simple enough to understand without oversimplifying or taking on too much a teaching tone. The use of Spanish within this book is also logical and does not pander to an English speaking audience. This book would be great for the younger elementary crowd as a read aloud, but could also be used for slightly older students such as upper elementary students in order to have more in depth discussions about the content of the book such as why people are crossing the bridge and giving their thoughts and perspectives on that. In all, this book is a worthwhile read for anyone of any age!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thousands of people cross Puente Libre every day to a city in another country where people on one side speak Spanish, on the other--English, and many speak both. When Little Lobo’s delivery truck loaded with party supplies and a band headed to the big celebration (¡La gran celebración!) gets stuck in a traffic jam on the bridge, he and his pal Kooky Dooky help organize a spontaneous celebration of eating, singing, dancing, and whacking pinatas. “That night, on a bridge between two countries, La Celebración came to everyone.” Raúl the Third smoothly incorporates Spanish vocabulary in both the quick-paced text and richly detailed illustration in this picture book in graphic novel format. Back matter includes a glossary and note from the author. (PreK Up)

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book about Little Lobo, his dog and his friends. This time that are packing up Little Lobo's new truck with all kinds of party supplies and a band for a celebration across the bridge in another country. There are so many people crossing the bridge, that traffic isn't moving and eventually, they decide to have the celebration right on the bridge. This book, like the others, is so much fun, with Spanish words sprinkled throughout. Fans of these books will love this one, and if you haven't read one of these ¡Vamos! books, you are in for a treat when you do.

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! This is my third Vamos! book and I am looking forward to the fourth. After reading it, I looked up "Paso del Norte International Bridge." I didn't know the story of the bridge, how long it takes to cross it. Like all Vamos books, you have to go back it again and again, there is so much to see!

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

As in the others in the series, this is a fun story of friendship and a visual treat for the eyes. Raúl the Third has a magical way of making everyday events a special occasion. This is no exception.

In Little Lobo's third book, he and his compadres are stuck in traffic while crossing the bridge to get to the city on the other side and makes the best of this frustrating situation. The busyness of the street keeps people entertained while waiting, with people washing and servicing cars (for a fee); vendors selling peanuts, soda, balloons, and snow cones; and jugglers busking until everyone's patience is gone and they realize they are hangry. The author includes Spanish phrases alongside English, making this book truly Spanglish in the best way possible. What is not translated in the text is included in a glossary in the back. An Author's Note in the back explains crossing the Rio Grande River Bridge was something his family did often when he grew up in El Paso, Texas and went to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico to visit family.

The detail in the illustrations created in ink on smooth plate Bristol board with Adobe Photoshop for color is a-mazing! The author and his illustrator/wife Elaine Bay offer so much that this book can be read multiple times and poured over illustrations multiple times and readers will find new details each time. They are vibrant, joyous, and most of all fun! As in the others in the series, this is a fun story of friendship and a visual treat for the eyes. Readers will notice that Raúl the Third even has a character from his other series, El Toro, make a splashy entrance.

From cover to cover, this is one fun everyday adventure! I look forward to more adventures about Little Lobo and his friends.

Highly Recommended for Pre-grade 3.

[Clara Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accessed this book on Epic! as audiobook. Raul the Third is a three time Pura Belpre Award winning Author. These Vamos! titles are series books. I thought this audiobook was a lot of fun, it was more like watching a short movie. It is a bilingual book and I can see how beneficial this can be for ELLs and Spanish speakers. The images are bright and colorful and capture the readers/listeners interest and the character are animals. I also think it's very clever to have Spanish and English text in the pictures of the book. While the book does not specify what bridge is being crossed but the text says that on one side people speak mostly Spanish while on the other side they speak mostly English, but there are many people who speak both languages. I like how they incorporate the Spanish Vendors like the elotero (man who sells corn), vendors selling fresh fruit flavored water, and even jugglers in the street. The Author's note at the end of the book explains the setting and a bit about the author's life.

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooray for another ¡Vamos! book! I love Raúl the Third's writing and illustrations. Just look at that catfish on the cover. You could stay busy for days just absorbing all of the details in this book. Little Lobo and his friends are crossing the bridge from one country that speaks mostly Spanish into another country that speaks mostly English - but there are lots of people that speak both! They are taking their new truck to a celebration but there is a LOT of traffic on the bridge. What can they do to pass the time? El Toro and friends also put in an appearance in this fun, colorful book that offers a glimpse into life on the border.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Lobo got a new truck! It's all packed up and ready to head over the bridge to a celebration in the next town - which is also in a different country. With so much traffic on the bridge, no one is going anywhere. That's when the fun begins, street vendors and food trucks are ready to make the waiting so much fun!

I love these Raul the Third picture books. Full of culture, and very full of pictures - some identified with their name in Spanish. A child will love the story, but will also get lost in the illustrations. Includes a glassary and a note from Raul the Third telling about his childhood experiences living in a border town.

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Poonam Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and colorful book about Lobo and his dog crossing a bridge between two different towns (one speaking mostly English, one speaking mostly Spanish) to deliver party supplies. The bridge is BUSY and along the ride, readers will see cultural activities, music, food, and children will see that you can create a celebration wherever you go with a strong community.

I read this book with my children who are learning Spanish and they were engaged the entire time, they loved the language in this book. The only critique I have is that it is a busy book and it may be hard for some beginning readers to follow.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars--A busy and beautiful fiesta of a book! The illustrations are incredible and are true works of art. Great Spanish-English vocabulary too! This may be a little too overwhelming for tiny tots, but for the slightly older, the use of color and energy will truly enthrall.

The only thing I was disappointed to see was an illustration of a "zonkey," which sadly represents an actual abusive practice in which real burros are slathered with paint for photo ops. There is so much fantasy in this book, however, it's doubtful kids will make this connection unless they've seen this IRL.

[Angie Counsell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the dual language in this book. The illustrations are VERY busy and chaotic, which would be a draw for some readers, but is not my favorite. I find myself missing things and being distracted from the story instead of the illustrations enhancing the story. I also had difficulties in translating all of the words from Spanish into English. There were so many that didn't have a translation close to it that I found myself just giving up and not bothering to translate any of the words after struggling for so many pages.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Lobo, Bernabe, and Kooky Dooky are on their way to make a delivery but first, they must cross the bridge between two countries, one that speaks Spanish and one that speaks English.
With lots of bilingual words mixed into each page, you're sure to learn a little English or Spanish from this great bilingual book. This is the third in this series!

Read with my 6yo as we learn new languages together!

[Rebecca Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book about the bridge between El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. The bridge is lively and full of things to see with the community it creates, and even though the characters have to wait on the bridge a long time, they are all able to band together. It was a great mix of English and Spanish, some pages read like a graphic novel picture book, there were tons of things to look at on each page, and the authors note at the end was great.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

2021 copyright date, Pura Belpre award, fiction
In this book, there are a few friends going to a cultural celebration across a bridge that has construction on it, and because of this, all the people who stopped on the bridge were forced to celebrate together right there which turns out to be even better. I would read this in my class because it uses creative art pictures and Spanish labels in its art to share the Hispanic culture through English and Spanish.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Lobo is headed to a big celebration in the city across the bridge, but traffic is horrible. It is tempting to get frustrated, but the bridge fills with a celebration of its own.

Read the back of the book to see how Raúl the Third's childhood growing up in a border town inspired this book. Knowing that the story was inspired by real events makes it more meaningful and like a transportation into another place.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Lobo and Bernabe are off for a trip over the major bridge that connect their border city with a sister city across the river in another country. Travel is so going because traffic is so busy, but that just gives them a chance to learn about the various forms of transportation being used to get across the bridge. Along the way, they introduce a lot of related Latin American Spanish vocabulary.

Another fun vocabulary book put together by Raul the Third and Elaine Bay.

[Victoria Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Spanglish picture book series returns! Little Lobo and Kooky Dooky ( and silent cucarachito) attempt to cross la frontera but it's not as easy as it sounds. For those of us who grew up in border towns, Raul the Third capture the crowds, cars, vendors, and ENDLESS WAITING of a US/ Mex border crossing perfectly and humorously. Highly recommend.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a city separated by a river (and a country border). The people are on one side and they need to cross the bridge to get to the other side. But there's a backup on the bridge and they wait for hours to cross. They end up holding a party on the bridge.

Spanish words liberally sprinkled through.
A good way to get some taste of Mexican culture while studying Spanish.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, the illustrations are mind-boggling -- from detail to color and design, almost to the point of overwhelming yet always delightful, original, and creative.

Don't forget to read the note at the end of the book by Raúl the Third, it rounds out the story nicely to realize he crossed that bridge (from El Paso to Juarez) as a boy. The glossary at the end is also helpful.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite Vamos! title. Little Lobo is back and is on his way to a celebration, which he travels to on a bridge that connects two countries - one where English is predominantly spoken and the other where Spanish is predominantly spoken. It presents a beautiful and imaginative and colorful vision of what a border can look like.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Lobo and friends are delivering supplies for a big celebration to the country across the bridge. However, everyone seems to be going and the wait goes into the night. Yet everyone makes the best of it.

Love Raul the Third's note at the back telling of his own family's history with crossing the bridge.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Lobo takes his new truck with his dog Bernabé and Kooky Dooky to head to La Celebración with piñatas, cakes, rockets, and presents for everyone, but the big traffic jam on the bridge stops them. Maybe La Celebración can happen anywhere? This one brought back the Spanish words throughout the page, which I love, and I really like the story of making do with your circumstances!

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Just because we are stuck...doesn't mean we can't celebrate!" Such statements are typical of the positive attitude many characters have about being stuck trying to cross a bridge that divides two countries (very obviously Mexico and the United States). It takes an event at a border that often has negative associations and turns it into a party--full of color, delicious food, and lively music.

[Hunter Higashionna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cute and jam-packed illustrated book is about the excitement of crossing a border and going somewhere else. The crazy illustrations and vibrant colors used can be jarring or distracting and the story isn't exactly that engaging, but it does include Spanish words and phrases throughout the book which is exciting.