Deedy, Carmen Agra. Carina Felina. Illustrated by Henry Cole. Scholastic, 2023. 978-1-338-74916-8. Unpaged. $19.99. Grades PK-3.

Oh, Carina Felina. The cat who believes, “I do what I like and earth what I wish.” Carina Feliina. She behaves badly and eats anyone who objects, from the parrot whose crackers she consumed, to the florist whose lilies she destroyed. When the oxcart man objects to her bad behavior, he, too, is consumed.  No one in her community seems to be safe from Carina Farina… until she meets two clever crabs who decide to take a stand and rescue those she has eaten. Carina Felina learns her lesson and becomes a very picky eater. Back matter shares the history of the Carina Farina story, the pronunciation/meaning of Spanish words included in the story, and a recipe for Cuban Crackers.

THOUGHTS: Carina Felina has much for young readers to love. Henry Cole’s illustrations bring the story to life in a boldly colored village filled with expressive characters. Portions of the text repeat and rhyme as the story builds, inviting developing readers to join in the reading. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the story, adding to its Caribbean feel and appeal to those who love language. Carina Felina is just naughty and arrogant enough to keep the pages turning as readers ask “What next!?,” and the crabs are unlikely heroes that make the reader think about cleverness hidden in small packages. The premise of the story will be familiar to those who have sung about the Old Lady and the Fly, but different enough to feel fresh and new. Recommended to those looking for a fresh take on an old favorite as well as those seeking books that incorporate Spanish language into storytelling.

Picture Book