Donna Barba Higuera grew up dodging dust devils in the oil fields of central California. She was a daydreamer, constantly blending life experiences and folklore into stories. Higuera currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, two dogs, 11 chickens, and one frog. She is the author of the picture books El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! and It's Navidad, El Cucuy!, both illustrated by Juliana Perdomo, and she is also the author of the middle-grade novels The Last Cuentista, winner of the Newbery Medal and Pura Belpré Award, Alebrijes, winner of the Pura Belpré Honor, and Lupe Wong Won't Dance, winner of a Pura Belpré Honor, the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor, and a Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award. Juliana Perdomo is a Colombian poet and illustrator with a background in psychology and art therapy. She has illustrated many books for children, including How to Eat a Mango, which earned four starred reviews, and the El Cucuy books by Donna Barba Higuera. Her authorial debut, Sometimes All I Need is Me, received an Ezra Jack Keats Honor for writing, and her work has been recognized as Best of the Year by the New York Public Library and Bank Street Books. She shares her life with her amazing son, Luca, her rocker husband, Iván, and a beautiful dog named Martina.

***STARRED REVIEW***

"Tantalizing bits of monstrous worldbuilding and humor derived from the little cucuy's befuddled fascination with the human realm elevate the story to exuberant heights."

"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"

"El Cucuy's limited understanding of the human world provides plenty of humor, while the story's message about the value of chosen families and the universal need for belonging comes through loud and clear."-- "Horn Book Magazine"