Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Maria Gabriela Gama (Illustrated by)
Feb 10, 2026
Hardcover
Juvenile Fiction / Places / Mexico / Diversity & Multicultural / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Country & Cultural
Ages 5 to 8, Grades K to 3
Melissa Cristina Márquez pens another story perfect for young readers and pet owners! Leo is on the search for the "perfect" pet and stumbles upon one in an unexpected place. But in this colorful and quirky picture book, he quickly learns that sometimes raising a pet requires a village.
Leo is thrilled when he and his family enter a shelter so he can adopt a new pet, but after searching for a while, Leo doesn’t feel the connection he had hoped for and leaves feeling disappointed. On the way home, he and his family see a busy marketplace and find another shelter hidden inside: one for magical creatures! There Leo connects with an alebrije, their bond forming before they can even leave the shelter. But he quickly learns just how much responsibility comes with raising a pet.
Leo is thrilled when he and his family enter a shelter so he can adopt a new pet, but after searching for a while, Leo doesn’t feel the connection he had hoped for and leaves feeling disappointed. On the way home, he and his family see a busy marketplace and find another shelter hidden inside: one for magical creatures! There Leo connects with an alebrije, their bond forming before they can even leave the shelter. But he quickly learns just how much responsibility comes with raising a pet.
