Toro

Product Description

2020 NYC Big Book Award Winner – Best Audiobook
2020 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite – Juvenile Fiction
2020 Best Book Awards Finalist – Children’s Fiction
“A charming and engaging fantasy with characters readers will love and a strong positive message.” –Kirkus Reviews
“Great messages for young people of love, acceptance, gender empowerment, honesty, friendship, and going after what one wants abound in Toro, Andrew Avner’s one-of-a-kind, animal-populated novel for middle readers.” –IndieReader Approved
A story that evokes beloved films such as ‘Babe’ and ‘Ratatouille’
Alicía Catalina Cortés is a fast and fiery Spanish cow who desperately wants to run with the bulls in Pamplona-but since she’s a cow, tradition forbids her to partake in the fiesta of San Fermín. Through her journey, Alicía learns that to be noble and brave, she must follow her dream and her heart, even if it means defying tradition.
Toro is set in the colorful backdrop of Pamplona, Spain during the fiesta of San Fermín and the running of the bulls, famed as one of the most exhilarating, dangerous, and spectacular events around the world.

From School Library Journal

Gr 3–6—Set in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Southern Spain, the story centers on Alicia Catalina Cortés, a heifer calf, who dreams of taking part in the encierro, the running of the bulls festival in Pamplona, and Diego Del Toro, a Spanish bull who yearns to be in a Texas rodeo. Alicia’s overbearing father, who is one of the rare bulls to survive the festival, enforces gender stereotypes and tells her she needs to start acting like a cow. He offers her hand in marriage to the brutish Don Julian Hernandez, threatening her aspirations. When Diego Del Toro is chosen for the encierro, Alicia decides to trade places with him. Each of them will learn the true cost of fulfilling their dreams. Avner describes the running of the bulls festival in great detail. The text does rely on clichéd language at times, and the ubiquity of enforced gender roles may alienate readers. VERDICT A unique spin on the classic “trading places” tale.—Lisa Gieskes, Richland County P.L., Columbia, SC

Review

“A charming and engaging fantasy with characters readers will love and a strong positive message.”
–Kirkus Reviews
(Our Verdict: Get It)

“Great messages for young people of love, acceptance, gender empowerment, honesty, friendship, and going after what one wants abound in
Toro, Andrew Avner’s one-of-a-kind, animal-populated novel for middle readers.”
–IndieReader
(IR Approved)

“A highly appealing novel for youngsters that delivers important messages and themes in an entertaining and charming style.”
–Sublime Book Review

“I want my children to hear more tales like
Toro.”
–For the Love of Audiobooks

“A very appealing plot that should garner a lot of readers.”
–Always in the Middle

“I had so much fun listening to the calming, feel-good audiobook of this story.”
–Audiobook Empire

“Dreams mix with the fantastic atmosphere of Pamplona and the bull run in this exciting adventure with unexpected and yet, inspiring characters, who won’t easily be forgotten.”
–Bookworm for Kids

“It was

stunning – I loved the narration style and the musical accompaniments. It truly took the book to a whole different level.”
–Miranda Reads

”
Toro is a good book for all children as it spreads the message of following your ambition, trailblazing if necessary, while also promoting diversity and individuality within the cast of characters.”
–LoveReading4Kids

“The narration was unlike any I’ve ever heard. Easily 5 stars. ★★★★★”
–Super Booked

“This is a great book!”
–Bridget and the Books

From the Author

Toro
 took over twenty years to come to fruition. The story behind the story is one of faith and self-reliance, to pursue a dream in the face of impossible odds, to defy immeasurable rejection and succeed. My personal narrative as an artist and that of my book are the same.