Federico Exaggerated

by Hazel Pacheco, Kim Sponaugle (Illustrator)

Somewhere in the bosque, in the open spaces near the Rio Grande, lives a covey of quail . . .

The flamboyant Federico loves the spotlight, and frequently regales the covey with his exaggerated tales of daring. In this episode, Federico captures the attention of his audience with an inflated story of his bravery on the Rio Grande. Without warning, he is interrupted by the announcement of ripe hackberries. Left without an audience, Federico stomps off and accidentally stumbles onto something that might recapture his friends’ attention—well maybe. What he finds might teach him that truth can be incredible on its own. He just needs to convince his friends he’s not exaggerating.

Beautifully illustrated with Kim Sponaugle’s vibrant watercolors, Federico Exaggerated presents an educational, yet humorous tale that delivers a subtle faith inspired message that encourages accepting imperfection in each other.

This read-aloud book is sure to capture the attention of children ages 4+ and might even capture the notice of some adult kids as well. Federico Exaggerated can be enjoyed by bird lovers and those especially interested in nature and learning about New Mexico's Rio Grande bosque.

27 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2022

About the author

Before she started writing children’s books, Hazel Pacheco put herself through college while working full-time. She graduated with a bachelor’s then a master’s degree in business administration. Always one to set goals, after retiring with twenty-seven years of federal service, Hazel set her sights on a new passion—writing stories that leave the reader smiling.

Hazel’s first book is a tribute to the love of her life, her husband of many years. His memories of growing up in the Midwest inspired That’s How It Was.

Currently she is writing fictional children’s stories about the gregarious quails residing along the Rio Grande bosque. Born and raised in Albuquerque, NM, she has a fondness and appreciation for the culture and natural beauty of the Southwest.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another delightful tale of a very boisterous quail who likes to tell tales to his covey of birds. Only, they don’t always believe him.

But this time his tale is something important for them to believe.

So what will it take for them to finally listen, and hear him, because it could mean a very delicious reward in the end.

Sometimes, a children’s book is the best way to share learning lessons with kids – some that can be as simple as feeling confident enough in knowing that you are being truthful about what you have to share – and needing to be heard!

A wonderful gift from a truly talented author and illustrator!

[Armand Rosamilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Great for the kids. I smiled as I read it. Great story and illustrations. Adding it to my Little Free Library so kids in the area can also read and enjoy it!

[Rochelle Hickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would it be an exaggeration to say I love Federico? He’s a bird with a big personality and even bigger tales. He’s an entertainer with words until he finds the biggest berries no one has ever seen. Berries so big … no one will believe him.

It’s a happier tale of The Boy Who Cried Wolf with a fun story and wonderful illustrations. I loved it and my son loved it.

[Kameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.


There were a few challenging words for young readers to decipher: covey, arroyo, bosque. There were also animals listed that might be unfamiliar to them: sagebrush sparrow and yellow-bellied sapsucker. I was happy to discover that Hazel Pacheco included a glossary after the story ended.

I plan to use single words in spelling and vocabulary lessons in my classroom. I’ll also allow my class to explore the Rio Grande and look up real-life images of hackberry, roadrunners, sagebrush sparrow, and the yellow-bellied sapsucker.

As a parent, I like to share the stories I get the privilege of reading with my child. She loved the suspense, the action, and the drawings. She pointed out that the feathers on the top of their heads resemble question marks. You know what, they do. Not all the time, but definitely in several spots. I don’t know if the artist (Kim Sponaugle) would be thrilled by the comparison, but I’m happy my daughter noticed a grammar mark. That means she’s retaining what she’s learning in school. She also said that the red on their head and fluffy white trim looked like Santa’s hat. What an observant child! I can also see what she’s talking about. Federico also had white feathers circling his head, giving him a Saint Nick appearance. I joked he must be Santa’s bird. That explanation delighted her. This whole story delighted her.

Federico Exaggerated by Hazel Pacheco had action, suspense, and yummy watermelon. Not only did this story entertain my youngster, but it also made her ask for a slice of watermelon. She wanted one with seeds to eat like the birds in the story. She settled for seedless.

Federico Exaggerated is perfect for school-age children who understand how to use a glossary. If you read this book to children six and under, explain the difficult words or substitute them for words they’ll understand. You can always define the more challenging words when they are a bit older.


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[Kidliomag · Rating 5 out of 5]

FEDERICO EXAGGERATED: A Story About Tall Tales, Honesty, and . . . The Boldest Berry! by Hazel Pacheco
Federico Exaggerated is a delightful story that teaches children to believe in the power of truth and gives a message of staying creative and imaginative.
Follow Federico on his journey from the fantasy stories of fearlessness to encountering his true story of courage that made him the real hero for all.
Federico is a fantastic storyteller and loves to tell the story of his bravery to his covey. He knows how to catch his friends’ attention, so he always comes up with new stories of his daring, but his friends already know that he exaggerated a lot.
One day, when he was in the middle of a story, a bird announced about the ripe hackberries in the north, then all his audience left to search for berries. Federico gets angry and stomps off in the opposite direction and accidentally stumbles onto something that captures his attention. He knows that his friends will love it, but first, he needs to convince them that he’s not exaggerating this time.
Read this enchanting tale of bravery and friendship of the fantastic Federico, who learns that if you care about others, you will become a real hero for all.
Federico Exaggerated is Hazel Pacheco’s second picture book in the Henry and Friends series. The mind-blowing illustrations take the reader into the Bosque of the Rio Grande, and the simple text gives us a glimpse of Spanish culture.
Perfect for 3+
Grab your copy from Amazon.

[Shirley Kingery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Federico Exaggerated by Hazel Pacheco is Book 2 in the delightful Henry and Friends series. It's a wonderful, beautifully illustrated children's book that your child and you will both adore. This covey of quail located in the bosque along the Rio Grande in New Mexico will steal your heart away! This book centers on Federico, the quail of the group who is known for his tall tales and constant exaggeration. During one of his puffed up stories, he is interrupted by one of the covey who has been told some hackberries have been found nearby. The rest of the group instantly heads that way, as they are very hungry; much to Federico's dismay. As Federico stays behind and mopes, he stumbles upon a real treasure trove of a find! He hurries to catch up with the rest of the covey who have been disappointed in their quest for goodies. Now the trick is getting them to believe him, since it sounds like he's telling another one of his tall tales! Thank goodness he manages and everyone finally gets to partake of a real fiesta of a feast! Both the writing and the illustrations are absolutely perfect. The book includes a Glossary at the end. I learned something new, too! I wish this series had existed when I was a child. It's simply magical. I'm really looking foward to reading the remaining two books in the series that I have not yet read.

[Deborah Fontaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book mail!! Federico Exaggerated (Henry and Friends series Book 2) is a beautifully illustrated picture book with a relatable story teaching the lesson: if you exaggerate everything, no one will believe you when you tell the truth.

Federico’s friends have come to believe his stories are all fabricated and don’t believe him when he tells them he has found the biggest berries ever! It’s a lovely fable for young readers to learn from and enjoy!

I read this delightful book to my grandson. His mother read it again to him too. He was very attentive and told me it was a fun story. The story is easy to follow, cute, and the plot is relatable. (He loves Book 1 as well!)

Federico Exaggerated includes a glossary for unfamiliar plants, animals, and phrases.

I would like to thank Hazel Pacheco for providing me with a copy of Federico Exaggerated to read and review.

[Rachele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming tale of Federico who is a marvelous storyteller. However, the quail covey doesn't
believe him because he exaggerates his exploits. When he finds the biggest berries ever, (watermelons), the quails have to decide if he's telling the truth. The story takes place in New Mexico, along the Rio Grande bosque. The illustrations have been beautifully rendered using vibrant watercolor. I appreciate the glossary in the back for young readers. It's a humorous story that delivers a message of the importance of telling the truth. It also is an introduction into the Bosque of the Rio Grande, and a glimpse of Spanish culture.

Thank you Hazel for providing me with a copy of Federico Exaggerated to read and review. I added it to my Little Free Library, where it has already flown off to its new home.

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone has a Federico in their life and maybe some us might be a Federico from time to time. This book is a clever and fun way to talk to kids about the consequences of lying or exaggerating too often.

I always enjoy the glossary and now the added activity page adds an extra element of fun.

As always the illustrations in this series are so beautiful!

[Jamie Fodale · Rating 5 out of 5]

We really enjoyed this book. Dare I say even more than the first? It was fun to see all of the friends back together. The story was easy to follow and understand. My daughter, Lennon, loved that the large berry was actually a watermelon. We can’t wait for the next book in this series!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in this series. Federico tells tall tales. So when he finds a new kind of “berry” none of his friends believe him at first.

[Wild · Rating 4 out of 5]

Federico Exaggerated is a sweet story for young children where Federico the quail learns he doesn't need to tell tall tales in order to impress his friends. The colorful illustrations enhance the story and bring the characters to life. I loved the inclusion of a glossary and Just For Fun page in the back of the book.

Thank you to the author for gifting a copy of the book to add to my Little Free Library!