Juan Bobo Goes to Work: A Puerto Rican Folk Tale

This book is fantastic. I fell in love with Juan from the moment I started reading about him. He is underestimated by most people and a very hard worker. He needs to be given explicit instructions in order to properly complete a task, but he ends up taking it in his own direction every time. The directions he is given are never clear enough to make sure he succeeds and so he feels like he constantly fails. This shows how society views and treats people with learning disabilities. People think he is not smart because he does not complete any task successfully when really he is just a boy who needs a little more explaining. I enjoy that he ends up being the hero in the end with great reward. It shows that his way of thinking is not show more necessarily wrong, just different. I also really like that this book has a glossary in the back with Spanish words and phrases for non-Spanish speakers to learn from. show less

This character originates from Puerto Rican folktales. Juan Bobo is a boy that no matter the issue at hand he always manages to mess up. This book is about Juan trying to find a job but messes up every time he tries to come home with what he earned. First he loses his money because of a hole in his pocket, tries to bag milk, melts cheese on his head, and is chased by dogs with his ham tied to a string. Even though everyone thought he was dumb he ended up making a little girl laugh, who was sick and dying from not being able to laugh. The story concludes with Juan and his mother having meals everyday given to them from the father of the little girl he saved.

The brushstrokes of the illustrations make you feel as if you're living in an adobe house, and if you reach out and touch the pages, you will be able to feel the roughness. A magnificent effect on glossy pages.
Juan Bobo reminds me of a male, Puerto Rican version of Amelia Bedilia. Wonderfully funny. Through humor, it manages to send the message that everyone has a purpose in this world.

Reírse de sus ocurrencias y nada mas! Los lectores quedarán encantados con las chistosísimas bufonadas de Juan Bobo, el famoso héroe del folclor puertorriqueño. En este alegre cuento, Juan sale de su casa a buscar trabajo, primero en una finca y luego en una tienda. Aunque las tareas que debe llevar a cabo son sencillas y sus instrucciones no podían ser más claras, ¡Juan Bobo siempre haya una forma de cometer errores y justificar su famoso nombre!

This is a silly story that I think young readers will enjoy. Juan Bobo is sent off to work in order to bring home payments and food. Children will learn quickly that the way Juan does things isn’t right but he tries very hard. After doing different work each day, he somehow manages to lose or ruin his earnings. By the end, the way Juan does things ends up working in his favor because he is able to make a very sick girl laugh and her dad was so appreciative of that, he supplied Juan and his mother a nice big ham every Sunday to thank him. I think children will love this story not only because the pictures in this book are so vibrant and big, but because Juan is a silly boy and children will definitely get a laugh from him. The show more illustrator I believe used paints for this book and I love the use of many different colors. Another thing I enjoyed about this book is on the last page there is a list of Spanish words that have the English translation. The book included some Spanish, but it was very easy to follow along and understand what the author was saying. show less

Marisa Montes retelling of Juan Bobo Goes to Work is silly and engaging. Juan Bobo was sent out to work to earn money for him and his mother. He takes directions literally which leads him to do ridiculously silly things that cause him to lose all his earnings for the day. In the end, Juan Bobo’ antics lead him to make a daughter of a wealthy man laugh, curing her from her illness. In showing his gratitude, the wealthy man provides Juan and his mother a ham every Sunday. Montes added twists and embellishments to this Puerto Rican folktale will make readers shake their heads at Juan Bobo’s constant misunderstandings. The glossary and author’s note give background knowledge to this traditional folklore. Since Juan Bobo is a prominent show more figure in Latin folklore, this picturebook should be present in collections.

Age Appropriate: 4 to 8 years-old show less

This cute Puerto Rican folktale is about a silly boy who is seemingly incapable of doing anything correctly. "Juan Bobo Goes to Work" is a humorous story that would likely be thoroughly enjoyed by pre-K and kindergarten readers for Juan Bobo's crazy antics, as well as for the book's colorful illustrations. This Pura Belpre Award winner allows English speakers/readers the opportunity to experience a tale that would traditionally be told in Spanish.