Gabo has recently moved with his parents to a new place, and a new school. As he looks out the window at the children playing in the snow, he wants nothing more than a sled, and a friend. Shy by nature, it is very difficult for him to introduce himself to strangers. Poor, a sled is not going to happen! But, his loving mother bundled him to go outside in the hope he will find a new friend.

Sadly, while he lacks a sled, he also doesn't own boots. He does have a hat, but it is way too small for his head. And, even his socks are not cotton, and not as warm as wool.

His mother placed many pairs of socks on his feet, and after placing plastic on his shoes, he goes outside with a hat way too small for his head. Every that the hat is small, the socks are not warm, the plastic soon is ripped and dirty, but still, it is better than nothing.

Trying to find a friend while watching different neighbors, and sees new families. While feeling aloof, neighborhood parents wave to him and walk toward him. The father holds him high in the sky and makes him laugh. Feeing out of place, very little and very sad, he is handed a plastic tray received from the woman whose husband held him up in the sky. The tray is from where she works in the school cafeteria.

Still, a plastic tray is not a sled until a neighborhood girl asks to borrow his "sleid" While Gabo pets her dog, after the girl takes a ride on the tray, she hands it to Gabo who is no longer sad, no longer feeling poor, and able to shriek while flying down the hill with plastic covered boots, a small hat, and a big smile!

As he realizes he has two crunchy pieces of candy remaining from Christmas, hes hares them with his new friend. She follows him home where they are given a treat to eat.

A perfect book to read during the holiday season.

3.5 Stars.

Waking up on a cold winter morning to fresh snow makes little Gabo wish for nothing more than a sled…and maybe a new friend.

Gabo walks into the kitchen to the familiar sounds of the old steam radiator whistling and a can in a saucepan on the stove, bouncing as the water boils, when he sees children from his new school sledding outside. Gabo very much wants to join them, but his hat is too small, his socks are cotton (not wool), and his shoes are not waterproof. And he doesn’t have a sled. Gabo’s mom helps out, and with his dad’s hat, four pairs of socks, and plastic bags over his sneakers, he is ready to go outside. Gabo comes across different neighbors and family members in his community, and eventually he makes a new friend who is good at thinking outside the box and teaches him that a cafeteria tray can be a sled with a little imagination. This sweet story centers a Latinx family and touches on issues of poverty. Spanish words and phrases are scattered throughout, accessible to non–Spanish speakers through context, though some touches (such as the dulce de leche Gabo enjoys with his new friend at the end of the day) are left unexplained for readers familiar with the culture to savor. The illustrations are bright and cheerful, making everything stand out nicely against the snowy day. Big expressions on Gabo’s face will be easy for young kids to identify and relate to what he is feeling across his journey. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 48.5% of actual size.)

A charming winter story about friendship and making do with love. (Picture book. 4-8)

-Kirkus Review