The Unlikely Aventuras of Ramón and El Cucuy

The Unlikely Aventuras of Ramón and El Cucuy #1

by Donna Barba Higuera, Juliana Perdomo (illustrator)

A young monster befriends the human child he’s been assigned to scare in this spooky-funny chapter book debut from Newbery Medal–winning author Donna Barba Higuera, with illustrations throughout by Juliana Perdomo

It’s a monster’s ancient duty to inflict unimaginable horrors on misbehaving kids.

But when a young cucuy who’s anxious to prove himself is sent to the human world to terrorize his first child, the naughty niño isn’t scared by glowing eyes, sharp talons, or even disgusting breath. Instead, he’s preoccupied with worries about his first day at a new school. Can the little cucuy prove himself as a fierce boogeyman? As he soon learns from his human, maybe some things are scarier than creatures under the bed . . . and maybe even a monster could use a friend.

Featuring two-color illustrations throughout, this first chapter book from Newbery Medal–winning author Donna Barba Higuera and acclaimed artist Juliana Perdomo delightfully blends sly humor, light spookiness, and lots of heart, and is perfect for fans of Jon Klassen’s The Skull.

More Aventuras with Ramón and El Cucuy (Picture Books):
El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!
It’s Navidad, El Cucuy!

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Chapter Books, Audiobook

160 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 2025

Reviews

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cucuy of our story is a young monster just graduated from training. As a cucuy, his job is to terrorize a child into behaving. But this cucuy really wants to find his own “clump,” a family of his own. When his first assignment lands him with Ramón, he is fascinated by humans and their things. And despite his training, the little cucuy becomes fond of the shy boy and becomes his booster as the boy navigates a new school in a new town. Ramón takes cucuy’s antics in stride, even when the little rascal wears his BVDs as a hat, pokes holes in his homework and wreaks havoc at home.

The artful book cover, with papel picado framing the spine, a relatable looking brown skinned boy and an adorable monster with two little fangs, will reel kids in to a cozy, gentle tale with a monster of Mexican folklore. Luckily, the author chose not to make the cucuy interested in devouring Ramón, as traditional tales characterize cucuys! Cucuy, hidden in a backpack, helps Ramón develop the confidence to make it through his first day at school, while delivering humorous asides on human habits. Readers will mostly understand the Spanish phrases used throughout the widely spaced text, and the adorable folklorish artwork in purple and black is a wonderful vehicle for emphasizing the gentle nature of this particular cucuy. The front endpapers document cucuys from different cultures, or “divisions.” This tale is the first in a planned series.

(A glossary of Spanish terms would be helpful. Newly independent readers, the target audience, may stumble over the Spanish phrases unless they are bilingual.)

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cucuy shortage, being sent out early with less training - have to scare assigned kid or risk being banished to the forest of failure. Cute that cucuy mixes up purpose of human things.
Fun illustrated chapter book, start of series.

Fun lines:
Did humans know what some cucuys would give for just a bit of the magic called “a family” that they had?
Upon their assignment of a child to scare: May your growls be guttural, your talons sharp, and your breath disgusting.
If I failed to frighten my human child into behaving, I would be banished to the forest of failure…The shame would be unimaginable.
Valid question from Ramon: How are kids supposed to sleep if you’re scaring them, won’t they be too frightened to fall asleep?
Abuelita and her TeleNovellas, if the eldest and wisest of all humans love these stories, they must be the source of all great lessons of the human world.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm waffling between a 3-star and 4-star for this book. I did enjoy meat of what the story was about (feeling anxious and different, not meeting others' expectations, found family) and thought that Ramon and El Cucuy were endearing. I think this book would work best for children who are entering into uncharted territories, especially those from Hispanic families as there is strong usage of Spanish language throughout the book. Unfortunately, that was also one of the detractions I personally had with this book. I think that it knows its base, and that is why there is a lot of Spanish peppered throughout the story, but as someone who does not speak the language, I had to go and look for translations of quite a bit of them.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across two picture books about the cutest little monster El Cucuy (El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! and It’s Navidad, El Cucuy!) and learned a little bit about Mexican folklore where Cucuy is supposed to be a scary monster but in these books, he’s just an adorable and funny little monster!! I love that this author wrote a junior fiction chapter book that goes into detail about how El Cucuy and Ramon became family.

The most endearing part is how both the little boy and the monster realize they had their own fears to conquer and were able to rely on each other. The cutest part was how El Cucuy just wants to find a family of his own, his own "clump".

[Elysian Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of a monster, who's accent duty it is to frighten little children stright through any horror means in their disposal.

But what happens, when the monster isn't scary, the child isn't scared and both of their futures are on the line?

This was such a freaking adorable story! It mixes mythology and folklore, with lessons of being scared and working thought though days. It has a wonderful blend of culture, language, humor, and heart.

I finished and immediately looked up when book two is being released! This is geared toward first chapter readers, 4 to 8 year old. I am so buying this series for my nephew!!

[Karen Huerta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know that boogeymen in Mexico are called cucuy? Then there are the cuca in South America, or the coco and coca in other parts of that continent. If you were to travel to Spain or Portugal you’d have to beware of the cuco! What fun I had reading about the school for all these fascinating creatures and meeting one small cucuy that would become a part of Ramon’s human family and help him to find his way through his first terrifying day at his new school. A fun and interesting read that blend English with selected Spanish words and phrases to help encourage young bilingual readers to explore their own language and culture.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

El Cucuy and Ramon have a fun relationship, and I enjoyed their quick comraderie and how they immediately care about each other. I had a little trouble getting into the story. The section intruducing the cucuys, their purpose and their culture was an awkward start to the story for me, but once the universe was explained, and the protagonists met, I enjoyed the story much more. More stories about Ramon and El Cucuy should be fun.

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story about family and a bit of mythology as well. (Read via an online reader copy)

[Jennybeast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightfully disgusting for a certain age of child. I liked that it's bilingual, that it draws from multiple cultural traditions of Boogymen, that there's a clear and complex paranormal world beside our own. I also liked how it values real challenges -- moving, new school, anxiety about bullies and friends -- and it creates a context for fear, and sleeplessness and stress. Also it's funny.