Sumo Libre

Neighbors passionate about differing wrestling traditions come together in Cepeda’s exuberant work. Max, a lucha libre fan whose room is decorated with the sport’s masks, “knows every famous luchador and all the best moves.” Neighbor Kenji, whose walls are covered with sumo posters, knows the sport’s “greatest yokozuna and practices his moves daily.” When the two begin to spar, though, the event quickly escalates into a brawl over which variation is best. Separated by their parents and forced to practice alone, the two concoct a way to share their passions, putting on a “Sumo-Libre” event for the neighborhood and finding a way to wrestle—but not fight—all summer long. Bold oils and acrylics on board convey kinetic scenes. The protagonists and their families are portrayed with brown skin; background characters are shown with various abilities and skin tones. Ages 4–8. (June)