Pepito Has a Doll aka Pepito Tiene Una Muñeca: ¡Bailan!
10 Apr 2021.

by Drew Rowsome -

All children play with dolls at some point in their development. Because of my gender, I had "action figures" - Johnny West and Chief Cherokee, GI Joe and an articulated astronaut from NASA - and occasionally dipped into my sister's Barbies when some high fashion or damsel in distress was needed to augment their adventures. They exercised my imagination and were companions, friends and surrogate explorers of a hostile world. Pepito, the hero of Pepito Has a Doll/Pepito Tiene Una Meneca gets even more comfort from his sole doll. We read that "His only friend is Lola. Having her close makes him feel less lonely."

Pepito is a solitary child being raised by his abuela. We never learn how this arrangement came about but his abuela is a woman who loves to dance - ¡Bailan! - and while in his grandmother's house, Pepito and Lola are happy and loved. However his grandmother advises Pepito to keep Lola a secret because "We have to be careful. Someone can make fun of you or hurt you. If someone does something to you, tell me, I will always protect you." Yes, that sounds like the ominous foreshadowing of a Goosebumps tale, but this is not that sort of children's book.

Pepito meets an amigo Miguel who, in true savior trope fashion, is secure enough in his masculinity to accept Lola as a third in their blossoming friendship. Miguel must have his own hidden tragedy as Abuela and Pepito have to teach Miguel to dance. ¡Bailan! Lola is discovered by the school's mean girls and Pepito is mocked but, with his new found confidence thanks to his bromance with Miguel, "He is fearless." He tells the heteronormative harpies to back off. The simple lesson that we are all different and that those differences should be respected, is reiterated and everyone, including the reader, lives happily ever after.

 
Author Jesus Canchola Sanchez keeps the text clean and sing-songy, perfect for reading aloud. Each page contains both English and Spanish translations but the Spanish words are fluid and ease their way into the English paragraphs. Not only toy preferences but cultural predilections are to be respected and enjoyed. Armando Minjarez Monarrez provides colourful illustrations that amplify Pepito's despair at being an outcast, as well as the exuberance when ¡bailan! The not so subtle message goes down easily and every little nascent queer boy will envy Pepito's growth and his joy when the tousle-headed Miguel happily accepts a besito. 

Pepito Has a Doll is charming and delivers a solid LGBTQ endorsement in sweetly natural and subversive way. I suspect that reading it aloud to a child, whether they have or want a doll or not, would only enhance the experience. I would stumble over the Spanish pronunciations but that could only add to the fun, letting the 'B' stand for bilingual. Every child plays with a doll at some point, and every gay child wishes for a Miguel, Pepito Has a Doll makes that wish come true.