Bernardo, primo de Carlos, estará en su mismo grado en la Primaria Carver, y Carlos no sabe muy bien cómo se siente al respecto. Pero cuando Bernardo se muda provisoriamente con él, ocupa la litera de Carlos, su lugar en el equipo de fútbol de la escuela e incluso la atención de su pPapi, Carlos comprende que no está contento. Lo que es peor: ¡Bernardo comienza a molestar a sus gecos mascota! Carlos trata de pasar por alto los irritantes modales de su primo, pero Bernardo le hace la vida difícil. ¿Sobrevivirá Carlos a la visita de Bernardo? ¿Sobrevivirán sus gecos? ¿Podrá mantener la paz por su familia? Esta serie de libros infantiles sobre un variado grupo de alumnos de primaria, escritos por Karen English, autora galardonada con el premio Coretta Scott King, ofrecen una narración precisa, personajes y situaciones con los que identificarse, y mucha acción. Los lectores emergentes y los flamantes lectores independientes se reconocerán en estas graciosas historias de la escuela y la familia. "Many independent readers, particularly boys, will identify with these characters and their struggles. The series continues to present appealing and likable characters gently exploring the moral dilemmas of childhood." — Kirkus "Budding zoologist Carlos is a great addition to the roster at Carver Elementary, and whether kids have read the previous title in the series or not, they’ll find him appealing and authentic company. " — Bulletin Praise for   Skateboard Party: The Carver Chronicles, Bk 2 "A welcome series addition that emphasizes familiarity instead of difference and treats its message with an affectionately light hand." —Kirkus Reviews Praise for  Dog Days: The Carver Chronicles, Bk 1   "Chapter book readers have few options if they want to read about urban boys of color; here's hoping for more.” —The Horn Book Magazine Karen English is a Coretta Scott King Honor Award-winner and the author of It All Comes Down to This,  a Kirkus Prize Finalist, as well as the Nikki and Deja and The Carver Chronicles series. Her novels have been praised for their accessible writing, authentic characters, and satisfying storylines. She is a former elementary school teacher and lives in Los Angeles, California. Laura Freeman received her BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and began her career illustrating for various editorial clients. Laura has illustrated many fine children’s books over the years, including Fancy Party Gowns: The Story of Fashion Designer Ann Cole Lowe , written by Deborah Blumenthal, and the Coretta Scott King Honor Book Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race , by Margot Lee Shetterly. Laura now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and their two children. Find out more about Laura at lfreemanart.com. One Company Coming   Carlos’s cousin, Bernardo, is coming. It’s after school and Carlos sits down at the kitchen table to eat his Toaster Tart and eavesdrop on his mother and Tía Lupe’s telephone conversation. His mother and Tía Lupe are always on the phone, checking with each other about everything. At least once or twice a day. His father doesn’t even answer the phone anymore because he knows it’s probably Tía Lupe.   Carlos overhears that his cousin Bernardo is coming to stay with them all the way from Texas because Bernardo’s mom—Tía Emilia—is having a rough time and needs to get a fresh start somewhere else. She’s moving to their town and sending Bernardo ahead.   Carlos stops chewing to listen better. Now it sounds as if his mother and Tía Lupe are gossiping about Tía Emilia. She’s always having problems; she doesn’t make the right choices; she needs to manage her life better; and blah blah blah. Boring grown-up stuff. But it does make him think about his cousin and the fact that he’s coming tomorrow.   His mother finally gets off the phone and comes to sit across from him. She puts on her serious face.   “Now, listen here, Carlos. Do you remember your cousin Bernardo?”   “A little bit.” Bernardo was kind of chubby and had a mop of dark curly hair. Carlos went with Mami and Papi to Texas—San Antonio—when he was almost six and his sister, Issy (short for Isabella), had just turned three. It was Bernardo’s birthday; Carlos turned six a few months after him. Carlos remembers sitting on a porch, eating a Creamsicle with Bernardo before his birthday party. Oh, and running through the sprinklers. He remembers Bernardo cried because he wanted two pieces of birthday cake on his plate at once. He didn’t want to wait until he finished what he had first. He just sat there crying and looking stupid with a mouth full of chewed-up cake.   And Carlos remembers seeing a photograph of Bernardo’s dad in some kind of uniform—like an army uniform.   “Bernardo and Tía Emilia are moving here. Your tía wants him making the change in schools and settled as soon as possible. I’m picking him up tomorrow, so I just want to give you a heads-up.”