Common Sense Media Review
By Florencia Orlandoni
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Energetic, rhyming tale of colorful bus' trip in the Andes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
I AM LA CHIVA!: THE COLORFUL BUS OF THE ANDES uses rhyme and a sprinkling of Spanish vocabulary to illustrate a day in the life of a passenger bus. The bus, named La Chiva, transports people, animals, and goods from a rural area of the Colombian Andes mountains to a market in town. Along the way, young readers see illustrations of everyday culture and life in rural Colombia and learn about the value of community, working together as a team, and sharing joy and laughter.
Is It Any Good?
With entertaining rhymes and visually stunning illustrations, this picture book transports young readers to the Andes and shares a charming story about the cooperative spirit of its people. Karol Hernández' creative use of language in I Am La Chiva! paired with Alvarez Gómez' lush mountain, jungle, and town scenes is moving and entertaining. Kids will love finding the wild and domesticated animals on almost all the pages, while adults will love the sweet messages of togetherness and sharing resources. This book's a welcome window to a world so rich and compelling that it can be read over and over with much shared joy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Familes can talk about teamwork in I Am La Chiva! What happens to the bus' tire? What do the people do when they get stuck?
Talk about the pictures in the book. What stood out to you? What makes a book's pictures memorable or funny or enjoyable to look at?
The bus helps its riders and the riders help the bus. Who have you helped today? Who helped you today?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Lorena Alvarez Gómez
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks ) , Adventures
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Dial Books
- Publication date : July 9, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 2 - 5
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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