In Antigua, Guatemala... on the streets, on the farms, in the market, and in many homes live lots of dogs and cats. Some are gray, some are brown, and still more are white; each living in different areas of the colonial city, such as the mercado, downtown, and at Caoba Farms.

The most important of all the animals in Antigua (even he would say so) is Uno el Gato, a smart and pretty clever cat. Because he is able to escape the house where he lives, Uno acts as a messenger between all of the chuchos in the city. Though they are from different groups from different parts of the city, these chuchos, or street dogs, all rely on each other to stay safe. And, mostly, life is good for them.

One day, however, Uno learns that a few of the dogs from Caoba Farms are missing and their chucho friends that live there are very worried. Where are the chuchos disappearing to? Which ones? How? And why? With the information that he learns on the streets, Uno el Gato calls on all of his skills in order to help out his amigos, the chuchos from Caoba Farms. Is Uno really as brilliant as he thinks, or is he just another cute cat who thinks he’s “all that”?

Level 1
Unique Words: <200
Total Words: 4,600
Tense(s): present
Glossary: yes

©2020. Spanish. Level 1. High school. 5 x 8 inches. Softcover, 68 pages.

About the Author

Jennifer Degenhardt taught middle and high school Spanish for 24 years. She decided to combine her language skills with storytelling, specifically involving kids and culture. Her books highlight cultural, social, economic, and political themes necessary for continued conversation, both inside and outside the classroom. She hopes her stories will provide a platform for discussion, as anything can be solved—to some degree—with a conversation.