Rooster Joe and the Bully / El Gallo Joe Y El Abus�n (English and Spanish Edition) - Softcover

Garza, Xavier

9781558858350: Rooster Joe and the Bully / El Gallo Joe Y El Abus�n (English and Spanish Edition)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1558858350 ISBN 13: 9781558858350

Publisher: Pinata Books, 2016

Joe Lopez is in seventh grade, and he dreams of being an artist as good and successful as his grandfather. He's thrilled when the new art teacher compliments him on his pencil drawings of roosters and offers to teach him how to paint with oils. She even suggests that he might want to enter his piece in the county fair

Still thinking about the possibility of painting with oils and not just kids' tempera paint, Joe and his best friend Gary see Luis, a chubby sixth grader, running down the hall. Soon they see why he's running: Martin Corona, the school s biggest bully, is in hot pursuit. They watch as he slams Luis against the lockers and demands money. Much to his surprise, Joe finds himself defending Luis. Luckily, the vice principal shows up just in time to rescue both Luis and Joe.

Reluctant to be a tattletale, Joe tries to avoid Martin and his gang. Even though he knows it's just a matter of time before Martin exacts his revenge, fear doesn t keep him from going to football games and trying to impress the girl he likes. And when he meets Martin Corona under the bleachers after school one day, it's a conversation with his Grandpa Jessie about la lucha-or everyone s individual fight-that helps Joe and his friends not only survive the encounter, but put the bully in his place.
This bilingual flip book for intermediate readers also includes Garza s black and white sketches depicting bullies, heroes and the roosters that Joe loves to draw. Award-winning author and illustrator Xavier Garza once again writes an action-packed novel that will appeal to all young teens.

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About the Author:

XAVIER GARZA is a prolific author, artist and storyteller. His work includes Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel (Cinco Puntos Press, 2011), a Pura Belpre Honor Book; Kid Cyclone Fights the Devil and Other Stories / Kid Ciclon se enfrenta a El Diablo y otras historias (Pinata Books, 2010); and The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories / La senora Asno se enfrenta a la Llorona y otros cuentos (Pinata Books, 2015). He lives with his family in San Antonio.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 4–8—Joe Lopez loves to draw, and when his new art teacher notices his sketchbook full of rooster drawings, she suggests he enter a painting in the county fair. As he is thinking about the possibility of becoming as great an artist as his grandfather, he notices the bully Martin Corona trying to force classmate Luis to give him five dollars. When Joe intervenes, Martin transfers his bullying to Joe, picking on him in the bathroom and shoving him and his friend Kiki at a football game. As events begin to escalate, Joe receives good advice from his grandfather, who tells him that one person can make a difference. Joe's classmates join him in standing up to Martin once and for all. Black-and-white illustrations accompany this short flip book, which contains the complete text in English and Spanish. The author adeptly depicts the feelings students sometimes have when trying to decide whether to tell on a bully. While the plot at times seems disconnected, the ending resolves all the issues presented. VERDICT A good addition to middle grade collections, especially where Garza's previous books are enjoyed.—Selenia Paz, Helen Hall Library, League City, TX

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