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.

"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. (A glossary and informational page about capoeira in the back matter are helpful.) 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." - 7/1/24