Perla and the Pirate

by Isabel Allende, Sandy Rodríguez (Illustrator)

Overview

In the second children's book written by critically acclaimed, New York Times-bestselling superstar Isabel Allende, Perla, the mighty dog, saves her human brother, Nico Rico, after he gets lost on the way home from school.

Perla is a mighty dog who has two superpowers—making people love her and roaring like a lion.

When she finds out her human brother, Nico Rico, got lost on the way home from school, she knows she has to step in! But what will Perla do?

In a charming and poignant story, Isabel Allende continues her series about the bond between a child and a beloved pet.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593623626
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/26/2025
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.44(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.35(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Isabel Allende, born in Peru and raised in Chile, is a novelist, feminist, and philanthropist, and one of the most widely read authors in the world, having sold more than eighty million copies of her books across forty-two languages. In addition to her work as a writer, Isabel devotes much of her time to human rights causes. She has received fifteen honorary doctorates, was inducted into the California Hall of Fame, and received the PEN Center Lifetime Achievement Award and the Anisfield-Wolf Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, and in 2018 she received the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from the National Book Foundation. She lives in California with her husband and dogs, one of whom is named Perla. You can visit Isabel Allende at IsabelAllende.com or follow her on Instagram @AllendeIsabel, on Facebook at Facebook.com/IsabelAllende, and on X @IsabelAllende.

Sandy Rodríguez is a self-taught artist and illustrator. She grew up in Mexico surrounded by lots of family (she has more than thirty cousins!). Inspired by everyday moments, Sandy loves creating playful characters with quirky personalities. Her favorite mediums are watercolor and ink, but she also experiments with colored paper and gouache. Sandy lives in London with her husband and two fantastic daughters. You can visit Sandy Rodríguez at SandyRodriguez.co.uk or follow her on Instagram @SandyRodriguezG and on X @Sandrelenrod.

Hometown:

San Rafael, California

Date of Birth:

August 2, 1942

Place of Birth:

Lima, Peru

Website:

http://www.isabelallende.com

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Perla and the Pirate:

"In this howlarious sequel to celebrated novelist Allende’s picture book Perla the Mighty Dog (2024), a superheroic pup comes to the rescue again. . . Rodríguez’s bright watercolor-and-ink illustrations once more complement this narrative’s cheerful disposition perfectly… Another woof-worthy adventure." —Kirkus Reviews

"A charming tale about a special dog that will entertain readers. . . Perla is effervescent in both editions. This is a great text to use in classrooms for teaching reading skills like cause and effect, problem and ­solution, and inference and characterization. . . Include these in story time collections and picture book shelves." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2025-05-16
In this howlarious sequel to celebrated novelist Allende’s picture bookPerla the Mighty Dog (2024), a superheroic pup comes to the rescue again.

When a new boy moves in next door, Nico Rico and his pooch, Perla (who narrates), dub him the Pirate (because everything from his Vespa to his guitar case is adorned with a skull and crossbones). Nico, big sister Liz, and Perla can’t wait to meet him, but Dad doesn’t approve. Thanks to some magic dust left behind by a wizard who once resided in the hiding place under the stairs, Perla and Nico gather the courage to befriend the Pirate, and soon they’re jamming out at his band practices. One rainy day, Nico’s frustrated after waiting to be picked up from school and walks home alone—and quickly gets lost. A frantic search party ensues, and Perla jumps into action. Using “superpower number two” (roaring like a lion), the plucky pooch recruits Liz and the Pirate to find Nico. Like the first book, this humorous follow-up serves up plenty of laughs thanks to the superhero pup’s confident, dry narration. Though the plot is a little unfocused, it nevertheless maintains fuzzy good feelings throughout. Rodríguez’s bright watercolor-and-ink illustrations once more complement this narrative’s cheerful disposition perfectly. Nico and his father have light-tan skin, his mother and sister present white, and the Pirate is brown-skinned.

Another woof-worthy adventure.(Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews