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Niño #1
Niño Wrestles the World
Señoras y Señores, put your hands together for the fantastic, spectacular, one of a kind . . . Niño!
Fwap! Slish! Bloop! Krunch! He takes down his competition in a single move!
No opponent is too big a challenge for the cunning skills of Niño—popsicle eater, toy lover, somersault expert, and world champion lucha libre competitor!
A Neal Porter Book
Fwap! Slish! Bloop! Krunch! He takes down his competition in a single move!
No opponent is too big a challenge for the cunning skills of Niño—popsicle eater, toy lover, somersault expert, and world champion lucha libre competitor!
A Neal Porter Book
40 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2013
24 people are currently reading
780 people want to read
About the author
Yuyi Morales
24 books448 followersYuyi Morales is the illustrator of Kathleen Krull’s Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, whose accolades include a Pura Belpré Award and a Christopher Medal, as well as the Pura Belpré Award-winning Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes. Born and raised in Mexico, she now lives in northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
October 31, 2015
If there is any topic on the lips and minds of librarians, teachers, and other gatekeepers it is the state of multicultural literature for kids today. Seems a week can't go by without a new study or proposal to deal with the need for more books about kids of color being published today. Recently I discovered that while books for kids containing Latino characters are rare in and of themselves, imported children's books from Mexico are downright impossible to find. Most of the Spanish language books for kids you'll find are translations of American books or imports from Spain. It's what makes an author/artist like Yuyi Morales such a godsend. Not only are her books hilarious, cheeky, and beautiful all at once, but she brings a perspective that we simply do NOT see. Sure this book was originally published in America, but it has a take we can't get anywhere else. I've loved her books for years but Yuyi's latest, Nino Wrestles the World? My favorite. Nuff said.
Ladies and gentlemen, Senoras Y Senores, behold Nino, the greatest wrestler of our age. Sure, he may just look like a boy who put on a mask and stripped down to his underwear, but don't count him out. The biggest baddest contenders fall in his wake. Behold his defeat of the Guanajuato mummy or the terrifying La Llorona. Thrill to the fight between Nino and the Olmec Head or the mysterious Chamuco. Each and every one proves they are no match for Nino's talents. That is, until his little baby sisters wake up and it becomes clear who really is the champion wrestler in this family.
Now what I'm about to tell you is 100% true. For years I worked as a children's librarian in New York Public Library's main branch. Often we'd have class visits from kids all around the city (and from other countries as well). And more than once I was asked for books on the topic of Mexican wrestlers. I kid you not. Fun Fact: No nonfiction or fictional book (aside from the Lucha Libre series by Xavier Garza) exists for children on this topic. Zippo. Zero. Zilch. The oddest result of all of this is that over the years, as publishers ask where the gaps are in children's collections, the first thing that would pop into my brain over and over was "Mexican wrestlers". I don't think they bought it. In fact, Nino Wrestles the World is the very first book of its kind to touch on this topic in ANY aspect since I went on my recommendation spree. You want another book like this one? Good luck to you. Morales knew she had a good thing when she wrote this one up.
One of the current buzzwords ah-buzzing in my ear is the term "imaginative play". Have you run across this one? The long and the short of it is that the story is about a kid using their imagination in some fashion. Calvin and Hobbes, say, would be the quintessential imaginative play comic strip. Because I have parents that look for these types of books I keep a running roster of titles going in my brain (Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji, Mighty Max, etc.). Add to the pile Nino himself. I love that the villains he wrestles aren't your standard famous Mexican wrestler names, but rather the supernatural creatures and critters that your average Mexican kid would be familiar with. There is a fine tradition of Mexican wrestlers wearing masks that represent these very characters, and there have even been B movies (like Santo Vs. The Mummies of Guanajuato) that precede Nino's fantasies. Mummies and aliens and the devil himself all make for perfect easily defeated and outwitted foes. Little sisters are another matter entirely.
As I have no typography or design background I don't know how much I can say about this book without coming off as a doofus. I will say, however, that there were a lot of stylistic choices at work that I approved of. Take the sound effects as an example. They're not the ones you'd find on your average episode of Batman. Rather than your standard "Bam"s and "Pow"s we have "BLOOP", "SLISH", "ZOK", and "PACHATAS" amongst others. Then there's the Spanish itself. Incorporated seamlessly into the English text, Morales has opted not to include a Glossary of terms at the end of the book. It's all about context, something that might bug me in another book but here struck me as appropriate considering the subject matter. That said, I was inordinately grateful for the pronunciation guides. As one of those kids who took French in high school because of her love for the rock opera The Phantom of the Opera, my familiarity with the Spanish language is fairly limited. Fortunately, most of the characters' names are intuitive and those that aren't (I'm looking at you La Llorona) are defined crisply and coherently in the endpapers.
As an artist, Morales has tackled various original artistic formats over the years. She's one of the few illustrators I know who has ever gotten away with using models (My Abuelita by Tony Johnston) while the paints (or were they pastels) of Little Night positively glowed on the pages. Nino is notable in part for replicating an advertising or poster-like style (design major everywhere, rejoice). The stencil-like faded images of the background contrast sharply with the characters, all rendered in acrylics, inks, digital effects, and even salt (?) which visually leap off the page. I like the in-jokes as well. For example, when Nino uses his puzzle to defeat Olmec Head, the image on the puzzle cover is from Just a Minute, also by Ms. Morales. There are, admittedly, a couple moments where it's hard to figure out what's going on. Nino's battle against El Chamuco involves scooters, LEGOs and popsicle sticks, but beyond that I'm not entirely certain what's taking place in the final "ZZZWAP" sequence. Fortunately it's so much fun I hardly care.
Then there's Nino. I mean look at that guy. Has any kid in his tighty whities ever looked half as confident as Nino does when staring you down with that smile? The key to the story, to some extent, is the fact that when Nino defeats a villain he does so using games. Whether it's marbles or puzzles or dolls, Nino's weapons are the weapons of childhood itself. Little wonder he's powerless in the presence of his baby sisters. The sisters, for their part, never change expression. They are coy. Little adorable angels/devils, there will be readers out there that more than sympathize with Nino's plight.
I took this book to Spain it was instantly embraced by my friends in Barcelona. Not only for the clever wordplay and great idea, but for the very art itself. There is something magnificently and universally appealing about Nino. Whether it's the goofy plot, the eye-popping art, or the fact that there is NOTHING on your bookstore and libraries shelves like this right now, this one-of-a-kind little number is going to lure in boys and girls alike. You've never seen anything like it, but after reading it you'll beg for more of the same.
Viva La Lucha Libre!!
For ages 4-7.
Ladies and gentlemen, Senoras Y Senores, behold Nino, the greatest wrestler of our age. Sure, he may just look like a boy who put on a mask and stripped down to his underwear, but don't count him out. The biggest baddest contenders fall in his wake. Behold his defeat of the Guanajuato mummy or the terrifying La Llorona. Thrill to the fight between Nino and the Olmec Head or the mysterious Chamuco. Each and every one proves they are no match for Nino's talents. That is, until his little baby sisters wake up and it becomes clear who really is the champion wrestler in this family.
Now what I'm about to tell you is 100% true. For years I worked as a children's librarian in New York Public Library's main branch. Often we'd have class visits from kids all around the city (and from other countries as well). And more than once I was asked for books on the topic of Mexican wrestlers. I kid you not. Fun Fact: No nonfiction or fictional book (aside from the Lucha Libre series by Xavier Garza) exists for children on this topic. Zippo. Zero. Zilch. The oddest result of all of this is that over the years, as publishers ask where the gaps are in children's collections, the first thing that would pop into my brain over and over was "Mexican wrestlers". I don't think they bought it. In fact, Nino Wrestles the World is the very first book of its kind to touch on this topic in ANY aspect since I went on my recommendation spree. You want another book like this one? Good luck to you. Morales knew she had a good thing when she wrote this one up.
One of the current buzzwords ah-buzzing in my ear is the term "imaginative play". Have you run across this one? The long and the short of it is that the story is about a kid using their imagination in some fashion. Calvin and Hobbes, say, would be the quintessential imaginative play comic strip. Because I have parents that look for these types of books I keep a running roster of titles going in my brain (Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji, Mighty Max, etc.). Add to the pile Nino himself. I love that the villains he wrestles aren't your standard famous Mexican wrestler names, but rather the supernatural creatures and critters that your average Mexican kid would be familiar with. There is a fine tradition of Mexican wrestlers wearing masks that represent these very characters, and there have even been B movies (like Santo Vs. The Mummies of Guanajuato) that precede Nino's fantasies. Mummies and aliens and the devil himself all make for perfect easily defeated and outwitted foes. Little sisters are another matter entirely.
As I have no typography or design background I don't know how much I can say about this book without coming off as a doofus. I will say, however, that there were a lot of stylistic choices at work that I approved of. Take the sound effects as an example. They're not the ones you'd find on your average episode of Batman. Rather than your standard "Bam"s and "Pow"s we have "BLOOP", "SLISH", "ZOK", and "PACHATAS" amongst others. Then there's the Spanish itself. Incorporated seamlessly into the English text, Morales has opted not to include a Glossary of terms at the end of the book. It's all about context, something that might bug me in another book but here struck me as appropriate considering the subject matter. That said, I was inordinately grateful for the pronunciation guides. As one of those kids who took French in high school because of her love for the rock opera The Phantom of the Opera, my familiarity with the Spanish language is fairly limited. Fortunately, most of the characters' names are intuitive and those that aren't (I'm looking at you La Llorona) are defined crisply and coherently in the endpapers.
As an artist, Morales has tackled various original artistic formats over the years. She's one of the few illustrators I know who has ever gotten away with using models (My Abuelita by Tony Johnston) while the paints (or were they pastels) of Little Night positively glowed on the pages. Nino is notable in part for replicating an advertising or poster-like style (design major everywhere, rejoice). The stencil-like faded images of the background contrast sharply with the characters, all rendered in acrylics, inks, digital effects, and even salt (?) which visually leap off the page. I like the in-jokes as well. For example, when Nino uses his puzzle to defeat Olmec Head, the image on the puzzle cover is from Just a Minute, also by Ms. Morales. There are, admittedly, a couple moments where it's hard to figure out what's going on. Nino's battle against El Chamuco involves scooters, LEGOs and popsicle sticks, but beyond that I'm not entirely certain what's taking place in the final "ZZZWAP" sequence. Fortunately it's so much fun I hardly care.
Then there's Nino. I mean look at that guy. Has any kid in his tighty whities ever looked half as confident as Nino does when staring you down with that smile? The key to the story, to some extent, is the fact that when Nino defeats a villain he does so using games. Whether it's marbles or puzzles or dolls, Nino's weapons are the weapons of childhood itself. Little wonder he's powerless in the presence of his baby sisters. The sisters, for their part, never change expression. They are coy. Little adorable angels/devils, there will be readers out there that more than sympathize with Nino's plight.
I took this book to Spain it was instantly embraced by my friends in Barcelona. Not only for the clever wordplay and great idea, but for the very art itself. There is something magnificently and universally appealing about Nino. Whether it's the goofy plot, the eye-popping art, or the fact that there is NOTHING on your bookstore and libraries shelves like this right now, this one-of-a-kind little number is going to lure in boys and girls alike. You've never seen anything like it, but after reading it you'll beg for more of the same.
Viva La Lucha Libre!!
For ages 4-7.
Read
November 1, 2023A masked muchacho marvelously outmaches menacing monsters. -Monty K.
April 9, 2015
What a funny and cute book. This is for a beginner bilingual reader. Great illustrations and clear and vivid colors. The book even gives a brief description about the history of Lucha Libre. This is a book of pure fun.
March 3, 2016
Was not as cute as I wanted it to be.
Didn't enjoy the story and the only thing that was great was the mix of languages.
Didn't enjoy the story and the only thing that was great was the mix of languages.
October 31, 2015
If there is any topic on the lips and minds of librarians, teachers, and other gatekeepers it is the state of multicultural literature for kids today. Seems a week can't go by without a new study or proposal to deal with the need for more books about kids of color being published today. Recently I discovered that while books for kids containing Latino characters are rare in and of themselves, imported children's books from Mexico are downright impossible to find. Most of the Spanish language books for kids you'll find are translations of American books or imports from Spain. It's what makes an author/artist like Yuyi Morales such a godsend. Not only are her books hilarious, cheeky, and beautiful all at once, but she brings a perspective that we simply do NOT see. Sure this book was originally published in America, but it has a take we can't get anywhere else. I've loved her books for years but Yuyi's latest, Nino Wrestles the World? My favorite. Nuff said.
Ladies and gentlemen, Senoras Y Senores, behold Nino, the greatest wrestler of our age. Sure, he may just look like a boy who put on a mask and stripped down to his underwear, but don't count him out. The biggest baddest contenders fall in his wake. Behold his defeat of the Guanajuato mummy or the terrifying La Llorona. Thrill to the fight between Nino and the Olmec Head or the mysterious Chamuco. Each and every one proves they are no match for Nino's talents. That is, until his little baby sisters wake up and it becomes clear who really is the champion wrestler in this family.
Now what I'm about to tell you is 100% true. For years I worked as a children's librarian in New York Public Library's main branch. Often we'd have class visits from kids all around the city (and from other countries as well). And more than once I was asked for books on the topic of Mexican wrestlers. I kid you not. Fun Fact: No nonfiction or fictional book (aside from the Lucha Libre series by Xavier Garza) exists for children on this topic. Zippo. Zero. Zilch. The oddest result of all of this is that over the years, as publishers ask where the gaps are in children's collections, the first thing that would pop into my brain over and over was "Mexican wrestlers". I don't think they bought it. In fact, Nino Wrestles the World is the very first book of its kind to touch on this topic in ANY aspect since I went on my recommendation spree. You want another book like this one? Good luck to you. Morales knew she had a good thing when she wrote this one up.
One of the current buzzwords ah-buzzing in my ear is the term "imaginative play". Have you run across this one? The long and the short of it is that the story is about a kid using their imagination in some fashion. Calvin and Hobbes, say, would be the quintessential imaginative play comic strip. Because I have parents that look for these types of books I keep a running roster of titles going in my brain (Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji, Mighty Max, etc.). Add to the pile Nino himself. I love that the villains he wrestles aren't your standard famous Mexican wrestler names, but rather the supernatural creatures and critters that your average Mexican kid would be familiar with. There is a fine tradition of Mexican wrestlers wearing masks that represent these very characters, and there have even been B movies (like Santo Vs. The Mummies of Guanajuato) that precede Nino's fantasies. Mummies and aliens and the devil himself all make for perfect easily defeated and outwitted foes. Little sisters are another matter entirely.
As I have no typography or design background I don't know how much I can say about this book without coming off as a doofus. I will say, however, that there were a lot of stylistic choices at work that I approved of. Take the sound effects as an example. They're not the ones you'd find on your average episode of Batman. Rather than your standard "Bam"s and "Pow"s we have "BLOOP", "SLISH", "ZOK", and "PACHATAS" amongst others. Then there's the Spanish itself. Incorporated seamlessly into the English text, Morales has opted not to include a Glossary of terms at the end of the book. It's all about context, something that might bug me in another book but here struck me as appropriate considering the subject matter. That said, I was inordinately grateful for the pronunciation guides. As one of those kids who took French in high school because of her love for the rock opera The Phantom of the Opera, my familiarity with the Spanish language is fairly limited. Fortunately, most of the characters' names are intuitive and those that aren't (I'm looking at you La Llorona) are defined crisply and coherently in the endpapers.
As an artist, Morales has tackled various original artistic formats over the years. She's one of the few illustrators I know who has ever gotten away with using models (My Abuelita by Tony Johnston) while the paints (or were they pastels) of Little Night positively glowed on the pages. Nino is notable in part for replicating an advertising or poster-like style (design major everywhere, rejoice). The stencil-like faded images of the background contrast sharply with the characters, all rendered in acrylics, inks, digital effects, and even salt (?) which visually leap off the page. I like the in-jokes as well. For example, when Nino uses his puzzle to defeat Olmec Head, the image on the puzzle cover is from Just a Minute, also by Ms. Morales. There are, admittedly, a couple moments where it's hard to figure out what's going on. Nino's battle against El Chamuco involves scooters, LEGOs and popsicle sticks, but beyond that I'm not entirely certain what's taking place in the final "ZZZWAP" sequence. Fortunately it's so much fun I hardly care.
Then there's Nino. I mean look at that guy. Has any kid in his tighty whities ever looked half as confident as Nino does when staring you down with that smile? The key to the story, to some extent, is the fact that when Nino defeats a villain he does so using games. Whether it's marbles or puzzles or dolls, Nino's weapons are the weapons of childhood itself. Little wonder he's powerless in the presence of his baby sisters. The sisters, for their part, never change expression. They are coy. Little adorable angels/devils, there will be readers out there that more than sympathize with Nino's plight.
I took this book to Spain it was instantly embraced by my friends in Barcelona. Not only for the clever wordplay and great idea, but for the very art itself. There is something magnificently and universally appealing about Nino. Whether it's the goofy plot, the eye-popping art, or the fact that there is NOTHING on your bookstore and libraries shelves like this right now, this one-of-a-kind little number is going to lure in boys and girls alike. You've never seen anything like it, but after reading it you'll beg for more of the same.
Viva La Lucha Libre!!
For ages 4-7.
Ladies and gentlemen, Senoras Y Senores, behold Nino, the greatest wrestler of our age. Sure, he may just look like a boy who put on a mask and stripped down to his underwear, but don't count him out. The biggest baddest contenders fall in his wake. Behold his defeat of the Guanajuato mummy or the terrifying La Llorona. Thrill to the fight between Nino and the Olmec Head or the mysterious Chamuco. Each and every one proves they are no match for Nino's talents. That is, until his little baby sisters wake up and it becomes clear who really is the champion wrestler in this family.
Now what I'm about to tell you is 100% true. For years I worked as a children's librarian in New York Public Library's main branch. Often we'd have class visits from kids all around the city (and from other countries as well). And more than once I was asked for books on the topic of Mexican wrestlers. I kid you not. Fun Fact: No nonfiction or fictional book (aside from the Lucha Libre series by Xavier Garza) exists for children on this topic. Zippo. Zero. Zilch. The oddest result of all of this is that over the years, as publishers ask where the gaps are in children's collections, the first thing that would pop into my brain over and over was "Mexican wrestlers". I don't think they bought it. In fact, Nino Wrestles the World is the very first book of its kind to touch on this topic in ANY aspect since I went on my recommendation spree. You want another book like this one? Good luck to you. Morales knew she had a good thing when she wrote this one up.
One of the current buzzwords ah-buzzing in my ear is the term "imaginative play". Have you run across this one? The long and the short of it is that the story is about a kid using their imagination in some fashion. Calvin and Hobbes, say, would be the quintessential imaginative play comic strip. Because I have parents that look for these types of books I keep a running roster of titles going in my brain (Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji, Mighty Max, etc.). Add to the pile Nino himself. I love that the villains he wrestles aren't your standard famous Mexican wrestler names, but rather the supernatural creatures and critters that your average Mexican kid would be familiar with. There is a fine tradition of Mexican wrestlers wearing masks that represent these very characters, and there have even been B movies (like Santo Vs. The Mummies of Guanajuato) that precede Nino's fantasies. Mummies and aliens and the devil himself all make for perfect easily defeated and outwitted foes. Little sisters are another matter entirely.
As I have no typography or design background I don't know how much I can say about this book without coming off as a doofus. I will say, however, that there were a lot of stylistic choices at work that I approved of. Take the sound effects as an example. They're not the ones you'd find on your average episode of Batman. Rather than your standard "Bam"s and "Pow"s we have "BLOOP", "SLISH", "ZOK", and "PACHATAS" amongst others. Then there's the Spanish itself. Incorporated seamlessly into the English text, Morales has opted not to include a Glossary of terms at the end of the book. It's all about context, something that might bug me in another book but here struck me as appropriate considering the subject matter. That said, I was inordinately grateful for the pronunciation guides. As one of those kids who took French in high school because of her love for the rock opera The Phantom of the Opera, my familiarity with the Spanish language is fairly limited. Fortunately, most of the characters' names are intuitive and those that aren't (I'm looking at you La Llorona) are defined crisply and coherently in the endpapers.
As an artist, Morales has tackled various original artistic formats over the years. She's one of the few illustrators I know who has ever gotten away with using models (My Abuelita by Tony Johnston) while the paints (or were they pastels) of Little Night positively glowed on the pages. Nino is notable in part for replicating an advertising or poster-like style (design major everywhere, rejoice). The stencil-like faded images of the background contrast sharply with the characters, all rendered in acrylics, inks, digital effects, and even salt (?) which visually leap off the page. I like the in-jokes as well. For example, when Nino uses his puzzle to defeat Olmec Head, the image on the puzzle cover is from Just a Minute, also by Ms. Morales. There are, admittedly, a couple moments where it's hard to figure out what's going on. Nino's battle against El Chamuco involves scooters, LEGOs and popsicle sticks, but beyond that I'm not entirely certain what's taking place in the final "ZZZWAP" sequence. Fortunately it's so much fun I hardly care.
Then there's Nino. I mean look at that guy. Has any kid in his tighty whities ever looked half as confident as Nino does when staring you down with that smile? The key to the story, to some extent, is the fact that when Nino defeats a villain he does so using games. Whether it's marbles or puzzles or dolls, Nino's weapons are the weapons of childhood itself. Little wonder he's powerless in the presence of his baby sisters. The sisters, for their part, never change expression. They are coy. Little adorable angels/devils, there will be readers out there that more than sympathize with Nino's plight.
I took this book to Spain it was instantly embraced by my friends in Barcelona. Not only for the clever wordplay and great idea, but for the very art itself. There is something magnificently and universally appealing about Nino. Whether it's the goofy plot, the eye-popping art, or the fact that there is NOTHING on your bookstore and libraries shelves like this right now, this one-of-a-kind little number is going to lure in boys and girls alike. You've never seen anything like it, but after reading it you'll beg for more of the same.
Viva La Lucha Libre!!
For ages 4-7.
September 30, 2013
Everyone cheer for the incredible, the amazing Nino! He is challenged to fight by wild opponents like The Guanajuato Mummy who is taken down by a tickle attack. Next to challenge Nino is Olmec Head whose stony face is walloped by a Puzzle Muzzle move. He has tricky moves to use on each one, taking one down at a time using all sorts of toys. But finally, his real serious opponents arrive, Las Hermanitas! Nino is going to have to use all of his wrestling and mental skills to beat these two little sister opponents.
Bold and colorful, this book evokes Lucha Libre, Mexican wrestling, right from the get go. Morales celebrates this aspect of Mexican culture but puts her own child-friendly spin on it with wrestling different monsters using toys in Nino’s room. She mixes the history of Lucha Libre masks with the actual monsters and the joy of a child who loves to wrestle any comers.
The book nicely mixes Spanish and English and also switches fonts to further evoke the marquee effect of wrestling. Add in the comic-book fonts for the various moves that Nino does and you have one very dynamic and inspired book.
This book shows everyone that books with multicultural characters can be wild fun to read! Morales wins! Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Bold and colorful, this book evokes Lucha Libre, Mexican wrestling, right from the get go. Morales celebrates this aspect of Mexican culture but puts her own child-friendly spin on it with wrestling different monsters using toys in Nino’s room. She mixes the history of Lucha Libre masks with the actual monsters and the joy of a child who loves to wrestle any comers.
The book nicely mixes Spanish and English and also switches fonts to further evoke the marquee effect of wrestling. Add in the comic-book fonts for the various moves that Nino does and you have one very dynamic and inspired book.
This book shows everyone that books with multicultural characters can be wild fun to read! Morales wins! Appropriate for ages 3-5.
June 29, 2016
Text to Self connection: Making a text to self connection means the reader recognizes or relates to something from the text on a personal level. It may be the she sees similar character traits to her own, or that he has had a very similar experience as a character. It’s important to be able to find connections to ourselves in reading because it helps engage us and understand ourselves better.
The text to self connections I made while reading Nino Wrestles the World was of my younger brother and myself as kids. We were not into WWF (for Nino it’s lucha libre), but we were into arm and leg wrestling, and it often went from fun to fight. I can also appreciate Nino’s feelings of the “dreadful hour” when his sister’s nap-time was over. I vividly remember being unhappy when Max would wake up because that meant I would have to play with him or that I would no longer have my mom and dad’s full attention. Finally, Nino demonstrates that he really is a good brother and finds a way to have fun with his sisters, which is what I did when I had Max be a customer in my pretend store or play Sabrina with my best friend and I because that was the one Charlie’s Angel we did not want to be. If you can’t beat them, have them join you!
The text to self connections I made while reading Nino Wrestles the World was of my younger brother and myself as kids. We were not into WWF (for Nino it’s lucha libre), but we were into arm and leg wrestling, and it often went from fun to fight. I can also appreciate Nino’s feelings of the “dreadful hour” when his sister’s nap-time was over. I vividly remember being unhappy when Max would wake up because that meant I would have to play with him or that I would no longer have my mom and dad’s full attention. Finally, Nino demonstrates that he really is a good brother and finds a way to have fun with his sisters, which is what I did when I had Max be a customer in my pretend store or play Sabrina with my best friend and I because that was the one Charlie’s Angel we did not want to be. If you can’t beat them, have them join you!
September 23, 2015
Niño Wrestles the World is an energetic book. Author Yuyi Morales successfully intertwines humor and play with elements of Latino culture. This book does not simply increase the visibility of Mexican wrestling (lucha libre) in American children's literature, but it also draws in Mexican cultural icons like "La Llorona." The brilliantly designed end papers illustrate the different icons, offer the pronunciation of their names in Spanish, and present some basic facts about them.
My book chronicle's El Niño's different fights in segments. It reads more like a series of comic panels than a standard children's story. My favorite segment was "Niño vs. Las Hermanitas." "His sister's nap is over. Time for Niño to tangle with LAS HERMANITAS... Will they stop at nothing"? Many children would be able to relate to this section and enjoy the comedic style.
This book has won several awards, including the Pure Belpre Award for affirming latino culture in children's literature. I would recommend it as a respected and dynamic children's book that increases the presence of authentic Latino culture in the classroom.
My book chronicle's El Niño's different fights in segments. It reads more like a series of comic panels than a standard children's story. My favorite segment was "Niño vs. Las Hermanitas." "His sister's nap is over. Time for Niño to tangle with LAS HERMANITAS... Will they stop at nothing"? Many children would be able to relate to this section and enjoy the comedic style.
This book has won several awards, including the Pure Belpre Award for affirming latino culture in children's literature. I would recommend it as a respected and dynamic children's book that increases the presence of authentic Latino culture in the classroom.
June 7, 2014
Morales did it again. She produced an amazing book on something most American kids won't know a thing about and made it understandable and fascinating. Oh yes, she also wrote a lovely little sibling book as well for an older kid trying to cope with two twin infant sisters. I happen to have heard of luchadores from a coworker just before the book won the ALA Bupre illustrator award. This is another picture book that comes with back matter and just happens to be the second one with back matter I've read in a few days. Clearly the luchadores Nino fights are mostly made up by Nino, however, you definitely get a sense of how luchadores tend to fight and what they tend to look like. All I can say is that Morales seems to go from strength to strength in the books she does. This is entirely different from some of her earlier books but just as effective and fascinating, and respectful and informative of a culture many American kids may only be marginally aware of. I can't wait to see what Morales produces next because I'm sure it'll be as amazing as this and the earlier titles were!
February 19, 2016
Nino is a lovable, relatable character whose imagination transforms him into a lucha libre wrestler. Though he battles some fearsome opponents like "La Momia de Guanajuato," his greatest competition are his younger twin sisters who at the end of the book awaken from their nap. Nino's imagination takes us readers into the world of lucha libre, or Mexican professional wrestling, from Nino's traditional mask and the fantastical backstories for each contender to Yuyi Morales' writing sounding like we are at a wrestling match. This book would definitely be a hit with my younger students.
The use of Spanish throughout the book and the references to lucha libre authentically reflect latino culture while still providing universal themes for students from other cultures to connect to. I can imagine some of my Mexican American students laughing and connecting to the elements of wrestling from watching it with family members. Every child, regardless of culture, can connect with troublesome, but lovable younger siblings.
The use of Spanish throughout the book and the references to lucha libre authentically reflect latino culture while still providing universal themes for students from other cultures to connect to. I can imagine some of my Mexican American students laughing and connecting to the elements of wrestling from watching it with family members. Every child, regardless of culture, can connect with troublesome, but lovable younger siblings.
July 6, 2016
Wonderful book! Yuyi Morales has created a character named Nino who loves to imagine that he is a luchadores (wrestler). As we follow him along he undertakes petrifying opponents like La Momia de Guanajuato (zombie/mummy), El Extraterrestre (Extraterrestrial), and even his sisters! Yuyi Morales expertly & subtly weaves the Latino/a tradition of Lucha Libre (professional wrestling) with the traditional interests of an American childhood like legos and scooters. Her illustrations are colorful and vibrant! They combine aspects of Lucha Libre as well those action words we’ve seen on old Batman shows showing how boys of all culture tend to fall in love with the world of wrestling. This book is appropriate for grades K-2 and is a wonderful way to show how a child of two cultures can love things from both, as well as how things from two cultures can be very similar (Lucha Libre & WWE).
January 16, 2018
Cute book, I have to admit that I wasn't really enjoying it too much until I got to the end. As soon as the little sisters got involved, I was a convert. The language is a bit complicated despite being sparsely worded, a reading level M which puts it right in the middle of 3rd grade.
This is definitely a book for parents to read to younger children, by the time a child can read this themselves it will not be as appealing as it is at a younger age.
I especially liked the extra information about wrestling in Mexico, I love when books throw in some facts. The book was already fun and now it's a bit educational too.
This is definitely a book for parents to read to younger children, by the time a child can read this themselves it will not be as appealing as it is at a younger age.
I especially liked the extra information about wrestling in Mexico, I love when books throw in some facts. The book was already fun and now it's a bit educational too.
February 20, 2019
This book has a beautifully illustrated cover that can draw students in. It introduces another language to children. It contains a story about a boy who wrestles imaginary monsters – this introduces play, fun, and imagination.
Niño Wrestles the World is a Pura Belpré award winner. It can be used in a classroom with English Language Learners. It introduces another language to students – using context clues, they are able to understand what the word means. Using the illustrations helps the students understand what the words might say. This book allows the child to learn basic words in another language.
Niño Wrestles the World is a Pura Belpré award winner. It can be used in a classroom with English Language Learners. It introduces another language to students – using context clues, they are able to understand what the word means. Using the illustrations helps the students understand what the words might say. This book allows the child to learn basic words in another language.
July 1, 2013
Mexican wrestling! Tighty whities! SO MUCH FUN! Nino wrestles the bad guys in his awesome wrestling mask but will he be able to beat the Las Hermanitas?
A fabulous choice for the preschool set, especially little boys that love imaginative play. The artwork and layouts are a lot of fun and the text makes liberal use of Spanish. (I really don't know any Spanish but the story still made total sense. I would definitely practice this before reading it to a group of kids but would read it to my own little one without any worries.)
A fabulous choice for the preschool set, especially little boys that love imaginative play. The artwork and layouts are a lot of fun and the text makes liberal use of Spanish. (I really don't know any Spanish but the story still made total sense. I would definitely practice this before reading it to a group of kids but would read it to my own little one without any worries.)
July 14, 2013
Love the art! Love the story, the humor, the creatures which Nino wrestles, the ending, the endpapers. Fun and funny. I also appreciate the note about lucha libre, of which I've heard but don't know much about it. Don't just share with kids who know about lucha libre. The imagination and actions of the boy battling monsters while stripped down to his underwear and wearing a mask are universal. And those who remember the old Batman TV show will enjoy the bloops, zoks, pachatas, zzzwap, cuchi-coos.
October 18, 2017
So much fun! Niño jumps off the page as he fights opponents as a lucha libre wrestler. He fights opponents such as an Olmec head, la Llorona, an alien and a mummy, and to end he fights las hermanitas. A book young children would love to read on their own, in a group, and I imagine it would inspire hours of dramatic play.
September 28, 2013
This wonderfully artisitic book about a favorite topic wrestling will definitely appeal to boys. All of the action will delight the intended audience, however there are many Spanish words immersed in the text which will only be appreciated by Spanish speaking children. The lack of a glossary makes this book confusing, giving it limited appeal.
December 30, 2015
Jump feet first into the lucha libre wrestling imaginings of this pint sized hero of the bedroom, Niño. Kids will love this high-energy book by Yuyi Morales with its bright colors and fun and upbeat story. Highly recommended.
March 9, 2016
A completely charming book about a young boy (Nino!) who dreams of being a great luchadores who wrestle fantastical opponents. A mix of Spanish and English.
Both Asher (7yo) and Dex (4yo) LOVED this book.
Awesome illustrations.
Both Asher (7yo) and Dex (4yo) LOVED this book.
Awesome illustrations.
March 1, 2015
Gloriously vibrant and wonderfully frenetic illustrations, language and culture exploration without heavy-handedness, AND an appealing kid protagonist? So much win in one book!
July 10, 2013
BEST NEW CHILDREN'S CHARACTER EVAR! The illustrations are vibrant and colorful. I love Niño!
October 15, 2013
Action packed illustrations! Similar to a graphic novel, it definitely captures the action and suspense behind a match and the imagination of a boy. Great read for all ages!
April 15, 2014
Vivid, bright, and fluid. The playful imaginations of a boy who fancies himself the greatest wrestler of the world! Morales brings us a rich journey of a book with this Pura Belpré winner.
March 11, 2015
Brilliant stuff. Perfect baby shower book, especially for a second or third child.
July 27, 2017
Oh. My. GAT- how stinking adorable is this?? Aaaah I love Yuyi Morales!
May 15, 2019
I really don't understand the point of this story and was not really interesting to read.
May 3, 2023
The book "Nino Wrestles the World" is a children’s book written by Yuvi Morales. It follows the story of a young boy named Nino who uses his imagination to transform himself into a wrestler, and follows the path of his imagination as he undertakes a variety of challenges and fights many difficult opponents, ultimately winning over them all.
One of the major themes in this book is the power of imagination and creativity. Our imagination and creativity are a reflection of who we are within, and our imagination gives us the confidence we need in today’s world. Nino's ability to see himself as a wrestler and take on any challenge that comes his way shows children the importance of using their imaginations and believing in themselves. The book revolves around using your imagination to conjure up wild silly scenarios and serving as a source of entertainment to ourselves.
The main genre of this book is fantasy/science fiction.
2 good lessons children can learn from this book are the power and value of imagination and creativity. Being able to free yourself enough to dream of wild scenarios is a great way to expand and challenge your creativity. It can help children improve creativity and also use their imagination as an escape from reality. Thinking of wild silly super hero scenarios of themselves will help children gain the confidence they need and believe in themselves that anything is possible and they can achieve anything.
This book was a WOW book for me because of unique attributes like its illustrations and creativity. This was the most beautifully illustrated and entertaining book I had read so far and I really enjoyed seeing the different illustrations. They really made me feel like quite absorbed with the book and I loved the style of different game characters/cards which reminded me of a lot of the games I grew up playing, showing character fight stats, etc.
The author uses several writing craft techniques to engage readers, like alliteration and dialogues. Alliteration is used through a variety of phrases like “weeping woman” and “doll decoy”. The author writes the story in a narrator/3rd person perspective, but uses dialogues throughout the story to help the readers connect better to the characters and emotions felt during the fights.
"Nino Wrestles the World" can be considered an example of an anti-bias book because it features a young boy of Mexican heritage who is proud of his culture and takes on challenges with courage and creativity. The book also portrays diversity through the variety of opponents challenging Nino who come from a variety of backgrounds. Through this portrayal, children can learn about and appreciate different cultures and perspectives, and it also shows them that anyone can achieve what they set out to achieve regardless of race or background.
One of the major themes in this book is the power of imagination and creativity. Our imagination and creativity are a reflection of who we are within, and our imagination gives us the confidence we need in today’s world. Nino's ability to see himself as a wrestler and take on any challenge that comes his way shows children the importance of using their imaginations and believing in themselves. The book revolves around using your imagination to conjure up wild silly scenarios and serving as a source of entertainment to ourselves.
The main genre of this book is fantasy/science fiction.
2 good lessons children can learn from this book are the power and value of imagination and creativity. Being able to free yourself enough to dream of wild scenarios is a great way to expand and challenge your creativity. It can help children improve creativity and also use their imagination as an escape from reality. Thinking of wild silly super hero scenarios of themselves will help children gain the confidence they need and believe in themselves that anything is possible and they can achieve anything.
This book was a WOW book for me because of unique attributes like its illustrations and creativity. This was the most beautifully illustrated and entertaining book I had read so far and I really enjoyed seeing the different illustrations. They really made me feel like quite absorbed with the book and I loved the style of different game characters/cards which reminded me of a lot of the games I grew up playing, showing character fight stats, etc.
The author uses several writing craft techniques to engage readers, like alliteration and dialogues. Alliteration is used through a variety of phrases like “weeping woman” and “doll decoy”. The author writes the story in a narrator/3rd person perspective, but uses dialogues throughout the story to help the readers connect better to the characters and emotions felt during the fights.
"Nino Wrestles the World" can be considered an example of an anti-bias book because it features a young boy of Mexican heritage who is proud of his culture and takes on challenges with courage and creativity. The book also portrays diversity through the variety of opponents challenging Nino who come from a variety of backgrounds. Through this portrayal, children can learn about and appreciate different cultures and perspectives, and it also shows them that anyone can achieve what they set out to achieve regardless of race or background.
April 29, 2024
Have you ever heard of the Guanjuato mummy? How about the Olmec head? Well, Nino, the best child wrestler, has never lost a battle to them. This story goes inside Nino’s imagination where he paints himself as an unstoppable painter. He is faced with mystical opponents like the ones mentioned above and the La Llorona. But he is then met with the real challenge, taking care of his siblings after they’ve awoken from their nap. This is a fantasy book as it features mystical creatures and the interesting imagination of Nino. I learned that you could never have too much of a big imagination. Also, that building confidence can be done through painting yourself as someone who’s strong and unstoppable like Nino. This book also won a Pura Belpre Award in illustration. This is a WOW book due to the heavy incorporation of fantasy when it came to Nino’s opponents.
Off the bat, what really made me enjoy this book is the illustration. All types of colors and fonts are used in this book. Yuyi does a perfect job portraying the “bad guys” to seem threatening and scary. I love the technique of the language used being split by English and Spanish. Spanish speaking students that are learning English could use this resource as a useful introduction to English words and vice versa. My Spanish is quite rusty, but I understood each word due to the context they were used in. There isn’t any bias in this text as it is written on a lighthearted and mystical story.
Off the bat, what really made me enjoy this book is the illustration. All types of colors and fonts are used in this book. Yuyi does a perfect job portraying the “bad guys” to seem threatening and scary. I love the technique of the language used being split by English and Spanish. Spanish speaking students that are learning English could use this resource as a useful introduction to English words and vice versa. My Spanish is quite rusty, but I understood each word due to the context they were used in. There isn’t any bias in this text as it is written on a lighthearted and mystical story.
November 27, 2022
Nino Wrestles the World is a Fantasy book that takes readers through Nino’s journey of wrestling all sorts of opponents. This book is a WOW book for me because it kept me engaged throughout the entire book.
Nino fights many opponents, defeating them in special ways. First is the The Guanajuato Mummy who is overcome by Nino by one of his special moves: a tickle attack! Next is Olmec Head which was a big opponent with a stone head. Nino takes him down with another special move: the Puzzle Muscle move! Nino fights a couple other opponents, creatively taking down one after another until he gets to his little sisters: Las Hermanitas. He is overcome by them but he decides that if he can’t beat them, join them.
One thing that I enjoyed about this book was how the author used Spanish words as well as illustrations to help keep the book interesting. I also liked the use of onomatopoeia to help describe what sounds were made when Nino was fighting his opponents.
One thing that the reader can learn from this book is that persistence can help you achieve your goals. The reader can also learn that it is wise to make allies with people that are stronger/more successful than you are.
This book is an anti bias book because the reader is educated about Hispanic culture. Nino is a Luchador, which is a type of Mexican wrestler. The book also uses Spanish words which the reader can figure out using context clues as well as English words.
Nino fights many opponents, defeating them in special ways. First is the The Guanajuato Mummy who is overcome by Nino by one of his special moves: a tickle attack! Next is Olmec Head which was a big opponent with a stone head. Nino takes him down with another special move: the Puzzle Muscle move! Nino fights a couple other opponents, creatively taking down one after another until he gets to his little sisters: Las Hermanitas. He is overcome by them but he decides that if he can’t beat them, join them.
One thing that I enjoyed about this book was how the author used Spanish words as well as illustrations to help keep the book interesting. I also liked the use of onomatopoeia to help describe what sounds were made when Nino was fighting his opponents.
One thing that the reader can learn from this book is that persistence can help you achieve your goals. The reader can also learn that it is wise to make allies with people that are stronger/more successful than you are.
This book is an anti bias book because the reader is educated about Hispanic culture. Nino is a Luchador, which is a type of Mexican wrestler. The book also uses Spanish words which the reader can figure out using context clues as well as English words.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2022
"Nino Wrestles the World" is about a young boy who pretends he's a wrestler and he takes all sorts of creatures. Some of those creatures including his sisters! This book is perfect for Latinx students who are learning English because not only is it simple, but it also still includes their native language which is an aspect I really appreciate. Representation is so important for all minority groups and being able to incorporate the language makes the connection between the book and the reader so much stronger. This book can also be used to teach simple Spanish. I believe that we should start teaching other languages as early as elementary school so this book would definitely be an easy way for students to learn certain words or phrases. Overall, I thought this was a fun, simple book and I always love reading books that incorporate other cultures that may be less represented in literature.
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