Xolo

by Donna Barba Higuera, Mariana Ruiz Johnson (Illustrator)

It is said the mighty feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl, helped create the earth. He is the hero who stole back the bones of humanity from the evil god of the Underworld. In his quest to bring humans to the earth, Quetzalcoatl's dog-headed twin brother, Xolotl, was present. Not much is known of Xolotl, the god of lightning, death, and misfortune. A monster.

This is what really happened.

From Newbery Medalist Donna Barba Higuera comes a singular twist on the Aztec myth of the origin of man-and man's best friend-illustrated throughout with stunning full-color art from Mariana Ruiz Johnson.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Mythology, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Childrens, Picture Books

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2025

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Xolo is a delightful illustrated story about an Aztec god called Xolotl (the dog headed god) and his journey to becoming the god of lightning, guardian of the underworld and creating man's best friend; dogs.
The POV is from Xolotl and shows his struggles, such as his rivalry with his brother, his humanity, and fears. I loved how he conquered his fears in the end and embraced who he was and his abilities, even though mankind had no idea he helped recreate them and create dogs. The message from the book is that we don't have to show off and shout about our achievements and that quiet de?eds matter just as much, if not more so.
I'm not overly familiar with Aztec mythology, but this book has definitely spiked my interest.
The illustrations are a great representation of all aspects of the story and really bring it to life. This can be read not just by children but by grown-ups, too.

[always reading ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This was an excellent read! I love learning about different mythologies, and I'm absolutely fascinated with Aztec culture and mythology, so I jumped at the chance to read this, and it did not disappoint. The writing was lush and vibrant and painted such a vivid picture. The plot was excellent, engaging, and full of adventure. The narration was fantastic! His inflection was top-tier, and he really brought the story to life. The cover is excellent too; I can't wait to see the illustrations when I get my hands on a physical copy.

[Radwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I've read anything about Aztec mythology, so this was such a good introduction, that children and aults could enjoy!

[AmdynReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Xolo, a middle-grade novel with illustrations, offers a fresh take on the Aztec creation myth. The adorable and sweet main character is Xolotl, the dog-headed god of lightning and death, who has always lived in the shadow of his twin brother, Quetzalcoatl. After Xolotl is banished to the Underworld because he was too afraid to do an important task, he hatches a courageous plan to steal the bones of humanity and resurrect the human race.

✨ Thank you RBMedia, Donna Barba Higuera & NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review! ✨

This book took me about 40 minutes to listen to and it was a delight. As a Spanish teacher, I will definitely be wanting a copy of this book for my classroom. It was cute, and had a great message about doing the right thing, even if you don’t get credit for it.

I feel like the long Aztec names would be better suited to read with your eyes and not just in audio format, but hearing the pronunciations was super helpful as well. (Maybe full immersion would be best!) Also I really wish I could’ve seen the illustrations. But I enjoyed the story and for such a short read, it packed a ton of plot and heart. The narrator Robb Moreira did a fantastic job with all the character voices and the complicated names.

The end was heart-warming and as a dog lover myself, I found the authors note about her dog to be touching.

[tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley and Levine Querido for sending me an early access to Xolo, written by Donna Barba Higuera and illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

"I could hear my mother as if she were there. She'd point upward toward my brother. "is it more important that others witness something grandiose...?
Then, she'd lay her warm hand on my cheek. "Or, to do something quietly magnificent, that none will ever know?"

Xolo tells the story of the Aztec god Xolotl, the dog-headed god of lightning, death, and misfortune, and how there is more to his tale than what is commonly known. And through beautiful prose and delightful art, the project is brought to life.

I love learning about mythology and different cultures. I wasn't familiar with the tales of Quetzalcoatl, nor Xolotl, and it was a delight to learn of them through this graphic novel. It was quite touching and had equal parts storytelling and presenting the teaching of these cultural figures from the Aztec mythology. I must say it inspired me to do my own research to learn more about it.

I'm very glad I had the opportunity to read this one. Thank you, again, for the ones who made it possible!

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant children's - middle grade illustrated retelling of a story from Aztec mythology. I am still in awe of how gorgeous this whole book is and what a great story it was.

Filled with outstanding illustrations[that just bring this whole story to life - I kept stopping my audiobook so I could spend more time on each page], this is a great introduction to mythology [check out the author's note at the end for more information on why she wrote this and how she viewed the story] that kids AND adults will both enjoy [I certainly did - I had never heard of the gods mentioned here as I don't know much about Aztecian mythology, and I found it absolutely captivating and fascinating] and learn from the story. It is just such a great book and I highly recommend this one!!

Robb Moreira is a new-to-me narrator [but hopefully not one I will never get to listen to again[ and he does an magnificent job telling this story all while handling the names with complete ease [that I had NO hope of pronouncing without some help]. I highly recommend this audiobook, both for the storytelling *AND* for the pronunciations. :-)

Thank you to NetGalley, Donna Barba Higuera, Mariana Ruiz Johnson - Illustrator, Robb Moreira - Narrator, Levine Querido, and RB Media/Recorded Books for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

8yr old: I don’t like the God of the Underworld Mictlantecuhtil because he stole all the dead human bones and made them into silly stuff like a crown and clothes. At the end of the book I like that Xolo and Quetzalcoatl took the bones of humanity back. The names are hard to say but it’s fun trying to say it correctly. I like the pictures and all the colors on every page especially this page (swipe for 2nd picture).

My review: As a mom with young kids learning Spanish 🇲🇽, I really loved this book. It was such a fun and meaningful way to introduce Aztec mythology, which I didn’t know much about before. The story follows Xolotl 🐕, the dog-headed god and shows his fears, his rivalry with his brother and how he slowly learns to believe in himself. I appreciated that the message is about quiet bravery and doing the right thing even when no one notices: something I’m always trying to teach my kids 💛

The writing is vivid, the illustrations are beautiful and the story feels approachable for kids but still interesting for adults too 🙌 Xolo is sweet, thoughtful and a little insecure 🥹, which makes him very relatable. Overall, it’s a wonderful middle-grade read that sparks curiosity about culture, language and mythology (which I’m a sucker for!) and it’s definitely a book I’d enjoy reading alongside my children 😊

Thank you @donnabarbahiguera @marianaruizjohnson @levinequerido for this gifted book in exchange for our honest reviews.

[lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thanks to Net Galley, who gave me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One thing I struggle with sometimes for ebooks specifically is that going into it, I have fewer cues to tell me what kind of book it will be. Because I couldn't see the dimensions of the book - the printed font size, the actual shape and width, etc. I assumed it was more of a kids' bedtime story book to be read in one short sitting...and yet it kept going on...and contained some pretty dark images and themes. Damn, I thought to myself, I guess kids today are made of sterner stuff.

Had I seen the physical book itself I would have no doubt immediately clocked that it was apparently a middle grade chapter book for more advanced minds and attention spans. 

In a publishing world oversaturated with European mythology, it's great to see such a fresh and different take that highlights one of the coolest Aztec gods, Xolotl, the dog who shepherds the dead. I have long admired the xoloitzcuintli purported to be his descendent, a very special dog with the best Náhuatl name and sacred duty that makes perfect sense-- of course a dog would take on the ferrying of souls.

I really appreciated the bold, gorgeous art and the chance to learn more about Aztec mythology. Get this for the precocious middle grade reader in your life who already knows too much about ancient Greece.

[kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xolo is incredible both in story and in art. The story reimagines an Aztec creation myth (I love a good creation myth). The illustrations are absolutely breathtaking, and the story perfectly balances humor, adventure, and mythology while exploring courage, self-worth, and stepping up even when you feel second best. Higuera’s retelling made the myth more accessible for middle-grade readers.

[Rhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. 5/5 stars.

[Zach Arlt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This is a great middle-grade graphic novel!

[Richard Derus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: It is said the mighty feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl, helped create the earth. He is the hero who stole back the bones of humanity from the evil god of the Underworld. In his quest to bring humans to the earth, Quetzalcoatl's dog-headed twin brother, Xolotl, was present. Not much is known of Xolotl, the god of lightning, death, and misfortune. A monster.

This is what really happened.

From Newbery Medalist Donna Barba Higuera comes a singular twist on the Aztec myth of the origin of man—and man's best friend—illustrated throughout with stunning full-color art from Mariana Ruiz Johnson.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: A wonderful read (literally...full of wonders), a corrective to the more triumphal tellings of Quetzalcoatl's origin story, and a gorgeous object to possess.

It's a long one, by page count; it isn't a text-forward read, though. It occupies a middle ground I didn't realize existed, long page count made up of a narrative told in sequential graphic art but with some text. It's a step between a picture book and a graphic novel, aimed squarely at the reluctant reader with its very interesting untold mythological tale of gods and lightning.

Here is the story's genesis explained by author and illustrator:


I was enchanted from the get-go.

I want to schmoozle his doggie-god ears!



Gods need mom-hugs, too!

The story goes on from here, obviously, but it is a real book-length affair. I had a gracious plenty of art to choose from...Levine Querido is very generous...so I've looked through it a couple times and selected a few to demonstrate the feel of the project.

I strongly recommend all grands and parents think about this as a #Booksgiving gift for their story-loving descendants; their boys who seem more reluctant to engage with text; their mythology soakers; and not least themselves. I hope and expect it will teach any of us more about the Indigenous myths our Anglophone schools ignored, as well as pop your eyes out with its beauty.





a particularly effective, emotionally resonant design job; one turns the page to get to the second illustration


text-heavy narrative; sequential-art narrative

I'd go on; I'd love all y'all to see and enjoy the entire book. It's published on 4 November 2025, and this is posted on 3 November 2025 in hopes some will find the joy of the art, the unfamiliar story, and the sheer pleasure of such a work existing will magically spring open their wallets. Order now and you can (carefully) read it yourself before gifting to the kid(s) you love enough to present it to.

Pinkie-promise not to tell.

[ADi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a soft introduction to Aztec myths, I enjoyed learning and reading this version of Aztec myths. Its illustrations were engaging and colorful. Many gods were mentioned which might be hard to keep up with for younger readers, but Xolotl’s myth as a point of focus is a tale that children will be able to relate to and understand. It’s ending was sweet and I think many readers will be able to appreciate what this myth transforms into in the end.

Read as an eARC through NetGalley.

[Pine Reads Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’ve never heard of anyone who’s done something so selfless. You’ve kept the world spinning. You brought humans… and me… to the Earth. And you did it all with no one knowing. That is the opposite of horrid and cowardly. That is beautiful and courageous.”

Xolo is a reimagining of the Aztec myth of Quetzalcoatl, who traveled to the underworld to retrieve ancient bones of humans and, using his blood, brought to life humans as they are today. This retelling focuses on Quetzalcoatl’s oft forgotten twin brother, Xolotl, the god of fire and lightning and the guide for the dead. The story takes place in a world long after humans have died out. As punishment for not sacrificing himself to bring back humans and not stopping the god Mictlantecuhtli from stealing humanity’s bones, Xolotl must guide the sun through the Underworld each night. However, he yearns for the joy humanity brought to him, and devises a plan with Quetzalcoatl to retrieve the bones.

Xolo is an intriguing mythological retelling about an underdog—literally! I appreciate stories grounded in truth—in this case, the truth of the original myth—but that are also willing to explore new perspectives and focus on characters not so prominent in the original mythos. Xolotl was a perfect choice for a protagonist because there is not much known about him, giving Higuera plenty of creative freedom to explore his character. I found the idea of discovering something you care about and holding onto it in order to get through bad days to be relatable. Though perhaps not quite on the scale of what Xolotl goes through in the story, I was reminded of how during hard days at work I find myself thinking of better times with old pets or friends to reassure myself that I will have more days like those eventually, if I just get through the rough present day. The illustrations are vibrant but not overwhelming, and the style itself was a great simplification of ancient Aztec art. I did have gripes with the design choices of many pages, where white text was placed on a pale yellow background which made it incredibly difficult to read the text. I’m curious what a physical version of the book would look like, if the yellow would be darker and therefore make it easier to read the white text. Overall though, I found Xolo to be a fun introduction to Aztec myths—never once did I find myself confused because I didn’t know any existing folklore, and the ending is not one I see in many novels.

Xolo releases on November 4th, 2025.

Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Levine Querido for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic novel retelling of the Aztec myth of the origin of man - and dogs. The original legend holds that Quetzalcoatl stole the bones of humans back from the evil god of the Underworld. Quetzalcoatl's twin, dog-headed Xolotl (aka Xolo), was the god of lightning, death, and misfortune. Also an escort to/through the underworld!

People lived on the earth but one day, it stopped spinning and everything died. Sort of like the flood story but everything and everyone died. The stars and the gods rained down from the heavens. Their plan was to start everything over again. But being gods, they got caught up in their own glory and forgot. When you have all eternity to work with, time can seem irrelevant.

Meanwhile, another god, Mictlantecuhtli, roamed the earth and gathered up all the human bones. All the gods made fun of him and he ran away to the underworld. Mictlantecuhtli is often depicted as a blood spattered skeleton - or wearing a crown of bones.

Then the gods decided to cast themselves into a volcano and that would help restart the world. It worked! Slowly. Because Xolo was afraid and didn't jump into the lava. So his mom punished him by making him carry the sun at night through the underworld. In the original myth, Quetzalcoatl receives the glory for coming up with a plan to restart humans by sneaking into the underworld and stealing the bones back from Mictlantecuhtli. But in this reimagining, it is dog headed Xolo who creates a plan to help restart human life. And, in the process, helps create the loving relationship that often exists between dogs and men.

It's a great story - I don't know a lot about Aztec mythology but it's always intriguing to look at origin stories from different cultures. If I had one request it would be to offer a pronunciation guide for the names of the Aztec gods. Shortening Xolotl to Xolo was helpful! And hey - the axolotl? It's named after Xolo. If you look at the images of the god - they do look alike!

[Dest · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for the art, it's fantastic. And 3 stars for the text because it read a little clunky to me. Xolo is kind of a sad sack and the story is mostly told from his POV. I would've preferred if an omniscient narrator had told the whole story. Still, I think this would make a good read-aloud for parent and child (if the grown-up can handle pronouncing the names of the Aztec gods; there's no pronunciation guide).

Every page has glossy, full-color illustrations, so this feels like a novel-length picture book (though not novel-length in word count; the audiobook version is only 57 minutes). I didn't listen to the whole thing (why would you listen to this when the illustrations are the best part?), so I'm not sure how it handles the wordless parts where the pictures tell the story. I was pronouncing Xolo like "Ts-olo" (similar to the name Xiomara), but the audiobook narrator pronounced it more like "Sh-olo".

It reminded me of Wicked and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs because it tells an alternative version of an old story. The villain becomes the hero! Or at least a more sympathetic character than in the original.

The illustrator snuck in a little reference to axolotls, which were named for Xolotl. That's fun. Another Xolo book out this year would be a good companion read: Popo the Xolo. It's about a Xolo dog guiding a grandma through death.

How I would book talk this: You've heard of Dog Man, but do you know about the Dog God?!

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kind of corrective for the legend of Quetzalcoatl, that says his twin brother, Xolotl, has a lot more about him that is good and worthwhile and friendly towards man than we thought. It's certainly of interest, but won't be the best read for people outside the cultures who understand these Mexican mythologies. The echt Aztec myth says Xolotl was the evil, dark, ugly twin, and when in the underworld just passed the sun back around from the west to the east, keeping it safe from monsters, so that Quetzalcoatl could guide it on its daily course across the heavens. But before that state of play, the world was under threat and there were no humans – the demonic god of the underworld had taken all our bones. While not being brave enough to join in with the other gods and do his bit, Xolotl had always wanted to restore our bones and to get the world moving as always planned… But his brother got there first, right?

It's not too bad a picture book – sometimes cartoonishly showing the story, as in a few pages where four distinct images point out events wordlessly. But the other pages can vary heavily between having five words and having space left for five other words than the ones dumped all over them. It feels uneven, then, and not as perfectly friendly as it might have been. And despite – or perhaps because of – the imagery being so definitively and excellently Aztec in origin, I still maintain this isn't for all audiences. The long and clumsy names of the deities are just one aspect that means this is a sort of Just So story for a select few. They might deem this four stars or more, for me it's three and a half.

[Allie IG: alliesannotation · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️: 4/5
Format: 📱e-ARC

I haven't read a younger-grade book in awhile, and this book reminded me why I should.

Xolo is a retelling of the Quetzalcoatl legend/myth (which, admittedly, I wasn't familiar with! The author note was very helpful to orient me!), with the added perspective of the god Xolotl, and a reimagining asking: what if Xolotl was actually the unknown hero of the story?

First off, the artwork in this is *stunning*. The illustrator did such a phenomenal job with adding an entirely new level to the storytelling through images. The color, the style, I'm just a big, big fan. The book focused so much on having courage in the face of fear and the way the illustrator chose to portray that fear, when it feels all-encompassing, was really nicely done, and I think will resonate with younger readers very well.

The story itself was also really great. I liked that it was separated into parts, and that there was so much backstory to really set things up. While I felt it was a bit long (right length for middle-grade, just odd for what felt more like a picture book), I think that background is going to be really great for introducing more kids to Mexican cultural folklore and mythology and help them enjoy this story more.

I also really felt the heartstrings tug when Xolo met the dog and realized the role he played in creating man's best friend. It was such a sweet part of the storyline that I just really enjoyed.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚡️"Okay, listen, I’m finally telling my side of the story." Meet Xolotl, the snarkiest god of death.

Xolo by Donna Barba Higuera takes this ancient Aztec myth and spins it into a vibrant, kinetic tale full of giant gods, bone-stealing quests, sizzling lightning, and a surprising amount of sibling chaos courtesy of Quetzalcoatl, the golden child of legend.

The art? Stunning! Absolutely stunning! Every page bursts with color and energy in a way that makes the whole story feel alive like the gods might leap right off the paper and start bickering beside you.

But the thing that grabbed my heart was how deeply human Xolotl feels beneath all the divine thunder and gloom. He’s misunderstood, underestimated, and frankly judged on some very rude PR. So watching him bumble, blast, rage, and ultimately fight for something bigger than himself made me cheer for him in a way I did not expect. Also? The origin of humans and the first dog has never been so charming, chaotic, or emotionally satisfying.

By the end, I was ready to petition the universe for more stories told by monsters who turn out to have the biggest, brightest, barkiest hearts of all.

⚡️Thank you Levine Querido and Donna Barba Higuera for sharing this book with me!

[Johanna ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC!

“Is it more important that others witness something grandiose...? Or, to do something quietly magnificent, that none will ever know?”

I am a huge fan of this author's work and her beautiful writing paired with stunning illustrations is the whole package. This is not a strict retelling, but instead re-imagines the myth of Quetzalcoatl and his brother Xolo, giving the story a unique twist. I loved the themes of integrity, kindness and courage which were presented in an accessible way that left me feeling inspired. It is perfect for anyone who has dwelt in the shadows, but hasn't let it stop them from doing great things. I very much related to Xolo, which sounds strange, but sometimes it helps to be reminded that you don't need to be the loudest person in a room to matter. This book is also perfect for any dog-lovers out there! I read this in one sitting but can definitely see myself revisiting it in the future and would highly recommend. Happy Reading :)

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not in the top-three things I'm trying to accomplish for the year, but I've been marking off the NetGalley A-Z challenge and am down to only half a dozen letters. Finding this was serendipitous, as Xs are hard to come by; I probably wouldn't have chosen it otherwise.

This a GN for mostly-independent readers, or for young readers to read with help. A pronunciation guide would make this more accessible (for everyone not well-versed with the culture of origin, but especially for younger readers). The story arc can be a bit clunky at times, but it would make sense if based on traditional mythologies-- however, as it's marked as a "singular reimagining," the author could maybe have taken a tad more artistic license in shaping the story.

The artwork is wonderful; it's very consistent throughout and complements the story well.

Recommended for public library collections, and for grade-school readers who like books based on various mythologies.

eARC from NetGalley.

[Lila Danisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars rounded up to 5 stars because my heart hurt for Xolo. This might be only the retelling of the 'real' stories about Xolotl, Quetzalcoatl, Mictlantecuhtli, and other Aztec gods, but I really felt the hurt Xolo had and how he really looked down on himself badly just because he was hesitant and loved humans so bad. I hated his twin, Quetzalcoatl, and even his mother, Chimalma, who treated them unfairly. I loved how the author made the ending beautifully and full of hopefulness for Xolo. No matter what the real ending was for him, I will only believe this book ending for Xolotl and mostly for my sake.

The illustrations were so good. They still had the touch of the real Aztec illustrations. But the cartoon-like and child friendly colorful illustrations made it lovely to the eyes.

Before this book, I only had very little idea about Aztec mythology. Though afterward, I found it was interesting subjects to learn. So, thanks to this book, another knowledge opened up for me.

Thank you to Donna Barba Higuera, Levine Querido, and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Jennyfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xolo is the tale of the dog-headed Aztec god Xolotl, and how he became the god of lightning and guardian of the underworld. The tale is told from Xolo's own perspective, as he explains his rivalry with his brother Quetzalcoatl and the other, unkind gods, why he didn't jump into the volcano to restore the sun, and his subsequent battles with Mictlantecuhtli, got of the dead, to save humanity.

The book is all about quiet achievement. While Quetzalcoatl gets the glory of reigning over the sun and the sky, Xolotl's deeds were the quiet ones that matters even if nobody shouted it from the rooftops. It's well written for a middle grade audience, and the colourful illustrations are based off the Mexican manuscript, the Codex Borgia.

I didn't know any Aztec mythology prior to reading this. This book is a wonderful introduction to these myths and has inspired me to look up more.

~This is a NetGalley ARC. All opinions are my own~

[Danita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Levine Querido and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of Xolo! All opinions are completely my own.

I went into the book with not much knowledge about Aztec mythology, so this was a fun way to learn about it. The artwork in the book looks Aztec-inspired, and I liked how colorful it was. The gods had their actual Aztec names, which I wasn’t very good at pronouncing some of them, but otherwise the story was easy to understand.

This book is retelling a story about Xolotl, one of the Aztec gods. Xolo was a relatable character. I think his story provides some valuable lessons, like how an outcast or perceived monster can actually be a hero. I also liked how it tied in to dogs and their special connection to humans.

I think this book would most appeal to children, probably in older grade school. The pictures keep it from feeling overwhelming while providing more substance than a picture book.

[Geova_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, can't believe I'm the first review for this book, but I'm super glad that I got the eARC; thanks to Levine Querido and Edelweiss.

As someone who basically lives thinking always about death and the underworld and who loves mythology, you don't have any idea how excited I was when I got this book, I don't usually read children's books, but when I read what this book is about I get really interested in this one. This is the story of Xolotl, the mexica god of lightling, fire and death, and how he doesn't fit with the other gods. It was super cute and the adaptation of the myths was amazing, loved it. The illustrations were incredible and even the color pallette resembles mexica art.

I won't spoil anything but c'mon, there are dogs here, read it when it comes out this november :D

[Jesse | jessereviewsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone that tends to enjoy cultural folklore and mythologies, I was excited to see this children's picture book about the Aztec god of fire, lightning, and death. I don't really know anything about the Mexican and Aztec gods so I thought it would be fun way to learn. What we get a cute story/introduction to Xolotl (Xolo for short) who has the head of a dog, who decides to choose thunder and lightning as what he will be god for, and is the lesser know twin brother of Quetzalcoatl. While his brother is the more famous legend, it's really Xolo that plays a pivotal role in helping create the human race and allowing the sun to move across the sky. This is a fun, cute way to learn about the mythology behind a few of the Aztec gods. The artwork is stunning and every page has something beautiful to look at. This can be a fun book for children that are interested in the Aztec, or folklore in general.

Thanks to Edelweiss for providing me with a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nico bookreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thanks Editor and Netgalley for the ARC of Xolo.
The book is a full journey through deep and sensitive moments that are always by our side, we can feel despair, joy eagerness, bravery and kindness and also recognize that rewards aren't always on the moment, a powerful retelling of the Aztec myth of Xolotl, the dog god, keeper of the underworld travel and guard of the humans in their path to the forever after, I could feel the loyalty and the bravery despite fear that Xolo felt and also his despair at the unjust treatment he was given, I kinda hate the mocking gods, but as the book teaches us, sometimes know you did the right thing is enough of a reward and will guide you to new beginnings filled with joy, because you know, not even the underworld is all darkness and fears, there's light and joy there too, just keep on going ✨
Thank you author.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xolo. Donna Barba Higuera and Mariana Ruiz Johnson. Levine Querido, release date November 4 2025. 224 pages. Ages 7-10.

I bought a copy of this book to read during a break at the Southern Festival of Books this past weekend, and it proved to be a great discovery. I wish I had attended the author's session. It's a beautifully illustrated children's story of Aztec mythology. Aztec creator and feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl had a dog-headed twin brother, a hideous monster, named Xolotl. Shunned and denigrated by his brother and the other gods, Xolotl struggles to find himself and his function in the realm of the gods. Of course, he becomes the hero, rescuing mankind from extinction and becoming the powerful Lord of the Underworld, In the process, he creates dogs as humanity's most loyal and devoted companions. If there's a child in your life that is interested in other cultures, mythology, and art, especially a child who love dogs, this book will be a huge hit. And if there is not such a child in your life, get a copy for yourself. You'll love it.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Even in darkness, loyalty can be a kind of light.”
🐕
The Aztec god Xolotl—guardian of the underworld and twin of Quetzalcoatl—takes center stage in an unforgettable journey of redemption. When humanity’s light fades, Xolo must face gods, monsters, and his own fears to bring balance back to the world. Told with humor, heart, and mythic wonder, this story reimagines ancient legend through a lens of love, courage, and sacrifice.
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This book absolutely stunned me. @donnabarbahiguera gives Xolo so much heart—he’s fierce, funny, and deeply loyal—and the illustrations by @marianaruizjohnson make every page glow. It’s one of those stories that lingers, reminding you that even the most unlikely hero can save the world. Happy book birthday yesterday & I loved chatting with her, Marzieh and Veeda today in the webinar!

CW: death, violence, grief, loss

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dog-headed monster? Mayan Gods? Yes please.

Quetzalcoatl has a twin brother, Xolotl, who is as odd-looking as his brother is handsome. Xolotl was the last to choose a power and wound up with lightning and thunder, and as punishment for not following through with a test of the Gods, he was placed underground, to guide the sun from setting to rising, when he passed off the sun to Quetzalcoatl. Xolotl must hide the sun from the Lord of the Underground, he who stole all the human bones from the Earth, and he who keeps the humans from their rebirth.

But Xolo secretly goes against the Lord of the Underground to gather up all the human bones and return them to the surface, losing one of his claws in the process. And because of that loss, something happens on the surface that no one expected...

A very sweet story about an outsider who changes the course of the world.