Lucas and the Capoeira Circle

July 1, 2024
Preschool-Grade 2 In Pastro's new picture book, capoeira, the Brazilian mixture of dance and martial art, is a family activity. Lucas wakes up in the morning excited for his batizado, the moving-up ceremony where he will demonstrate his capoeira moves in the roda, or circle, and receive his capoeira nickname, as his parents have done before him and as his little sister hopes to do someday. But when his turn comes, Lucas loses his ginga, or confident way of moving. With encouragement from his teacher and the help of his tambourine's rhythm, he regains his confidence and gets just the right name. The text dives into the world of capoeira, attempting to capture the rhythms of its music and introducing plenty of terms that will be new to many readers. (A glossary and informational page about capoeira in the back matter are helpful.) Lopes provides further atmosphere through illustrations that capture the bold style and movement of the martial art. An authentic-looking (and -sounding) glimpse into capoeira.

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Starred review from August 1, 2024
A young capoeirista learns to reawaken his ginga. Anticipation blooms as the day of Lucas' batizado, or moving-up ceremony, arrives. Dressed in his abad�, Lucas shows off his capoeira moves with each swift kick and arm swing. If he can demonstrate his finest moves to the roda (or circle) before Mestre sweeps him to the ground, Lucas will receive a new corda and a cool nickname. As Lucas practices, his little sister, Lilica, joins in, falling in the process. Tears come, and Mam�e consoles her: "It happens. We all lose our confidence from time to time." Uh-oh. Will a suddenly nervous Lucas lose his ginga at the capoeira circle? At the park, the roda welcomes Lucas and his family, and the batizado commences. Lucas' friends demonstrate their moves one by one until the Mestre calls for Lucas. Unable to move, Lucas grabs his dependable tamborim and drums to the rhythm--"tuk-tuk-tek"--to regain his ginga. Full of dynamic language set at a precise pace, Pastro's cadenced prose builds up Lucas' inner journey through the rush of initial excitement, anxieties of creeping dreads, and joys of eventual triumph. Similarly, Lopes' superb artwork depicts the elegance of capoeira via larger-than-life stances and extravagant gestures, all shaded in warm colors. A quick addendum provides details on the historical importance of capoeira and its role in Afro-Brazilian culture. Lucas and his family read Black, while the capoeira circle is racially diverse. A marvelous celebration of inner strength and courage. (glossary)(Picture book. 4-8)

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