Available Formats
Off-Key
By (Author) Jennifer Torres
Illustrated by Gladys Jose
3
Simon & Schuster
Aladdin
5th October 2022
United States
Children
Fiction
FIC
Hardback
112
Width 140mm, Height 210mm, Spine 20mm
222g
One Day at a Time meets Mindy Kim in this third book in a charming new chapter book series about Catalina Castaneda, a Mexican American girl with a magical sewing kit who wants to start a band.
Catalina cant wait for the upcoming school talent show! Along with some of her classmates, they decide to rock out and form a band for the big day. But Catalina has some...specific ideas on how the band should look and sound. Can Catalina learn to be part of the band, or will she find herself working on a solo act
Gr 1-4Catalina has put the magical sewing kit gifted to her by Tia Abuela to good use, sewing a disfraz every time she would like to use a costume to go incognito. The local library group, Stitch and Share, has been a great help, encouraging Catalina to try new things as she improves her sewing skills. As Catalina and her friends Ruthie, Soledad, and Pablo try out for the Valle Grande Elementary Talent Show as the Banda La Chispa, Catalina wants everything to be just rightfrom the lyrics to the song they will be singing to their matching vests. But when the title characters attempt to get the performance to be just right prevents her friends from trying something new and results in them leaving the band, Catalina begins to realize that maybe it is okay to do things differently. Fast-paced chapters pull readers in to Catalinas world, where they will get to see Catalinas magical sewing kit in action. Spanish words are used throughout, and black-and-white illustrations introduce readers to the protagonist and her friends. Catalinas world is bright and full of positivity from her family and friends; its a world kids will want to revisit.
VERDICT A fun and magical entry in the Catalina Incognito series, perfect for fiction collections for youth. -- School Library Journal * 9/23/2022 *
Jennifer Torres is the award-winning author ofStef Soto, Taco Queen;The Fresh New Face of Griselda; and other books for young readers. She writes stories about home, friendship, and unexpected courage inspired by her Mexican American heritage. Jennifer started her career as a newspaper reporter, and even though she writes fiction now, she hopes her stories still have some truth in them. She lives with her family in Southern California.
Gladys Joseis an illustrator and storyteller. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2012, where she earned a bachelors degree in fine arts, specializing in graphic design. Gladys is the illustrator ofLibrary Fish,Fresh Princess,The Elephants Guide to Hide-and-Seek, and the Once Before Time chapter book series.