An energetic young mother, black ponytail jauntily flipping, is accompanied by her equally energetic curly-topped bebé on an outing to the supermercado, “a really big store . . . with groceries galore.” Bebé, strapped into the shopping cart, predictably longs for a sweet, grabs things off the shelves, drops Mamá’s keys and is finally entertained with a box of animal crackers. The rhyming text, with its mix of English in Spanish, captivates, despite an occasional sacrifice of sense for the sake of the rhyme. (“Mamá wears a dress—a vestido bonito. / It blocks Bebé’s view as she steers the carrito.” Salerno’s cheerful, energetic swirls of color and line, ample white space and changing perspectives transform an everyday outing into a dramatic adventure that will leave readers smiling along with Mamá and Bebé. (glossary of Spanish words with pronunciation key) (Picture book. 2-6)
