Chato has been a party animal since he was a kitten. So when he discovers that his best friend Novio Boy has never had a birthday party (being from the pound, he never even knew his mami), this cool cat from the barrio decides it's time to change all that. He calls his friend Sharkie, a DJ.

"Homecat," Chato meowed. "You awake?" 
"I am now, dude," Sharkie said. 
"It's Novio Boy's birthday tomorrow," said Chato. "I want you to come and spin some oldies but goodies." 

The party plans are set, the cake (with mouse-colored frosting and "a couple of canaries on top") ordered, and the piñata made. Looks like the most happening shindig in town is ready to go... except "Que tonto!" (How dumb!) Chato forgot to invite the guest of honor! Novio Boy's buddies search the alleys and warm car fenders to no avail, and soon are reminiscing about their dearly departed ("Kidnapped! Lost!") homecat, who, as it turns out, has a surprise in store for them all!

As in the award-winning Chato's Kitchen, Susan Guevara's modish paintings of these barrio beasts beg to be pored over, while Gary Soto's barrio-speak screams out to be read aloud. A brief glossary provides English meanings to the Spanish words scattered throughout. (Ages 5 to 9) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

School Library Journal :  Kindergarten-Grade 3-In this sequel to Chato's Kitchen (Putnam, 1995), the ebullient, jazzy, party-loving homecat decides to throw a surprise birthday bash for his best friend, Novio Boy, who was raised in the pound and has never had a party. Buying the provisions, inviting his friends, decorating, arranging for music-Chato thinks he has seen to everything. The guests begin to arrive and one dog raises a crucial question: "Where's the birthday cat?" Aghast, Chato realizes that he neglected to invite Novio Boy and organizes a search, which proves fruitless. The party turns wake as, certain that Novio Boy has met an untimely end, all the animals remember his good qualities and grieve. In the midst of this, who should turn up but the guest of honor with some new friends in tow. With double reason to celebrate, the party is a wild success. Rollicking language-a completely integrated and poetic combination of barrio slang, Spanish, and colloquial English-carries the story along. Guevara's lively acrylic-on-scratchboard illustrations have a verve and style that will make readers long to join the fun. A glossary of Spanish words preceding the text neatly removes any mystery, rendering this joyous celebration of friendship not only understandable but irresistible.

Booklist : Chato, the cool cat of the barrio first seen in the acclaimed Chato's Kitchen (1995), is back with his cast of party-loving animal friends in a sweet, melancholy friendship story. Chato's buddy Novio Boy is feeling down because he's never celebrated his birthday; he's from the pound and doesn't know when he was born. "Pobrecito. Everybody needs a birthday party," says Chato, and he organizes a party for his friend. The animals come together, but Novio Boy never arrives--Chato forgot to invite the guest of honor. After a fruitless search for Novio Boy, the animals regroup, worried and fearful, imagining the worst for their friend--who happily appears at the last minute, fresh from dumpster diving. The party lasts far into the night with presents and a catfish pinata. Soto's story, both edgy and warm, spills over with feline wordplay kids will love ("home cat," for example), which Guevera expands on in her glorious, detailed paintings. Startlingly expressive animals, symbols of Latino culture, and winged-cat angels form dynamic, wild compositions that children will pore over up close and enjoy from a distance. Perfect for story hours. The introductory glossary is a fine bonus.