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El Toro & Friends #1
Training Day: El Toro & Friends: A Graphic Novel
Readers will fall in love with Raúl the Third's unique visual style as Kooky Dooky helps luchador El Toro train for his next wrestling match! Perfect for readers of Elephant and Piggie, comic book fans, and kids looking to practice both Spanish and English.
56 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2021
90 people want to read
About the author
Raúl the Third
40 books74 followersRaúl The Third is an award-winning illustrator, author, and artist living in Boston. His work centers around the contemporary Mexican-American experience and his memories of growing up in El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 2, 2022
Para recibir mucho, es necesario dar mucho - GO GET THEM EL TORO! Really liked this book - the illustrations remind me of all the cartoons I use to love to watch as a child. El Toro works hard to master his craft; he understands that it is the only way he can get to be the best in the ring. Inspirational and fun!
December 13, 2021
I can see why some young children would really like this. It's easy, and quick and has fun illustrations. As an adult, it wasn't that exciting.
June 10, 2021
Kooky Dooky helps El Toro get ready for the big match.
May 7, 2021
We love Kooky Dooky! Raul's books are so colorful and fun. My boys have already read this several times.
January 10, 2021
Another thrilling venture into the versatile world of Vamos! Young readers will be captivated when they leave the ring to see behind the scenes of El Toro's Training Day! Readers will root for el campeón El Toro!
June 14, 2023
Spinning off from the very popular series ¡vamos! (Let's Go!) comes this bilingual graphic novel from Raul the Third!
El Toro is a very popular luchador (that's a masked wrestler who combats in lucha libre style wrestling. He's about to take on the world champ. But El Toro is just too lazy to train. Thankfully, he's got encouragement in the form of his trainer, Kooky Dooky.
I recently read and reviewed the all-ages graphic novel Lowriders to the Rescue. It was the amazing artwork by Raul the Third that I was a huge fan of. I am in awe of Mexican artwork. Especially sugar skulls. While Raul the Third doesn't seem to have added any of those signature dia del los muertos decorations in this book, it's that art style I became enamored with in my previous experience with Raul the Third which flourishes throughout every page..
Adding to the wonderment of the art is the brilliant color palette used. Mega kudos to Elaine Bay on making every page explode with color.
Training Day is a little bit silly. But it's also a little bit of a travel guide about Mexican culture. Plus it's a language lesson book as well. I love that Raul the Third first has the characters say phrases first in English and then follow up in Spanish. I've read a few bilingual comics that assume that the reader knows both Spanish and English. Here, the author allows readers to see how the two sentences might be saying the same thing. But he also shows how the voice and sentence structure can change in translation.
Training Day was published in 2021. There's currently 4 books in the World of ¡vamos! series. I think with the most current release of Tacos Today in March, 2023, that's why my local library had this and the other 4 books in the series on the new shelf.
Amazon recommends this book for readers ages 6-8. I think that's a perfect age group for this book. If you know of a child that speaks English as their primary language and they're about to start learning Spanish in grades 1-3, get them this book! If you have a young readers in which English is a second language, get them to this book. Forget the age suggestions. Books like this one can be a valuable tool helping integrate Spanish speaking students who are learning English into the multilingual integrated classroom.
I hope that Raul the Third continues to produce important learning tools such as this one. I also hope parents, guardians and teachers will use these books to teach both English and Spanish.
El Toro is a very popular luchador (that's a masked wrestler who combats in lucha libre style wrestling. He's about to take on the world champ. But El Toro is just too lazy to train. Thankfully, he's got encouragement in the form of his trainer, Kooky Dooky.
I recently read and reviewed the all-ages graphic novel Lowriders to the Rescue. It was the amazing artwork by Raul the Third that I was a huge fan of. I am in awe of Mexican artwork. Especially sugar skulls. While Raul the Third doesn't seem to have added any of those signature dia del los muertos decorations in this book, it's that art style I became enamored with in my previous experience with Raul the Third which flourishes throughout every page..
Adding to the wonderment of the art is the brilliant color palette used. Mega kudos to Elaine Bay on making every page explode with color.
Training Day is a little bit silly. But it's also a little bit of a travel guide about Mexican culture. Plus it's a language lesson book as well. I love that Raul the Third first has the characters say phrases first in English and then follow up in Spanish. I've read a few bilingual comics that assume that the reader knows both Spanish and English. Here, the author allows readers to see how the two sentences might be saying the same thing. But he also shows how the voice and sentence structure can change in translation.
Training Day was published in 2021. There's currently 4 books in the World of ¡vamos! series. I think with the most current release of Tacos Today in March, 2023, that's why my local library had this and the other 4 books in the series on the new shelf.
Amazon recommends this book for readers ages 6-8. I think that's a perfect age group for this book. If you know of a child that speaks English as their primary language and they're about to start learning Spanish in grades 1-3, get them this book! If you have a young readers in which English is a second language, get them to this book. Forget the age suggestions. Books like this one can be a valuable tool helping integrate Spanish speaking students who are learning English into the multilingual integrated classroom.
I hope that Raul the Third continues to produce important learning tools such as this one. I also hope parents, guardians and teachers will use these books to teach both English and Spanish.
March 15, 2022
El Torro and Friends: Training Day is an explosion of Mexican culture. The illustrations are bursting with emotion and action while authentically reflecting the Mexican culture of El Paso, Tx where the author is from. The sentences are short and to the point, mixed in with easy Spanish words such as Number one! Numero Uno! Or I want to stay in bed. Quiero querdarme in la cama. Spanish words are colored purple to prompt the reader that it is in a different language. Readers will love the humor El Toro and Kooky Dooky share and the wild training. This is a must for beginning readers transitioning from picture books.
October 7, 2021
Luchador El Toro need to train for the big upcoming match against his opponent, The Wall. But El Toro is sleepy and would rather just lie in bed. It’s up to his trainer Kooky Dooky the rooster to get him up, motivated, and in shape for the big match. It’s time to hit the road and the gym, not to mention the spiked piñatas of doom, or the junkyard full of cars that need to be crushed!
It’s more colorful fun from Raul the Third and colorist Bay for El Toro and Friends and their young readers.
It’s more colorful fun from Raul the Third and colorist Bay for El Toro and Friends and their young readers.
March 15, 2025
3/9/2025 ~ I really appreciated this Early Reader style book with luchadores (Mexican boxers). While the vocabulary is not controlled, there is enough context that most young readers will be able to figure the words out. Likewise, while there are Spanish phrases, they are nearly always accompanied by the same phrase in English and/or illustrations which provide context.
The plots include life lessons, such as you need to work in order to succeed (without being nearly that dry). I'll definitely include all four in my elementary library.
The plots include life lessons, such as you need to work in order to succeed (without being nearly that dry). I'll definitely include all four in my elementary library.
October 8, 2021
El Toro has an upcoming match against his opponent, The Wall, but he doesn't want to train today. His coach, Kooky Dooky, has some tricks to get him excited to train. Mostly in English but has Spanish phrases throughout that makes it easy to learn the language. Sometimes we don't want to do what we have to do, but we still have to do it. Relatable and fun! I wish the match was a little longer, but that might be too much focus on violence.
June 19, 2021
Fun, bright, lively and packed with latinx references and slightly less political innuendo than the second in the series. This time El Toro is battling an adversary known as The Wall but, as far as I can tell, none of the other characters are tied to political actors. There are simply too many contenders for the moniker of Kooky Looky to pick one. :)
August 17, 2021
El Toro is going to fight the world champion - The Wall! How will he train for his match? Not to worry - his trainer Kooky Dooky has a plan. But first - he has to convince El Toro to get out of bed. I loved the Spiked Pinatas of Doom.
These books are just so much fun - and the illustrations are, as always, amazing.
These books are just so much fun - and the illustrations are, as always, amazing.
January 3, 2023
3 stars (I liked it).
This was cute. The blurb says it's perfect for Elephant and Piggie fans but I think it's a bit above that level and definitely not quite as fun. I guess I just don't get the luchador thing. I did love how the book has many parts that are in both Spanish and English. It was also pretty cute that El Toro was trying so hard to no train.
This was cute. The blurb says it's perfect for Elephant and Piggie fans but I think it's a bit above that level and definitely not quite as fun. I guess I just don't get the luchador thing. I did love how the book has many parts that are in both Spanish and English. It was also pretty cute that El Toro was trying so hard to no train.
December 31, 2020
Fans of Raul the Third will dive into this new series! I love the mix of English & Spanish throughout the story.
Readers who are interested in wrestling will enjoy watching El Toro get ready for his match up with The Wall. El Toro’s friend Kooky is a great motivator and trainer too.
E-Galley provided by publisher on Eidelweiss+
Readers who are interested in wrestling will enjoy watching El Toro get ready for his match up with The Wall. El Toro’s friend Kooky is a great motivator and trainer too.
E-Galley provided by publisher on Eidelweiss+
June 29, 2021
I can see first and second grade teachers loving this for their beginning readers and even reading groups. I know kids will enjoy this series and the sprinkling of Spanish and English within the story.
September 26, 2021
Loved it!! I grew up with luchadores and it was great to see this! I love how he has to go against "the wall"! But this guy doesnt want to get up and start training before the big match! Can his trainer motivate him to train so he is prepared to defeat the wall!?
March 1, 2022
If you want to be the champion, you need to put in the work! Kooky Dooky makes sure El Toro is ready for the big match against The Wall. Lots of wrestling fun in this easy reader sprinkled with Spanish.
March 20, 2024
A cute story about doing something you don't want to do (get up and train), in a book with frequent translations from English to Spanish, about a Mexican luchador named El Toro and his trainer, Kooky Dooky. Fun, riotous illustrations.
June 30, 2021
Nothing but hard core love for this awesome new series!
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July 9, 2021AKB
July 29, 2021
An early elementary graphic novel about a bull fighter. easy and colorful
July 30, 2021
Read for Librarian Book Group
El Toro isn't up for training until Kooky Dooky finds a way to motivate him.
El Toro isn't up for training until Kooky Dooky finds a way to motivate him.
September 21, 2021
Simple and fun. Works in some Spanish. Not required reading but we liked it.
December 29, 2021
This is a good reminder that you need to train to succeed at something. Plus, it has the added bonus of learning Spanish too.
February 7, 2022
the illustrations are super fun
March 19, 2022
Raúl the Third remains my favorite artist of illustrated fiction! His illustrations are bright and dynamic, and this story about how we all sometimes need a friend to motivate us is sweet and fun.
May 14, 2022
King Kong ain't got nothing on El Toro
February 22, 2025
2nd printing: probably 2022 since "22 SCP" precedes the #line
Not near the Spanish words as the first and in a much smaller format.
Not near the Spanish words as the first and in a much smaller format.
December 28, 2025
Adorable in which preparation for a goal is key to succeeding! I liked the different tasks involved which varied on activities and fun.
August 13, 2021
Love the bilingualism in this early reader. It's a kooky read with great detail in the illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews