Paletero Man

by Lucky Diaz, Micah Player (Illustrator), Dr. Carmen Tafolla (Translator)

Overview

A vibrant picture book celebrating the strength of community and the tastes of summer from Latin Grammy-winning musician Lucky Diaz and celebrated artist Micah Player.

Ring! Ring! Ring! Can you hear his call? Paletas for one! Paletas for all!

What’s the best way to cool off on a hot summer day? Run quick and find Paletero José!

Follow along with our narrator as he passes through his busy neighborhood in search of the Paletero Man. But when he finally catches up with him, our narrator’s pockets are empty. Oh no! What happened to his dinero? It will take the help of the entire community to get the tasty treat now.

Full of musicality, generosity, kindness, and ice pops, this book is sure to satisfy fans of Thank You, Omu! and Carmela Full of Wishes.

Includes Spanish words and phrases throughout, an author’s note from Lucky Diaz, and a link to a live version of the Lucky Band’s popular song that inspired the book.

A Junior Library Guild Selection!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063014442
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/01/2021
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	43,379
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	AD420L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lucky Diaz is a bilingual, songwriting, taco-eating, multi–Latin Grammy Award–winning, Grammy-nominated and six-time Emmy-nominated musician, children’s television personality, and author. His work has been praised by NPR, Billboard, People, and the New York Times. He is a Parents' Choice Gold Award and NAPPA Award winner. In 2020, his album Buenos Diaz was named an official selection of notable works for children by the American Library Association. Lucky’s debut picture book, Paletero Man, has been celebrated with starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and ALA Booklist. He currently lives in a house on a hill in Los Angeles with his wife, Alisha; daughter, Indiana; and their dog, Django. luckydiazmusic.com

Micah Player began his career designing and illustrating for Paul Frank Industries in Southern California. He is the author of Chloe, Instead and the illustrator of several books and games for children, including Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz. He lives in a little house beneath a giant tree in the Utah mountains, with a lovely schoolteacher named Stephanie. They are the parents of two rad kids, one Yorkshire terrier, and several Casio keyboards. micahplayer.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 05/31/2021

Inspired by the Lucky Band’s song of the same name, Latin Grammy Award–winning musician Diaz pens a bouncy rhyming narrative from the first-person perspective of a dark-haired, light brown–skinned Los Angeles resident. Intent on securing an icy paleta on the hottest day of the year, the child races down the street, greeting tattooed Tío Ernesto at his tamale cart, bespectacled Ms. Lee at her Korean barbecue taco restaurant, and Frank, a Black man who works at the bicycle shop. As the child searches on, Diaz offers a rousing refrain throughout the bilingual narrative: “Can you hear his call?/ Paletas for one!/ Paletas for all!” When the child realizes their paleta money is missing, the community members come together in a satisfying close. Player adds dynamic spreads in bright hues that often illuminate the untranslated Spanish. A wonderfully executed treat of a book with a sweet community focus. Back matter includes a heartwarming author’s note on the origins of the book and song, revealing Los Angeles’ Eighth Street as inspiration. Ages 4–8. (June)

Publishers Weekly

The unifying lure of paleta love underscores the joys all people—regardless of differences—have in common.  — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Filled with life and joy, this story is an upbeat, multi-sensory experience that honors the breadth and harmony of multiculturalism in Diaz’s LA hometown.

— School Library Journal (starred review)

A wonderfully executed treat of a book with a sweet community focus.  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Depicts wonderful examples of kindness, community, and delicious paletas." — Booklist (starred review)

Diaz’s story in verse, with its chantable refrain and kid-sized dollop of tension, is a paean to Eighth Street Los Angeles food culture. Whether it’s sourced from a street cart, a taqueria freezer, or the library’s back room refrigerator, we all know what the storytime treat will be.  — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Paletero Man is a celebration of a culturally specific experience – but the juicy and colorful world inside makes this story accessible and welcoming for all readers. — Tori Kerr of SiriusXM Kids Place Live

[A] homage to Mexican culture—both in Mexico and in the U.S. The story is as delightful as a juicy paleta de horchata or melón, and highly recommended. — De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children 

[A] unique and entertaining children's picture book...especially recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections. — Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

[A] unique and entertaining children's picture book...especially recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections.

Midwest Book Review

[A] homage to Mexican culture—both in Mexico and in the U.S. The story is as delightful as a juicy paleta de horchata or melón, and highly recommended.

De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children 

"Depicts wonderful examples of kindness, community, and delicious paletas."

Booklist (starred review)

Diaz’s story in verse, with its chantable refrain and kid-sized dollop of tension, is a paean to Eighth Street Los Angeles food culture. Whether it’s sourced from a street cart, a taqueria freezer, or the library’s back room refrigerator, we all know what the storytime treat will be. 

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Paletero Man is a celebration of a culturally specific experience – but the juicy and colorful world inside makes this story accessible and welcoming for all readers.

Tori Kerr of SiriusXM Kids Place Live

Diaz’s story in verse, with its chantable refrain and kid-sized dollop of tension, is a paean to Eighth Street Los Angeles food culture. Whether it’s sourced from a street cart, a taqueria freezer, or the library’s back room refrigerator, we all know what the storytime treat will be. 

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Diaz’s story in verse, with its chantable refrain and kid-sized dollop of tension, is a paean to Eighth Street Los Angeles food culture. Whether it’s sourced from a street cart, a taqueria freezer, or the library’s back room refrigerator, we all know what the storytime treat will be. 

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

★ 05/01/2021

K-Gr 2—This bright, bilingual story sparkles with celebrated musician-songwriter Diaz's English and Spanish rhymes and Player's bubbly, colorful digital illustrations, blending seamlessly to represent Diaz's pride for his hometown in Los Angeles. Young readers will race alongside a Mexican American boy as he runs through his neighborhood streets to buy a cold paleta, a Mexican-style ice pop, quickly greeting local business owners on the way. As the boy rushes to find Paletero José and his paleta cart, daydreaming about the many fruity paleta flavors he will enjoy, the boy's pocket change accidentally falls loose. The boy's friends notice his plight and save the day, exemplifying a harmonious energy within the community that resonates through short, expressive bilingual rhymes. Similarly, illustrations fill every corner with vibrancy and amity in the people and activities depicted, honoring Eighth Street for its cultural diversity and liveliness. Along with an insightful author's note, there is a website provided by the publisher on the book's cover to link elementary readers to the children's song "Paletero Man." VERDICT Filled with life and joy, this story is an upbeat, multi-sensory experience that honors the breadth and harmony of multiculturalism in Diaz's LA hometown.—Rachel Mulligan, Westampton, NJ

School Library Journal

★ 2021-04-14
Money flies out of an excited Latinx boy’s holey pockets as he runs toward his favorite drippy, slurpy treat.

Is it tamales? Korean BBQ tacos? NO! There’s only time for one thing today: an ice cold paleta from Paletero José. “In the hottest month, / on the hottest day, / in the city of Dreamers, / California—LA.” This semibilingual rhyming story races down Eighth Street with the protagonist, who greets food vendors and shopkeepers as he goes, to the teeming park where the Mexican paleta pushcart’s bell rings. Now for the hard part—which flavor to choose? “¿Chocolate, elote, / sandía, o fresa, / arroz con leche, / miel, o cereza?” The boy’s adamant; only piña will hit the spot. A smiling José hands over a pineapple paleta, but wait—where’s the money? It’s lost! Tragedy is averted when the child spies the neighborhood merchants who have followed him across town with his money clutched in their hands. Impressed by their kindness, Paletero José gives out free paletas to everyone. Latin Grammy winner Diaz’s story, based on his bestselling song of the same name (link included on book cover), is a jaunty tour through the vibrant, diverse streets of Los Angeles. Although there is no glossary for fledgling paleta aficionados, Player’s vibrant, attention-grabbing illustrations highlight both the mouth-pleasing treats and the congenial interactions within the multiethnic/multiracial community. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

The unifying lure of paleta love underscores the joys all people—regardless of differences—have in common. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews