In this full-color middle grade graphic memoir for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jerry Craft, Yehudi Mercado draws inspiration from his childhood struggle with his weight while finding friendship with his imaginary mascot, Chunky, as he navigates growing up in a working class Mexican-Jewish family.Hudi needs to lose weight, according to his doctors. Concerned about the serious medical issue Hudi had when he was younger, his parents push him to try out for sports. Hudi would rather do anything else, but then he meets Chunky, his imaginary friend and mascot. Together, they decide to give baseball a shot.As the only Mexican and Jewish kid in his neighborhood, Hudi has found the cheerleader he never had. Baseball doesnt go well (unless getting hit by the ball counts), but the two friends have a great time drawing and making jokes. While Hudis parents keep trying to find the right sport for Hudi, Chunky encourages him to pursue his true lovecomedy.But when Hudis dad loses his job, it gets harder for Hudi to chart his own course, even with Chunkys guidance. Can Chunky help Hudi stay true to himself or will this friendship strike out?* A TLA Maverick Graphic Novel of the Year * Banks Street Best Children's Books of the Year * A ALSC Graphic Novel Pick of the Year *

 

 

This book is aimed at children at US 3rd grade-7th grade.

This book has been graded for interest at 8-12 years.

There are 208 pages in this book.

This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+).

This book was published in 2021 by HarperCollins Publishers Inc .

Yehudi Mercado is a self-proclaimed Pizza Laureate, cartoonist, writer, and animator from Austin, TX, who currently lives in Los Angeles. Yehudi spent many an afternoon in detention during his formative years and credits that "thinking about what you've done time" for his unstoppable imagination. As a latchkey kid, Yehudi would choreograph elaborate kung-fu fight scenes set to his RUN DMC and Beastie Boys records, thus providing the foundation for Sci-Fu (Oni Press). His projects as writer-illustrator include Buffalo Speedway (Devastator Press), Pantalones, TX (BOOM!/ Archaia), Rocket Salvage (BOOM!/ Archaia), Hero Hotel (Fanbase Press), as well as the mobile game Guardians of the Galaxy: The Universal Weapon (Marvel/ Disney).