Chato, the coolest cat in East L.A., and his buddy, Novio Boy, prepare to serve up a special housewarming party for their new neighbors, a family of mice, in which their guests are also the main course, but the mice bring along their own guest, Chorizo, the toughest dog in the barrio. - (Baker & Taylor)

To get the "ratoncitos," little mice, who have moved into the barrio to come to his house, Chato the cat prepares all kinds of good food, fajitas, frijoles, salsa, enchiladas, and more - (Baker & Taylor)

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Richly textured paintings on scratchboard backgrounds capture the flavor of Chato's barrio, a colorful Latino neighborhood. Chato and Novio Boy, two cats, prepare a sumptuous Mexican fiesta and invite the new mouse family next door, intendign to make the mice part of the meal. The [cf2]ratoncitos[cf1] (little mice) and their canine friend foil the hungry cats' culinary surprise. Glossary of Spanish words included. Copyright 1998 Horn Book Guide Reviews

Publishers Weekly Reviews

Soto (Too Many Tamales) commands a poet's gift for defining characters quickly, densely and, in this case, with hilariously choice words. Paired with Guevara's (The Boardwalk Princess) wickedly funny, urban paints, Soto's story of Chato, a cool, ``low-riding cat'' of East Los Angeles, is a scream. Chato and his friend Novio Boy plan a dinner for (and, they hope, of) the new mice next door. But the mice bring a surprise guest named Chorizo (sausage), who turns out to be a truly low-riding dachshund. Foiled, the cats resign themselves to mouseless fajitas. It's a basic enough tale, but close to brilliant in its execution. Guevara's cats are delicious send-ups of barrio characters, and Soto's words glisten with wit: ``We brought Chorizo,' Mami mouse called./ Sausage! Chato and Novio Boy danced, and with clean paws they gave each other a `low-four.'" Salud to this magical pairing of talents. Ages 4-8. (Mar.) Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information.