What do you get when you mix sumo wrestling and Lucha libre? Find out in this funny and exuberant cross-cultural story celebrating two iconic wrestling styles, perfect for fans of Yuyi Morales’s Niño Wrestles the World. Max loves to wrestle, and thinks lucha libre is the best sport ever! Kenji loves to wrestle, and thinks sumo wrestling is the best sport ever times 1000! What was an enjoyable day showing off their favorite wrestling moves has now turned into a nasty disagreement. But when Max and Kenji go their separate ways, they quickly learn that wrestling is no fun by yourself. With apologies exchanged and a friendship restored, Max and Kenji turn their love of wrestling into a magical day for their neighbors. In this exciting mash up of lucha libre and sumo wrestling, Sumo Libre teaches how to overcome differences and work together to create something special.
Joe Cepeda received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach, and also studied Engineering at Cornell University. He is a fine artist, as well as an illustrator of more than thirty-five book jackets and picture books, which have received many honors including Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, Parenting Magazine’s Reading Magic Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, Texas Library Association 2x2 Reading List, ALA Notable Books, and Child Magazine’s Best Book of the Year. Joe illustrated Hey, Hey, Hay! by Christy Mihaly, ¡Vamonos! Let’s Go! by Rene Colato Lainez, and Swing Sisters by Karen Deans. He both wrote and illustrated two I Like to Read books–Up and I Dig. Joe received an American Library Association Pura Belprè Honor and the Recognition of Merit Award from the George G. Stone Center for Children’s Books. He lives in Southern California.
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