Guapo and the Mystery of Goodness Grove by Janet Zappala, illustrated by Lara Calleja
Publisher: Mascot Kids
Publishing: November 10th, 2026
Format Read: Hardcover
Number of pages: 38 pages
Source: Books Forward
Opening Lines: "In a sunny grove near Guapo's home stood a very sad-looking tree."
Guapo and the Mystery of Goodness Grove is the third book in Guapo's Stories. In the latest story, Guapo and his friends are exploring the grove when they spot a tree with bare branches, a cracking trunk, and a heavy lean that makes it look ready to fall. Worried, they try to bring the struggling tree back to life. They water it every day, but nothing changes, until they discover a baby robin that has fallen from its nest. After returning the robin to the nest, they notice the sad tree beginning to sprout new leaves and it looks livelier.
Soon after, a young girl named Valentina arrives in the grove with her puppy. Guapo explains the tree's mysterious improvement, and Valentina suggests that maybe their acts of kindness helped the tree heal. From that moment on, everyone makes an effort to do good deeds for one another and spread kindness throughout the groove.
Guapo's tales are inspired by real animals, a rescue steer weighing over 3,000 pounds, along with a donkey, pig and goat, and the authors daughter, Valentina and her puppy. It's a sweet story that shows young children the joy small acts of kindness can bring and the impact they can have on the world around them. The illustrations are colorful and playful, and I especially enjoyed the inclusion of photos of the real animals that inspired the story. Further books in the series include Guapo's Giant Heart: The True Story of the Calf Who Kept Growing and Guapo's Great Rescue: Clay Finds a Forever Home.
The story is especially timely, with World Kindness Day coming up on Friday, November 13th, 2026.
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