Viva Cisco

Viva Cisco
Patrick Shannon
Outskirts Press, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-4327-3037-6
Fiction, Children's Chapter Book
Reviewed by Kathy Johnson

The hero, Cisco, is a Parrot who is known for his skill with words. The book is actually three chapter books in one. These stories are set in Topopootl, Mexico in a beautiful valley far from humans. The animals speak and have their own government.

In the first book, Cisco has decided that he is not famous enough and he starts looking at those around him who are famous, like Benito the famous flamenco dancing javelina, for ideas on new activities Cisco can do in order to gain fame. The wrestling cockroaches were both funny and taught Cisco a lesson about size not making victory certain. Cisco has misadventures when he tries to be something he is not and when he makes assumptions about how quickly he will become skilled at new sports.

In the second book, things start disappearing from the animals’ homes, sometimes even while they are at home sleeping. Cisco decides to become a shamus, or detective and investigate the thefts. In the course of his investigations, he manages to wrongly accuse a few of his fellow Topopootlans. His friend Alfonso is worried that Cisco is in search of fame and will get himself into more jams. In the end Cisco learns about investigating, not jumping to conclusions, and accepting and organizing help.

In the third book, Cisco and his friends solve another mystery about why the Topopootlans celebrate the skunks every five years and what great forgotten thing the skunks did for all the Topopootlans. Cisco is given some clues by Old Parrot that sent he and four friends on a journey. During their search, Cisco and his four friends Alfonso, Benito, Jose, and Juan travel far through the human territory to reach an ancient pyramid that holds the secret they seek. Working together they overcome some dangers and figure out how to reach their goal.

This entertaining book is filled with both suspense and humor. I would gladly recommend it to youth readers. Younger readers may enjoy having it read to them. I especially enjoyed the tricks Old Parrot plays on his visitors. I also enjoyed the various characters and their delightful personalities. From an old fish, the Gurgler, to a feminine ocelot, Carmencita, they each have their unique attitudes and reactions to Cisco and his efforts.