Rafi and Rosi: Carnival! (I Can Read!)

Puerto Rico's magical Carnival is full of sights and sounds to explore. Rosi CoquÍ is determined to show her brother the very best way to enjoy the parade, while Rafi has a plan to make his sister queen for a day! But when Rafi scares Rosi with his terrible vejigante mask, she decides it's time to teach him a lesson. Little sister has a few tricks up her sleeve–and it's all part of the mischief of Carnival!

Pat Trattles - Children's Literature

Rafi and Rosi, that delightful tree frog duo, are back in three short, easy to read stories centered around Carnival, Puerto Rico's annual pre-Lenten festival. Rafi, the older sibling, loves his little sister, but cannot help playing tricks on her. In the first story, he tells her she is sure to be chosen queen of the parade, knowing full well that she is too young. In the second he makes a periscope through which he watches the Carnival parade from inside the house, while telling Rosi he has x-ray eyes. And in the third he scares her with his terrible vejigante mask. Yet, in each case, Rafi either feels so bad that he makes amends, (he makes a float out of a little red wagon and pulls Rosi around the neighborhood in her own parade), or Rosi teaches him a lesson, (when she discovers that Rafi is behind the terrible vejigante mask, she purposely stays hidden until he shows remorse.) Fun, colorful cartoonlike illustrations provide the perfect accompaniment to the text. Scattered throughout are Spanish words and phrases, which are defined on the page immediately preceding the first story. And included in an addendum at the back is a Did you know . . . section which provides further information about Carnival, and instructions on how to make a wagon float, periscope, and vejigante mask. The integration of reading with social science and art instruction is the added touch which makes this book stand out from the typical early reader. 2006, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8.