A young monster befriends the human child he’s been assigned to scare in this spooky-funny chapter book debut from Newbery Medal–winning author Donna Barba Higuera, with illustrations throughout by Juliana Perdomo

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

But when a young cucuy who’s 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’s 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.

Featuring two-color illustrations throughout, this first chapter book from Newbery Medal–winning author Donna Barba Higuera and acclaimed artist Juliana Perdomo delightfully blends sly humor, light spookiness, and lots of heart, and is perfect for fans of Jon Klassen’s The Skull.

More Aventuras with Ramón and El Cucuy (Picture Books):
El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!
It’s Navidad, El Cucuy!