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Training Day

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By Raúl the Third
New York: Versify, 2021. Early reader graphic novel.

Famous luchador El Toro has a big lucha libre match coming up, but he has a big problem -- all he wants to do is sleep! He is too sleepy to run around the block, catch chickens, carry abuelas across the street, or crush cars into cubes to get strong. Luckily, he has a relentlessly energetic trainer -- the rooster called Kooky Dooky -- who refuses to let El Toro give up. 

This early reader graphic novel jumps back into the World of ¡Vamos! from Raúl the Third's Pura Belpre winning picture book series. Spanish words and phrases are peppered throughout the text and are subtly taught to readers with an English translation either preceding or following the text. Comic fans will love the super vibrant, richly detailed frames that look and feel like vintage lucha posters. This is the start of a must read graphic novel series filled with delightful illustrations and a great introduction to visual literacy.
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