Katie Llera - School Library Journal

José is bursting with excitement as he runs off of the school bus. He was selected to be on his school's soccer team! José's pet dog, Feliz (Spanish for happy), is also bursting with excitement at the sight of José. When José arrives home, his family, including Feliz, greet him and give him some special gifts. José receives a soccer ball, net, and cones to practice with at home. The boy jumps into action and starts practicing outside with Feliz. When Feliz gets a bit confused and plays fetch with the soccer ball, José tells Feliz that he cannot. José brings Feliz to practice, where he once again joins in and starts playing with the soccer ball. At first José is nervous that the coach will be mad at Feliz, but the coach laughs it off and gives Feliz a team uniform to wear. The day of the big game arrives, and José is excited to play. Will the dog obey? This chapter book is a great choice for children looking to go beyond easy readers. Vibrant, colorful illustrations give the book a joyful look that readers will gravitate toward. Bilingual text integrated into the story has enough context clues for non-Spanish speakers; there is also a glossary of words and phrases in the back. VERDICT An excellent addition to early chapter book collections. This title has so much promise for readers who are learning Spanish, interested in soccer, or have a love of dogs.