claudia rueda

Oceano Travesía, 2023

How do you know when someone is sad? or happy? or upset? Words are not always enough to express how we feel, especially when we are small. Infants learn to read and make facial expressions from their caretakers. The richer the expression, the richer their vocabulary. This book invites parents and caretakers to play with their little children by relating sounds and expressions. An invitation to have a rich and fun conversation with your baby.

Some books for small children endlessly refer to our emotions by their name: “happiness”, “sadness”, “fear”, “anger” and so on. Claudia’s book shows that we can use other forms and languages to express what we feel. - Espantapajaros Taller

Available January 2024

Chronicle Books, 2021

KNOCK! KNOCK! When the Three Bears answer the door, it's not Goldilocks they meet, but a stranger from a different story. It's Little Red Riding Hood—and the Big Bad Wolf is close behind her! Still, much unfolds as expected: porridge is eaten, a chair is broken, and there is a girl asleep in Baby Bear's bed. Does Little Red fit in this book after all? Perhaps it's the Wolf who will surprise us. With a bit of courage and much compassion, the Bears and Little Red learn that characters, just like the stories we tell, can change over time.

An amusing and lighthearted introduction to metafiction.-Kirkus Reviews

A first-rate addition to the genre. -Publishers Weekly

An amusing choice for kids who know their nursery tales.-Booklist

Claudia’s fun fairy tale mashup reminds us all that stories are never too old to be told from a new perspective, and in exploring those new perspectives we may find empathy in places we never expected. Simply 7

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Panamericana Editorial, 2021

What’s the most wonderful thing in the world? baby goose asks its mother. Travel with them to find out and discover what happens when you see the world through the power of love.

The question What ‘s the most wonderful thing? unleashes a journey through succinct scenarios and points out what it means to be loved and cared for. Libros Mr.Fox

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Chronicle Books, 2020

Bunny’s going overboard! Blow to put wind in Bunny’s sails, rock to make waves, and even knock on the window of a sunken ship to explore.

A gentle seafaring jaunt. Will surely show readers smiling right back. Small details add to the charm and demand a second read. - Kirkus

Perfectly suited for toddlers. . . A solid purchase for all collections and a great one-on-one read, especially for fans of Hervé Tullet. -Booklist

TRANSLATIONS

French: Bayard Editions Simplified Chinese: Trustbridge German: Gerstenberg Verlag

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Oceano Travesía, 2019

An artist accepts a commission from the emperor to make the most beautiful painting of a rooster ever seen. Things begin to get complicated when time passes and the art piece does not arrive. This traditional story about patience and mastery is turned by the author into an original study of the art and craft of making picture books.

Premio Fundación Cuatrogatos 2021

Altamente Recomendado Fundalectura 2020

To go through this book it’s to travel along the creative process of an artist. In every page you will find an invitation to create a story. -Noches de Cuento

The author immerses us in the world of illustration and the time and effort involved in doing any good piece of work. -Xarxa de bibliotheques de Cornelia

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Chronicle Books, 2018

SLJ Starred Review

Junior Library Guild Selection

Parents Magazine Best Children’s Book

Bank Street College Best Children Book

Leipziger Lesekompass Award

It's fall, which means it's the perfect time for mama's apple pie. The only problem? These apples are hard to reach! But Bunny has some ideas. Young readers will delight in using the red ribbon to help Bunny reach new heights and pick those tasty apples. But the fun doesn't end there! Readers will also rock the book back and forth and turn it round and round for a one-of-a-kind roller-coaster adventure on Bunny's way home.

Verdict: This engaging title encourages listening, identification of events in the story, and interactivity. A first choice for libraries. - School Library Journal

As sweet as apple pie. - Kirkus

TRANSLATIONS

Chinese: Trustbridge Dutch: Uitgeverij Gottmer French: Bayard Editions Japanese: Froebel-kan Co., Ltd. Korean: Pauline Kim Russian: Mann, Ivanov, and Ferber German: Gerstenberg Verlag

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Dial Books, 2017

Text by Deborah Underwood

Publisher's Weekly Starred Review

A WSJ Best New Children's Book

Cat is not pleased to be tapped as substitute teacher. Not only is it cutting into his naptime, but a roomful of kittens is a little, well, scary. By the end, Cat has learned a thing or two about inspiring others by being himself. But even more heart-melting and humorous is what the kittens have learned from Cat.

The kittens almost steal the show in Claudia Rueda’s humorous ink and colored-pencil illustrations.  The Horn Book

Underwood and Rueda maintain the droll narration and spare visual humor of the previous books as Cat guides eager kittens through music, building time, and art. There’s plenty to giggle over. —Publishers Weekly 

It’s all in good fun... and kids will think it is just purrfect. The Washington Post

In a clean-up worthy of The Cat in the Hat, the kittens pitch in to save the day. . . . Cat's droll expressions and signs are highlights . —Kirkus

The interplay between unseen narrator and substitute teacher Cat fuel the humor, and Claudia Rueda's adorable, deadpan illustrations carry the simple story.  - Common Sense

TRANSLATIONS

Chinese: Beijing Poplar Culture Project Co., Ltd.

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Chronicle Books, 2016

New York Public Library selection

Junior Library Guild Selection

Time to tackle the bunny slope! Shake to help Bunny make it snow, tilt to help Bunny ski down the slope, and turn to help Bunny escape a cliff in his path. Is there any obstacle Bunny can't conquer? Bringing grins and guffaws with each turn of the page, readers will find Claudia Rueda's innovative bookmaking as entertaining as the twists and turns of a ski slope—and as satisfying as a cozy cup of hot cocoa.

Rueda scores another win with this adorable offering that's perfect for one-on-one and small group sharing. - School Library Journal

Interactive, witty and unique... a winner. —Kid's Home Library

Rueda’s bunny is adorably expressive, her scenes are simple and easy-to-read, and that gutter-cliff is a masterstroke of design. - Kirkus

TRANSLATIONS

French: Bayard Editions Chinese: Beijing Poplar Culture Project Co., Ltd Korean: Boisforet Italian: Lapis Edizioni Japanese: Froebel-kan Co., Ltd. Taiwan: Children’s Publications Co., Ltd Turkish: SEV publishing German: Gerstenberg Verlag Russian: Mann, Ivanov, and Ferber Dutch: Uitgeverij Gottmer

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Ed. Destino, 2016

It's an ordinary day in the neighborhood and a kid is bored with nothing to do, sitting on the curbstone waiting for something to happen ... Suddenly, a truck stops right in front, and it's not any truck: it's the local zoo truck. Only one question can arise: what will it be there? This is a playful counting book, a challenge to the imagination and a great opportunity for kids to see some native animals from the Andean mountains.

Editorial Oceano, 2016

This original book is made up of a line. It's a simple pencil line that one day gets bored of doing exercises on the page of a grid notebook and decides to escape from the classroom. The line goes to the city, climbs up high mountains and reaches the ocean, where it faces the fearsome pirates. It is then that readers realize that the true protagonist of the story is a child named Leonardo, whose imagination flies in the middle of the class. While his colleagues practice calligraphy, he goes on the adventure.

A picture book about freedom and the power of the imagination written and illustrated by talented artist Claudia Rueda. Rueda’s literary work is based on playing with images and a very short text that goes on each of the colorful pages, obtaining the right harmony for a perfect story (Todos Tus Libros).

TRANSLATIONS

Portuguese: DSP editora

Colombian Ministry of Education/Tragaluz

As part of the Leer es mi cuento en la generación de la paz (Reading on the peace generation) project.

A stranger comes to town and his name is Oto. Everyone is suspicious of him just because he's different, except for a small kid who becomes his friend. Little by little Oto is able to arouse curiosity among the villagers by showing them how they can share and enjoy their different cultural backgrounds.

Dial, 2016

Text by Deborah Underwood

Publisher's Weekly Starred Review

Cat does NOT like Valentine's Day. It's much too mushy, and no way is he making anyone a valentine—especially not his new neighbor, Dog. Dog refuses to respect the fence: He keeps tossing over old bones and hitting Cat in the head! But just as Cat’s about to send Dog an angry "valentine" telling him exactly what he can do with his bones, Dog throws a ball over the fence. What is Dog playing at? Cat is in for a hilarious—and heartwarming—surprise in this story about being perhaps too quick to judge.

Wickedly fun as ever. Underwood and Rueda clearly know how well sweet and salty go together. Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review

Creatively presented . . . Humorous . . . The story’s singular narrative style and simple but expressive illustrations will make it a favorite. School Library Journal

Cat's facial expressions perfectly mimic those of a toddler and are captured within a pleasing soft palette of ink and color pencil drawings. The Washington Post

Rueda masterfully uses white space and Cat's facial expressions and body language for beautifully pitched comic timing.  Kirkus Reviews

Fresh and satisfying . . . Empowers kids by positioning them as the narrative voice of reason. BCCB

TRANSLATIONS

Chinese: Beijing Poplar Culture Project Co., Ltd.

Dial, 2016

Text by Deborah Underwood

Cat is back—and this time he's met his match!
When Cat loses a tooth, the Tooth Fairy delivers a wholly unwanted sidekick: a mouse. Together, Cat and Mouse are tasked with running a few Tooth Fairy-related errands—a challenge, since Mouse is just as competitive and mischievous and hilariously self-involved as Cat. The stakes rise and so does the deadpan humor, culminating in a satisfying surprise that will leave readers eager for yet another delightfully devious Cat adventure.

Priceless . . . Fans of Here Comes Santa Cat and Here Comes the Easter Cat and newcomers alike will ask for this book again and again. School Library Journal  

Generous white space, expert timing, and minimalist illustrations focus attention on the plentiful, playful banter. Clever fun continues in this delightful series. Kirkus Reviews

Cat is a delight, thoroughly and appropriately childlike in action and emotion. BCCB

TRANSLATIONS

Chinese: Beijing Poplar Culture Project Co., Ltd.

Oceano, 2015

Look at that blue shape! Who do you think it belongs to? Part a guessing game, mostly an invitation to take the imagination for a walk, this book much fun for the little ones. 

The book comes with  a pattern of the shape at the end, so kids can draw new possible answers.

Oceano, 2015

Look at that red shape! Who do you think it belongs to? Part a guessing game, mostly an invitation to take the imagination for a walk, this book much fun for the little ones. 

The book comes with  a pattern of the shape at the end, so kids can draw new possible answers.

Oceano, 2015

Look at that yellow shape! Who do you think it belongs to? Part a guessing game, mostly an invitation to take the imagination for a walk, this book much fun for the little ones. 

The book comes with  a pattern of the shape at the end, so kids can draw new possible answers.

Oceano, 2015

Look at that green shape! Who do you think it belongs to? Part a guessing game, mostly an invitation to take the imagination for a walk, this book is a lot of fun for the little ones. 

The book comes with  a pattern of the shape at the end, so kids can draw new possible answers.

Dial, 2014

Text by Deborah Underwood

SLJ Starred Review

Publisher's Weekly Starred Review

Bank Street College Best Children’s Books

Christmas is coming, and Cat has a hunch he's not on Santa's "nice" list. Which means? No presents for Cat. So he tries to be good, but children, it seems, aren't wild for his brand of gift-giving. Still, Cat might surprise himself, and best of all, he may just get to meet the man in the red suit himself—and receive a holiday surprise of his own. 

An ideal holiday pick for the naughty and nice alike. Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

Readers will enjoy the playful exchange between the narrator and Cat, the expressive full-color ink and colored-pencil cartoonlike illustrations, and the nicely resolved ending. School Library Journal (starred review)

Will keep kids giggling. Underwood and Rueda’s spot-on use of comedic timing, page turns, white space, and layout creates another holiday winner.  Horn Book

Loads of clever fun . . . Cat, boldly standing out on white pages, eventually makes for an excellent holiday hero. Booklist

This would make an excellent selection for holiday gift-giving. BCCB

TRANSLATIONS

French: Editions Circonflexe German: Loewe Verlag Gmbh Chinese: Beijing Poplar Culture Project Co., Ltd.

Dial, 2014

Text by Deborah Underwood

New York Times Best Seller

A Kirkus Best Book of 2014

Goodreads Choice Awards

A Bank Street College Best Children’s Book

Kirkus Starred Review

SLJ Starred Review

Publisher's Weekly Starred Review

BCCB Starred Review

Why should the Easter Bunny get all the love? That's what Cat would like to know. So he decides to take over: He dons his sparkly suit, jumps on his Harley, and roars off into the night. But it turns out delivering Easter eggs is hard work. And it doesn't leave much time for naps. So when a pooped-out Easter Bunny shows up, and with a treat for Cat, what will Cat do? His surprise solution will be stylish, smart, and even--yes--kind.

Rueda does a marvelous job of capturing Cat’s rapidly changing emotions. Publisher's Weekly

Rueda’s style has often been bold and graphic. Here, she sketches and colors very delicately, paying particular attention to Cat’s changing moods. The New York Times

The combination of witty text, plentiful white space, and brilliant images make this a truly winning book . . . Wonderful. School Library Journal

Marvelous . . . A highly appealing blend of slightly edgy humor and underlying sweetness. Publishers Weekly

Cat’s signs and facial expressions are cheekily amusing. BCCB

TRANSLATIONS

German: Loewe Verlag Gmbh Chinese: Beijing Poplar Culture Project Co., Ltd.

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Oceano, 2014

A book about the fears, doubts and perplexities a little girl can experience while growing up. She feels lost, strange, unfit for the world. However, she has something that accompanies her and gives her strength, something that was always been there to sustain her in the most difficult moments and help her to get ahead. It is the art she expresses through colored pencils and allows her to tell stories and conquer her inner freedom. This beautiful picture book stands as a poignant defense of creativity.

Ed. Norma, 2014

In the style of Kipling's Just So origin stories, this one tells us how a particular beetle from the Amazon acquired its distinctive and beautiful emerald colors. We find the Paca and the Beetle on a race to get the prize the wise green parrot has promised to the fastest of the animals, a new and wonderful coat. Things don't come out as you would normally expect. Charged with humor and wit, the beetle tell us not to trust appearances while we learn something about the fauna from the Amazon.

Eerdmans, 2013

A 2014 Paterson Prize Honor Book

The cat-and-mouse chase that winds through the pages of this delightful book holds a few unexpected surprises for everyone. To a mouse almost everything is big, but to the cat that starts chasing him, things look a bit different. Bold illustrations and simple text will not only introduce young children to basic descriptions but also allow them to explore the idea of relativity and help them understand the many ways of seeing the world around them.

Though brief, Is It Big or Is It Little? is attractive, funny and filled with exciting action; you may come away from it humming the tune to The Pink Panther. Rueda's resourceful mouse has something in common with that charming cartoon creature. The New York Times

Rueda cleverly demonstrates the idea of relativity in this smart, pared-down picture book.  Publisher's Weekly

Fun and uncomplicated as a story and concept book but sophisticated in visual impact, this is agreeably stylish graphic design for the very young. Kirkus

The flat shapes of black, orange, and gray on the white pages form a subtle interplay. The questions asked should make youngsters think about the relevance of meaning. Children's Literature

TRANSLATIONS

Spanish (Oceano) French (Kaléidoscope) Chinese (Shanghai Century Publishing) Korean (Luk Books) German (Gerstenberg Verlag) 

Oceano, 2013

XIX Premio Internacional del Libro Ilustrado de Mexico

Diario EL PAIS Best Picture Books of the year

Fundación Cuatrogatos Award

A girl is learning to read and the world around her begins to change. Now she forgets about the colors and smells from the market and she's only interested in the signs around the place. That's why she notices that something strange is happening that Saturday morning: somebody is stealing the letters and she has to find out who is it. A satisfying ending leaves Clara and all the readers with a smile.

The colored pencils illustrations are full of details and invite the reader to explore. The narrative threads of text and illustration interact with each other and generate a third story that expands the literary horizon of the work. Canal Lector.

The multicolored world of popular markets as perceived by a little girl. A sensorial approach to words, writing and stories suggested by everyday reality. The enriching contrast between verbal, concise and refined narration, and the lavish illustrations in characters, environments, landscapes and local details, gives another twist to the traditional motif of mice collectors of children's teeth. Fundación Cuatrogatos

ICBF, 2013

A unique collection of lullabies, songs and stories for young children from five indigenous people from Colombia: the Nasa, Inga, Cácwa and Totoro. Claudia Rueda's beautiful illustrations use each of the ethnic iconography as reference for this bilingual pretty little book.

Ediciones SM, 2014

A crocodile is born and doesn't want to learn the words that his adopting parent bird wants to teach him. He only wants to play with the words. Join the fun with this adorable animals and maybe learn to read some words on the way.

Colombia Ministry of Education, 2013

Illustrations for an edition of the original tales of the Brothers Grimm.

Abrams, 2012

In this interactive retelling of the Three Little Pigs the reader plays the part of the big bad wolf. Three interior die-cut holes invite readers to huff, puff, and blow the pigs’ houses down! This fractured fairy tale ends sweetly when, rather than blowing down the third pig’s brick home, the wolf/reader blows out the candles on a cake baked by the pigs! A satisfying and engaging read for every young Three Little Pigs fan.

Simple but wonderfully expressive. A beautifully designed and wholly engaging picture book for young children. –Booklist

A good chance for youngsters to relish enacting the wicked role while still getting a friendly reconciliation at the end. –Kirkus Reviews

Very young readers will get a kick out of taking the wolf’s part, and their parents will appreciate that the scariest bits of the original tale have been omitted. –School Library Journal

Like her repetitive text, Rueda’s illustrations are gently funny and elegantly simple. –Horn Book

Oceano, 2012

Using very short and simple texts, along with illustrations drawn inside the frame of a mirror, Rueda invites you to reflect over your own identity and the perception you have about yourself. Text and image refer to different emotional states from the protagonist of the story. At the end, the reflection that was self-centered and isolated from the rest of the world, becomes more meaningful at the possibility of being connected with someone else. - Canal Lector

It was by chance that the author ended up illustrating this book with a black marker on the surface of a broken mirror at her own studio. A happy coincidence since the story is about a young girl who looks at herself in the mirror while the reflection reveals her different moods and how they are out of control. With a strong understanding of the narrative power of images, Rueda leads the reader through the many different colors of our emotional life. With a satisfying ending, this book will be enjoyed both by the young and the adult child. - La Esquina del Libro

TRANSLATIONS

Portuguese (Pensarte) Chinese (Beijing Zhengqing Culture & Art Co.) Korean (Luk Books)

Lumen, 2012

Banco del Libro de Venezuela 2012 Selection

Little Orange has found a new bridge to cross the river, but little Yellow is not so sure to be safe from the scary Anaconda. Page by page, the reader and Little Yellow begin to notice something strange and dangerous about the bridge they are crossing.

Colorful, simple and full of humor. - Canal Lector

Rueda is particularly interested in the interpretative tension between illustration and text, which she often uses to add another dimension to the narrative. - Project Muse.

A subtle and sophisticated book...The illustrator trusts that the child will carefully review the constant interplay between the words and the pictures in order to decide. The pictures reinforce a presence that the words insist in negating. A compelling alternative to the conventional structure of a simple succession of repetitive scenes. - Joëlle Turin (Los Grandes Libros Para los Más Pequeños. Ed. FCE, 2014)

Excellent sense of humor and adorable characters. - Banco del Libro de Venezuela

Groundwood, 2012

Nati per Leggere National Award

CCBC Choices, 2011

Booklist Starred Review

It's winter and little bear doesn't want to go to sleep. He's sure he won't get cold outside. He doesn't mind how long the winter is, how deep the snow might get or how hard the wind might blow. Until, that is, he finds himself all alone in a snowstorm. After a few panicky moments, he finds his mother again. "Mamma, I'm back," he says. "Winter is very long and you might get lonely."

Getting right to the heart of a child’s inner life, this is a little gem. - Booklist Starred Review

Flat figures in a minimal wintry palette nevertheless burst with personality, abetted by clever compositions... Little bear’s tireless opposition will resonate with every parent, and maybe—just maybe—a toddler or two will learn a lesson along the way. - Kirkus

The warm conversation between mother and child is reminiscent of the banter in Margaret Wise Brown's Runaway Bunny. The flat, well composed illustrations are rendered in a cool winter palette... The minimal simple text is given its punch by the strength of the illustrations. This one has winner written all over it. - Children's Literature

Sure to be a crowd pleaser. - School Library Journal

Rebellious children will recognize themselves with a smile. - Publishers Weekly

TRANSLATIONS

French (Rue Du Monde) Italian (Lapis Edizioni) Chinese (Shanghai Century Publishing) Chinese Taiwan (Ollin Publishing Co.) Japanese (Nishimura) English (Groundwood) Portuguese (Pensarte) Original edition: Spanish (Oceano)

Oceano, 2010

Ana must stay at her house on a rainy day, because she is too young to go to the party with her mother and sisters. His only company is a mischievous cat that escapes to the basement. The mysterious place is full of mice, cobwebs and books ... and if there are books, there are many other characters with whom to spend an unforgettable night.

Ana is bored when left alone at home one afternoon of rain. But when her cat leads her to the basement, she begins to see how her favorite stories come to life: a glass shoe, two lost children, etc. That's only until twelve o'clock, when she has to go to bed, not without losing one of her shoes . - Canal Lector

TRANSLATIONS

Portuguese (Pensarte)

Scholastic, 2009

Oppenheim Platinum Award

NYC Society of Illustrators Original Art Show selection

A winter wonderland awaits a young polar bear cub that emerges from its den for the first time. As the cub sets out on a dramatic arctic journey, it worries whether it has the skills to survive. But a parent's abiding presence and simple, reassuring words instill confidence and love. In the tradition of such classics as THE RUNAWAY BUNNY and MAMA DO YOU LOVE ME?, this graceful, soothing tale speaks to the powerful bond between parent and child, and to the many stages of a child's growing independence, from first steps to first school experience and even to leaving home.

Rueda perfectly blends the story of a polar bear's love for her cub with primary facts about these animals. Implicitly environmental in the belief that people will protect what they understand, the story is sensitively told in dialogue format, with a strong undergirding of fact and observation. - School Library Journal

A basic lesson in polar bear characteristics while conveying the deeper message that a parent is the companion, teacher, and protector a child needs as he grows toward independence. - Children's Literature

A comforting bedtime story for youngest readers.  - Publisher's Weekly

...minimalist, thoughtful piece.. Nurturing, poignant and to the point. - Kirkus

Oceano, 2009

CANIEM design award

In this album without text, full of humor and emotion, it is the forms that take us by the hand and the silence that tells us a beautiful love story.

Completely devoid of words, the graphical narrative allows the young readers to actually imagine diverse dialogs or even poetic stories. - Des Livres et les Enfants

The joyful silence of this picture book without text highlights an ingenious graphic exploration. The story seems limitless, and with superb refinement, the author reflects varied emotions - shock, surprise, cheerfulness. This book of shapes, of deformations and transformations, is in perpetual motion. A simple and poetic story. - Kritik

TRANSLATIONS

Korean (Damphus) French (Alice) Portuguese (Hedra Educaçao) Chinese (Phei Publishing House)

Oceano, 2009

An original manual of zoology? What is it that is approaching and leaves only the fine prints of some bizarre animals as footprints?

Oceano, 2007

Two adventurous travelers decide to go out in search of the wild life. But the reader discovers that the hardest thing to see is what it's right in front of your eyes.

Written a travel notebook, two little mice embark on a journey in search of the authentic wild life. In their particular expedition they will encounter strange creatures, great slopes, abysses and situations that will have to face. - Canal Lector

TRANSLATIONS

Korean (Bookstory) Chinese (168 Books) Chinese (Shangai Century Publishing) Portuguese (Pensarte)

Oceano, 2007

A wise and funny story that invites little ones to settle their disputes by themselves. Two hungry little mice fight for a piece of delicious yellow and stinky cheese. An old rat arrives to help them solve the problem, but not as the two little mice were expecting.

The illustrations are wonderful and the mice facial expressions manage to transmit the different emotions generated in the struggle of the rodents to reach an agreement and to satisfy the hunger. The happy ending make use of humor and irony in a way similar to life itself. - Eterna Cadencia

TRANSLATIONS

Danish (Turbine) Chinese (168 Books) Korean (Bookstory)

Scholastic, 2006

National Parenting Publications Gold Award

IBBY Honor List Nomination

Inspired by a circle game she fondly remembers from a Colombian childhood, Rueda's sprightly participatory picture book is ready-made for storytime. Knowing that it is safe to play in the woods as long as Wolf is not around, a moose asks, “Wolf, are you there?” The canine replies, “I'm putting on my underpants.” This call-and-response pattern is repeated as increasing numbers of woodland creatures frolic in the forest. In the meantime, Wolf continues getting dressed, looking bigger with the addition of each piece of clothing. The bright, bold cartoon-style artwork with dialogue balloons and expressive characters is well composed, demonstrating a sturdy handling of color, line, balance and momentum. 

 A surefire storytime pleaser and an ideal choice for dialogic reading. - School Library Journal

Pair this with Maurice Sendak's classic Where the Wild Things Are. - Booklist

The bright, bold cartoon-style artwork with dialogue balloons and expressive characters is well composed, demonstrating a sturdy handling of color, line, balance and momentum. - Kirkus

Scholastic, 2005

Text by Pam Muñoz Ryan

CHILD magazine Best Children’s Books

NYC Society of Illustrators Original Art Show selection

Once, there lived a rare and majestic bird named Nacho, the only pitacoche for thousands of miles. He was proud of his brilliant feathers and his haunting songs, but what good were his treasures with no other bird to share them? Then, the swallows came, and Nacho met Lolita. Could two such different birds find lasting happiness together? And what will happen to Nacho and Lolita when the swallows migrate back to South America?

Rueda's wordless spreads pay tribute to the enormity of Nacho's offering, which transforms the valley. - Publisher's Weekly

Rueda's colored-pencil images are exquisitely textured, from the rough bark of a tree to the brilliance of Nacho's feathers, as soft and richly hued as silk. A cheerful and tender paean to the transformative power of love. - Kirkus

2006. Serres, Barcelona

A little fox wakes up starving, so he goes out to do what he does best: stealing eggs to make a huge tortilla, only for himself. But a big surprise awaits him and makes him realize that sharing is better than eating alone.

A simple story, well told and well illustrated, with a familiar character and situations that encourage the smile of the adult and the laughter of the child. - Canal Lector

Serres, 2005

The chicken family is getting ready for a birthday celebration. While the cake cools down, they set the table, clean the house and blow the balloons. But wait! there is something happening on the left side of the page: one of the chicks is eating the cake! The hours pass and the cake slices mark the time, like a delicious eatable clock. What is going to happen once Mamma hen notices that the cake is missing?

With minimal, yet didactic text, this delightful book will entertain the preschool crowd while offering elementary students a challenging lesson on counting and telling time. The readily understandable Spanish further enhances the book, making it a must for any collection. - Críticas Magazine

TRANSLATIONS

Catalan (Serres)

Fondo de Cultura Economica. 
Mexico 2003.

Mención de Honor Premio A la Orilla del Viento

Good luck, bad luck...Is that so? When Ozu's horse disappears, the boy thinks that's the worst thing that could ever happen to him. But his father makes him realize that sometimes obstacles are opportunities in disguise. Based on a Taoist tale.

TRANSLATIONS

French (Les 400 coups), Portuguese (Fondo de Cultura Economica), Chinese Taiwan (Ollin Publishing Co.)