The Unlikely Aventuras of Ramón and El Cucuy Audiobook

A young monster befriends the human child he has been assigned to scare, in this spooky-funny chapter book debut from Newbery Medal–winning author Donna Barba Higuera.

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

But when a young cucuy who is 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 is 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.

This first chapter book from Newbery Medal–winning author Donna Barba Higuera delightfully blends sly humor, light spookiness, and lots of heart and is perfect for fans of Jon Klassen’s The Skull.

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“Higuera offers a witty and tender inversion of traditional monster tales…The prose is brisk, fun, and emotionally astute, balancing light, spooky elements with genuine reflections on childhood vulnerability and character growth…This title skillfully combines accessible language, cultural richness, and emotional resonance.”

— Booklist