Love this series so much. It was great to get an origin story! ( )

Along with his brothers, the young mosquito Elirio Malaria has a great passion for farting contests, but he is also an artist with a passion for words and painting murals, but when a bunch of bigger bullies deface his art, he is both outraged and broken-hearted. Suddenly the bullies are distracted by a runaway bicycle speeding down the street. The jam the spokes to stop it, throwing its rider Flapjack Octopus del Mar, Jr. from his seat and right into Elrio’s arms. He’s glad to be saved but horrified that his new bike is bent out of shape. Fortunately for both Flapjack and Elrio, Lupe Impala is riding by. She stops to help them fix the bike, and then invites them to her moms’ junk shop and workshop. This is the beginning of a lowrider car club that will someday soar into the heavens.

But first, for our young heroes, there are famous artists to be recognized, a kitten to be adopted, papel picados to be created and admired, the workings of an airbrush to be explained, a car contest to be won, discrimination to be overcome, and bullies to be defeated. Plus, many Spanish and indigenous words to be learned and painted. It’s a cultural fiesta in vivid black, white, blue, red and green to be explored and savored! ( )

This is the origin story of Lupe, Flapjack and Elirio's friendship. They come together over a love of lowriders and as targets of the gang known as Los Matamoscas who won't allow females to enter their car show. Lupe's moms' car is vandalized and the young friends set about cleaning and repainting it, determined to enter it in the show. Spanish words are sprinkled liberally throughout with asterisked translations at the bottom of the pages. Backmatter includes a Spanish glossary and notes about aspects of the content, including indigenous words, a Los Angeles art collective, and ivory-billed woodpeckers. ( )