Lucas and the Capoeira Circle

A young boy who loves the Brazilian martial art of capoeira drums up his courage for a moving-up ceremony in this vibrant and inspiring book about never losing one’s inner spirit.

Tchik.
Tchik.
Tchik-Tchik-BOOM!

Lucas loves capoeira, the Brazilian martial art that combines music, dance, and acrobatics. He’s been practicing his moves all week for his batizado—his moving-up ceremony—where he’ll get his capoeira nickname.

But today, Lucas has…the nerves! Scared he’ll lose his ginga—his courage and rhythm—in the capoeira circle, Lucas plays his trusty tamborim for comfort. Then he remembers his Papai’s powerful words: your ginga lives inside of you. With a little help from his community, Lucas discovers that his courage is never too far away.

Joana Pastro is the award-winning author of Bisa’s Carnaval, Lucas and the Capoeira Circle, and LillyBelle: A Damsel NOT in Distress. Much like Lucas, sometimes she loses her ginga. Luckily, she’s always been able to get it back. Originally from Brazil, Joana lives in Georgia with her husband, her three extremely creative children, a rambunctious Morkie, and a needy Maltipoo. Visit her at JoanaPastro.com.

Douglas Lopes is an illustrator who graduated in social communication. He has illustrated more than a dozen books, between fantasy and fiction, seeking to bring to life the narratives that inspire him. In his spare time, he is an avid reader and scholar of history and racial issues.

ISBN: 9781665924771
Format: Hardback
Pages: 40
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: September 24, 2024

* "Full of dynamic language set at a precise pace, Pastro’s cadenced prose builds up Lucas’ inner journey through the rush of initial excitement, anxieties of creeping dreads, and joys of eventual triumph. Similarly, Lopes’ superb artwork depicts the elegance of capoeira via larger-than-life stances and extravagant gestures, all shaded in warm colors.... A marvelous celebration of inner strength and courage.""The text dives into the world of capoeira, attempting to capture the rhythms of its music and introducing plenty of terms that will be new to many readers.... Lopes provides further atmosphere through illustrations that capture the bold style and movement of the martial art. An authentic-looking (and -sounding) glimpse into capoeira."