Macario Dromedario. (Macario, the Camel)
Reviewed by Ann Welton, Grant Center for the Expressive Arts, Tacoma, WA -- Críticas, 10/1/2008
Chaundler, Rachel.
illus. by Bernardo Carvalho. Spain: OQO Editora. 2008. 32p. 978-84-9871-055-7. $17.95.
Gr 1-3–Macario is a crybaby. While this may be an irritating trait in humans, it represents a larger problem for a camel. Macario's constant crying has reduced his hump to an alarmingly small size. His worried parents continuously coddle him and won't let him play in the sand dunes with the other young camels. When Macario happens to see his older brothers cavorting with a hedgehog, he bursts into tears at the blatant injustice. He cries until he is standing in a puddle of his own tears and realizes that his hump is entirely gone. The hedgehog advises him to go look for it and vows to help him find it, but only if he stops crying. What follows is a display of courage that enables Macario to regain his lost hump. Simple cartoon illustrations convey a world of meaning in the facial expressions of the characters, making those of the irascible hedgehog particularly endearing. While the story line is a bit predictable, the clear shapes and large blocks of color make this an excellent choice for young children, and the story will serve as a good starting point for a discussion about the definition of "bravery." A good additional purchase for libraries serving large Hispanic populations.
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