Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys presents the author’s retellings of fifteen traditional tales heard during his childhood in southern Texas.
Age
Catalog sorted by age group
Juan y el Chupacabras/Juan and the Chupacabras
Young Juan and his cousin Luz savor Abuelo’s hair-raising stories. He tells the children of defeating terrifying fiends like the Chupacabras and La Llorona. The children cling to every word as he describes his brave stand-off with the Chupacabras, a terrifying beast with wings, claws and sharp fangs. But yet they wonder if there’s more to his strange story than meets the eye. Plucky Luz hatches a plan to either disprove Abuelo’s tale or hunt down the menacing monster and put an end to it once and for all. Armed with a bag of marbles dipped in holy water and a sling shot, the children venture into a cornfield one moonless night in search of the truth.
Lucha Libre: A Bilingual Cuento: the Man in the Silver Mask
Carlitos attends his first lucha libre match in Mexico City. At ringside, Carlitos sees the famous luchador — the Man in the Silver Mask, a man whose eyes look terribly familiar. He is mesmerized as the Man in the Silver Mask is pitted against the terrible forces of evil — los rudos, the bad guys of lucha libre. They make the audience boo and hiss! In the end, though, the Man in the Silver Mask triumphs and, in the process, gains a lifelong fan.
Awards:
2005 América’s Award Honor Book
Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid
Santa’s newest helper is his cousin Pancho, a farmer in South Texas. Back in the day, Pancho was a mariachi singer with a whole lot of style and a fancy sombrero, but as the years passed, Pancho got a little older and a little wider. Then one night his primo Santa Claus showed up looking for help along the US/Mexico border. All Christmas Eve, Pancho delivers toys to the boys and girls on the border.
Wild Magic
The Pied Piper had his reasons for enchanting the children of Hamelin and stealing them away—ones rooted in a deep history of wild magic. Mari and her brother Jakob are among the children who followed the piper’s song, and they are now trapped in a beautiful but cruel world inhabited by a horrid Beast. They must remain there until he finds the right child, the chosen one, who can lift his century old curse. But the price of breaking the curse is a terrible one. This fast-paced, richly fantastical continuation of a familiar tale is a powerful story of a family torn apart by tragedy, and the magical adventure that heals them.
My School in the Rain Forest: How Children Attend School around the World
Ruurs set out to discover the many different, and sometimes unusual, ways that children around the world attend school. In this book, readers get to know students who are pursuing their dreams of a brighter future, and of teachers who are devoted to improving people’s lives.
Catcall
JOSH’S FAMILY IS used to changes—but now they are hurtling into even more. Although Josh has always had an affinity with animals, it’s his younger brother Jamie who falls under the all-pervading wild cat spell.“Leo” seems to have taken over Jamie’s life. He eats when and what he wants, speaks only when he needs to. Soon it becomes impossible for the family to cope with his frightening, unpredictable behavior. Only Josh understands his brother’s moods, but is he brave enough to break through Jamie’s unhappy mask, and save them all?
As Luck would Have It
Based on the Brothers Grimm’s Clever Elsie. When Mother and Father Bear go off to look after Grandmother Bear, they leave twins Jonas and Juniper to take care of the house and field chores, warning them to beware of thieves. In this retelling of a classic story Jonas and Juniper go through many misadventures at home before having an encounter with thieves who are no match for the simple, but good-hearted twins.
Dancing to Freedom: The True Story of Mao’s Last Dancer
In a poor village in northern China, a small boy named Li Cunxin was given the chance of a lifetime. Selected by Chairman Mao’s officials from among millions of children to become a dancer, Li’s new life began as he left his family behind.
At the Beijing Dance Academy, days were long and difficult. Li’s hard work was rewarded when he was chosen yet again, this time to travel to America.
From there his career took flight, and he danced in cities around the world—never forgetting his family, who urged him to follow his dreams.
Please Don’t Tease Tootsie
Featuring Tootsie the Cat, Dixie the Dog, and Bitsy Bunny, rhyming text and bold illustrations provide preschoolers with valuable tips and helpful advice on the proper way to care for family pets.