Published by Dial Books

Summary:  Pedro’s house feels pretty small with his parents and eight brothers and sisters, so when he learns that his grandfather is coming to live with the family, he’s not happy.  Not only that, but the whole family has to travel to Mexico to pick up Abuelito.  The kids are divided into two groups: the five oldest were born in Mexico, and the younger four, including Pedro, arrived after the family had moved to California.  The older group takes a pick-up truck for the big road trip, and the rest of the family travels in a used RV.  There are plenty of adventures both on the trip and during the weeks they spend in Mexico with their extended family.  Pedro is in awe of his grandfather, who was part of the Mexican revolution, but by the end of the trip, he’s shown he has a few heroic qualities of his own.  Available in both English and Spanish language editions.  320 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  This road trip graphic novel strikes the perfect balance between funny and poignant, featuring a memorable immigrant family with ties to both Mexico and the United States.  Readers of a certain age will appreciate the loving references to Star Wars, Fleetwood Mac, Happy Days, and other 1970’s touchstones.

Cons:  I found the font a little hard to read, particularly the lowercase d’s that looked more like a’s.