By: Claudia Guadalupe Martnez / Illustrated by: Laura Gonzlez
Translated by Carlos E. Calvo

Con un concepto de color ingenioso, este potico libro ilustrado muestra el ciclo de vida del amado anfibio, el ajolote, en su hbitat natural.

Un ajolote pudiera parecerlo, pero definitivamente No es un monstruo. Esta curiosa criatura, popularizada por Minecraft, es en realidad una salamandra que nunca perder sus branquias o aletas. No es un monstruo explora las caractersticas del ajolote, el origen mtico de los aztecas sobre la especie y el modo en que la contaminacin afecta su hbitat natural: los canales de Xochimilco en la Ciudad de Mxico.

Divertido y cautivador, este libro juguetn e informativo presenta a sus lectores curiosos un personaje fantstico que… NO es un monstruo!

With a clever color concept, this poetic picture book shares the life cycle of beloved amphibianthe axolotlin its natural habitat.

An axolotl may look like one,Con un concepto de color ingenioso, este potico libro ilustrado muestra el ciclo de vida del amado anfibio, el ajolote, en su hbitat natural. but it is certainly Not a Monster. This curious creature, made popular by Minecraft, is actually a salamander that will never lose its gills or fins. Not a Monster explores the traits of the axolotl, the Aztec origin myth about the species, and the way pollution is affecting its natural habitat: the canals of Xochimilco in Mexico City.

Fun and engaging, this playful and informative read-aloud introduces curious readers on one cool character who is NOT a monster! Now available in Spanish and in English with Spanish vocabulary.

If you like this book, youll enjoy these:
No es un frijol
Bugs for Lunch / Insectos para el almuerzo

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Look Inside

Author & Illustrator

Claudia Guadalupe Martinez, author

Claudia Guadalupe Martnez grew up in sunny El Paso, Texas where she learned that letters form words from reading the subtitles of old westerns with her father. She now lives with her husband and 3 children in Chicago.

Read more about Claudia.

Laura Gonzalez, illustrator

Read more about Laura.

Awards & Honors

• A 2025 Bank Street Colleges Best Children’s Books of the Year in Spanish title

• A 2024-2025 Tejas Star Reading List title

Editorial Reviews

Booklist

On a journey down a canal, two young conservationists explore the life cycle of an aquatic creature that is not a monster. This Spanish translation of the original 2023 title delivers a lesson about a beaming salamander called the axolotl. Native to Xochimilco, Mexico City, the axolotl hatches out of its egg, sprouts fins and gills, and, when it is fully developed, finds a mate. The two protagonists make it their mission to clean up the polluted river and protect the natural habitat of these animals to prevent their extinction. In the authors note, Martnez provides cultural context for the axolotl’s symbolism and connection to the Aztec god Xolotl. Illustrations by Gonzlez are done in traditional media and Photoshop with soft hues that emphasize the gentleness of this critter. In the text itself, color words, such as azul or anaranjado, are printed in their appropriate hues to aid young readers who are in the stages of deciphering their colors. A captivating read-aloud for early childhood storytimes with an emphasis on environmentalism.

School Library Journal

This Spanish-language edition of Not a Monster portrays the life cycle of the axolotl or el monstruo del agua. Through simple and poetic text, readers meet this distinct amphibian, an endangered species that inhabits the Xochimilco canals of Mexico City. A palette of pastel colors accompanies this informational text, showcasing the variety of fauna and flora that this unique creature encounters throughout its life. Two children rowing through the canals are incorporated into the narrative and present briefly the Aztec history and myth of this animal as well as humanitys role in taking care, preserving, and advocating for the axolotl’s existence and future in its natural habitat. Color concepts are integrated throughout the story, which enhances and provides an interactive and playful approach to this nonfiction picture book. An authors note and photographs of Martnez’s own axolotl pets are included in the back matter. VERDICT An ideal Spanish-language, informational picture book for young children.

Downloadables

Download the CoverDownload the Series Activity Kit

Details

English Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-303-7

Spanish Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-483-6

English Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-62354-569-7

Spanish Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-62354-561-1

Ages: 37
Page count: 32
11 x 8 1/2

Publication date: April 2, 2024

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