A Tribute to Marina Tristán

Thank you Marina Tristán for all your years of dedication to Arte Público Press. Some of Arte Público Press authors want to tell you muchas gracias. We will miss you. Te vamos a extrañar. You will always be our amiga and friend.

In your honor, I wrote this acrostic poem just as René did in I am René, the Boy. 

M es por los maravillosos libros que ayudo en publicar.

A es por los ánimos dado a cada autor.

R es por la riqueza sabiduría dada a cada palabra escrita.

I es de infinita ayuda desde manuscrito a libro

N es de buenas noticias a los autores

A es por el abundante vacío que dejará en Arte Público Press.

René Colato Laínez author of René Has Two Last Names/ René tiene dos apellidos.

*

Marina Tristán, thank you for encouragement, taking me to “the best pho” and being equally kind and fierce. Working with you has been a joy. I’ve enjoyed talking about life just as much as books. Enjoy whatever comes next, perhaps escaping the heat and rescuing even more dogs and cats. Un abrazo fuerte. 

Amy Costales author of Sundays on Fourth Street / Los domingos en la calle Cuatro.

*

Conocí a Marina Tristán en una conferencia de escritores hace unos catorce años. Desde el primer momento en que comenzamos a hablar supe que estaba ante una persona muy respetuosa, educada y con un gran espíritu humano.

Marina, estaba en su puesto de libros representando a la Editorial Arte Público Press-Piñata Books. De una manera muy amable y con un fino conocimiento me habló de la editorial y de los libros que mostraban en la conferencia.

Me di cuenta de su alto conocimiento por la literatura Latino

Americana en Los Estados Unidos y por supuesto por la literatura infantil bilingüe. No dude en contarle que yo era escritor salvadoreño,

Marina no dudo en invitarme a enviarle mis manuscritos.

Las puertas de Arte Público se me abrieron gracias a Marina Tristán quien meses más tarde se convirtió en una de mis editoras. Muchas gracias Marina por creer en mis historias y en mi poesía, ya no serás mi editora, eso es lo de menos, te tengo como amiga para toda la vida....

Jorge Argueta autor de Tierra, Tierrita / Earth, Little Earth.

*

Marina,

Thank you for always making Arte Publico Press feel like home, and making us all feel like family. We can't say thank you enough for all that you have done. 

Xavier Garza author of Vincent Ventura Series

*

Dedicated to Marina Tristan, who’s believed in my stories, songs, poems and, most importantly, in me. 

Inside of Me

Some days 

I have a poem stuck inside of me

wiggling around

trying to get out 

Some days 

I have a poem bubbling inside of me

and purple becomes ‘violet’

happy becomes ‘joyful’

and my tongue whirls around 

A, E, I, O, U

Some days 

I have a poem boogieing around inside of me

as a smile dances across my face

rainbows twirl around my tummy

and all ten fingers and toes 

tap a sweet bomba beat

Some days 

I have a poem twisting and twirling inside of me

filling me up with sunshine and rain

turning memories into music

and making everything 

right.

Raquel M. Ortiz author of When Julia Danced Bomba / Cuando Julia bailaba bomba.

*

Marina, I'm deeply grateful for your kindness, guidance, and care throughout my publishing journey. Arte Publico Press believed in my stories and you made the process possible and joyful. Your dedication to uplifting Latino voices has left a beautiful legacy. Thank you for everything and I wish you joy in this new chapter! 

Erika Said author of El cumpleaños de mi hermana Dulce / My Sister Dulce’s Birthday.

*

If you have worked with Marina and would like to write some words of dedication to her, please send it at renecolatolainez@gmail.com. We can always have a part 2 in tribute of Marina Tristán. 

RACING AT DEVIL’S BRIDGE AND OTHER STORIES / CARRERAS EN EL PUENTE DE DIABLO Y OTROS CUENTOS

 

By Xavier Garza

Spanish translation by Alaíde Ventura Medina

 

ISBN: 979-8-89375-003-4

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 129

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 8-12

 

Spooky creatures from Latin American lore lurk in these entertaining stories for young people.

 

In the title story, a boy breaks his mom’s rule against staying out after dark because he is intent on training for the big state track meet. When his younger sister turns up and challenges him to a race across Devil’s Bridge, he taunts her—but is ultimately stunned when she beats him. But more shocking is the sudden appearance of a terrifying figure sporting a goat’s head and wielding a rusty ax!

 

The stories in Xavier Garza’s new collection feature creepy creatures from Latin American lore with a contemporary twist. There’s Christina, who the bullies dub “Donkey Lady” because of her odd-sounding laughter, but who later terrifies her abusers—and gets the last laugh! Joaquín’s grandfather has been told to vacate his property so the border wall can be built across it, but an Aztec eagle refuses to let the authorities kick the old man off his land. Vince and Marina find an old Ouija board under their dead grandmother’s bed and when a malevolent spirit springs from the game, the old woman’s infamous flying chancla appears to send the demon packing!

 

Accompanied by the author’s striking illustrations of chupacabras and other monsters, the blood-curdling stories in this bilingual collection for kids ages 8-12 are sure to lure even the most reluctant readers into its pages.

 

 

Other Books in the Series

 

THE DONKEY LADY FIGHTS LA LLORONA AND OTHER STORIES / LA SEÑORA ASNO SE ENFRENTA A LA LLORONA Y OTROS CUENTOS

 

Margarito is eleven years old now and he’s way past believing in Grandpa Ventura’s ghost stories, but he loves listening to them anyway. One evening on his way home from his grandfather’s, Margarito finds himself alone in the gathering dusk, crossing a narrow bridge. Suddenly, a woman in white floats towards him and calls, “Come to me, child … come to me!” He frantically hides in the shallow river, but soon sees a pair of yellow, glowing eyes swimming towards him. Before long, the Donkey Lady and La Llorona are circling each other, fighting to claim poor Margarito as their next victim!

 

Popular storyteller Xavier Garza returns with another collection of eerie tales full of creepy creatures from Mexican-American lore. There are duendes, bald, green-skinned brutes with sharp teeth; thunderbirds, giant, pterodactyl-like things that discharge electricity from their wings during thunderstorms; and blood-sucking beasts that drain every single drop of blood from their victims’ bodies!

 

Set in contemporary times, Garza’s young protagonists deal with much more than just the supernatural: there are chupacabras and drug dealers, witches and bullies, a jealous cousin and the devil. Accompanied by the author’s dramatic black and white illustrations, the short, blood-curdling stories in this bilingual collection for ages 8 – 12 are sure to bewitch a whole new generation of young people.

 

 

KID CYCLONE FIGHTS THE DEVIL AND OTHER STORIES / KID CICLÓN SE ENFRENTA A EL DIABLO Y OTROS CUENTOS

 

Cousins Maya and Vincent are thrilled to be ring side at a lucha libre match. Kid Cyclone, the wrestling world’s favorite hero who also happens to be the kids’ beloved uncle, is facing off against a devil-masked opponent, El Diablo. “No masked devil can beat my uncle. Not even the real devil himself,” declares Maya. But the real devil doesn’t take kindly to such disrespect, and soon Kid Cyclone finds himself fighting the most hellish challenger of all!

 

Popular kids’ book author Xavier Garza returns with another collection of stories featuring spooky characters from Mexican-American folklore. There’s a witch that takes the shape of a snake in order to poison and punish those who disregard her warnings; green-skinned, red-eyed creatures called chupacabras that suck the blood from wild pigs, but would just as soon suck the blood from a human who has lost his way in the night; a young girl disfigured in a fire set by a scorned lover who gets her revenge as the Donkey Lady; and the Elmendorf Beast, said to have the head of a wolf with skin so thick it’s impervious to shotgun blasts.

 

Accompanied by the author’s striking illustrations of the creepy creatures, the hair-raising stories in this bilingual collection for kids ages 8 – 12 are sure to lure even the most reluctant readers into its pages.

 

 

XAVIER GARZA is the author of numerous books for young people, including The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories / La señora Asno se enfrenta a La Llorona y otros cuentos (Piñata Books, 2015) and six volumes in the Monster Fighter Mystery series / Serie Exterminador de monstruos. He lives with his family in San Antonio, Texas.

VINCENT VENTURA AND THE CURSE OF THE DONKEY LADY: A MONSTER FIGHTER MYSTERY / VINCENT VENTURA Y LA MALDICIÓN DE LA MUJER BURRO: SERIE EXTERMINADOR DE MONSTRUOS

By Xavier Garza

 

ISBN: 978-1-55885-996-8

Publication Date: May 31, 2024

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 149

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 8-12

 

This thrilling bilingual short novel introduces young readers 

to spooky Latin American lore!

 

Vincent and his dad are on a bus in Mexico, headed to his late mom’s village of Nagual, when he hears a loud animal roar! Oddly, no one else seems to have heard it. Looking out the window, he is surprised to see a girl running alongside the bus; he’s even more amazed when she turns into a jaguar! And then he sees a sinister sight: a woman with a cadaverous-looking donkey’s head whose glowing red eyes burn as if on fire! Even in a different country, there’s another monster mystery to solve.

 

The boy monster fighter has never met his mother’s side of the family, but he knows his maternal grandfather Federico blames his dad for taking Luz away. Despite the tension, Vincent is excited to meet his granddad, Aunt Marina and cousins Pedro and Lupe, who looks suspiciously like the girl he saw running beside the bus!

 

Vincent soon learns that Lupe, like many others in the village, is a nagual, someone born with the magical ability to transform into an animal. His cousins tell him the Donkey Lady hasn’t been seen in years, so why has she come back now? They are also alarmed when Vincent tells them that his girlfriend Zulema, a witch owl, is coming to visit. Their grandfather hates witch owls! All too soon, this sixth novel in Garza’s bilingual Monster Fighter Mystery series culminates in a convergence of supernatural beings—witch owls, the demonic Donkey Lady, curanderos and naguales—all fighting in a life-or-death battle!

 

Praise for Xavier Garza’s Monster Fighter Mystery series:

 

“This installment in the ‘Vincent Ventura’ series is full of fun and surprises, with fast-paced chapters and a mystery that is sure to intrigue fans of Latin American folklore. The dual English and Spanish format makes this an excellent choice for youth bilingual and Spanish collections, and the bold artwork interspersed among the chapters is eye-catching and provides an intriguing close-up of the characters. VERDICT: Highly recommended for collections for youth and for readers of retellings, adventure, and fantasy.”—School Library Journal on Vincent Ventura and the Curse of the Weeping Woman / Vincent Ventura y la maldición de La Llorona

 

“Multifaceted portrayals of legendary spirits add depth to a narrative that is enhanced by dramatic black-and-white art… Nuanced folklore shines in this thrilling beginning chapter book.”—Kirkus Reviews on Vincent Ventura and the Curse of the Weeping Woman / Vincent Ventura y la maldición de La Llorona

 

“Monster fighter extraordinaire Vincent Ventura battles his latest foe: the dreadful duende! Book 3 in Garza’s Monster Fighter Mystery series adds a little psychological horror to Vincent’s newest adventure, and this installment [is] a cohesive story centered on friendship and, more importantly, kicking monster butt. A case of lighthearted fun during the witching hour.”—Kirkus Reviews on Vincent Ventura and the Diabolical Duendes / Vincent Ventura y los duendes diabólicos

 

“This fun, illustrated Spanish/English short chapter book has enough Mexican folklore and American teen angst to keep middle grade and reluctant readers interested in the otherworldly adventures of the monster-fighter extraordinaire.”—School Library Journal on Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Witch Owl / Vincent Ventura y el mistero de la bruja lechuza

 

“Garza’s cool series sequel offers a little mystery, a little action, and a lot of fun. A breezy read, Vincent’s latest adventure packs folkloric elements in a fast-paced tale that’s sure to entice reluctant readers. Similar to its predecessor, this bilingual novel contains both English and Baeza Ventura’s Spanish versions, with the latter being superior in readability. A real hoot.”—Kirkus Reviews on Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Witch Owl / Vincent Ventura y el mistero de la bruja lechuza

 

“Garza delves into Spanish folklore and adds action, horror, and mystery to create a wonderfully exciting book. This illustrated series-starter is formatted as a bilingual flipbook, with the Spanish text occupying one half of the book, and English the other. The descriptive Spanish and high vocabulary make it a strong addition to both elementary and middle school mystery sections.”—Booklist on Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Chupacabras / Vincent Ventura y el misterio del chupacabras

 

 

XAVIER GARZA is the author of numerous books for kids, including five previous volumes in the Monster Fighter Mystery series: Vincent Ventura and the Curse of the Dancing Devil / Vincent Ventura y la maldición del diablo bailarín (Piñata Books, 2023), Vincent Ventura and the Curse of the Weeping Woman / Vincent Ventura y la maldición de La Llorona (Piñata Books, 2021), Vincent Ventura and the Diabolical Duendes / Vincent Ventura y los duendes diabólicos (Piñata Books, 2020), Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Witch Owl / Vincent Ventura y el misterio de la bruja lechuza (Piñata Books, 2019) and Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Chupacabras / Vincent Ventura y el misterio del chupacabras (Piñata Books, 2018). He lives with his family in San Antonio, Texas.

VINCENT VENTURA AND THE CURSE OF THE DANCING DEVIL / VINCENT VENTURA Y LA MALDICIÓN DEL DIABLO BAILARÍN

Written by Xavier Garza

 

ISBN:  978-1-55885-965-4

Publication Date:  May 31, 2023

Format:  Trade Paperback

Pages: 160

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 8-12

 

This thrilling bilingual short novel introduces young readers to a spooky Latino legend about a handsome stranger who is more than he seems!

 

Loud music wakes Vincent up in the middle of the night, and he sees a red pickup truck pull in at the house across the street. A red-headed girl and a man decked out in a sparkly western shirt and cowboy hat get out, and he proceeds to two-step up and down the driveway before they go inside. Through the windows, Vincent can see them dancing in unison, the man downstairs and the girl upstairs. Their movements are virtually identical and they begin spinning faster and faster. Suddenly, he sees what looks like horns begin to sprout from the man’s head! It seems there’s another monster mystery begging to be solved!  

 

The next day at the library, Vincent reads about a border urban legend involving a handsome stranger who is really a dancing devil! He also meets a new student, Lilith del Diablo, who he saw the night before! Soon Vincent and his friends have gained Lily’s trust and she tells them her biological father, Luciano del Diablo, is intent on forcing her to become his partner in crime terrorizing girls at dance halls along the US-Mexico border. Meanwhile, Vincent finds his mother’s trunk in the garage and is shocked to find it’s full of monster-fighting tools—silver coins, a slingshot, wooden stakes—and a journal with information on the various beasts. Why would she have this information? Does he come from a long line of ancestors who fight unnatural demons? Is that why evil creatures are constantly moving in across the street?!   

 

With help from his mother’s diary, Vincent concocts a plan to save Lily from the dancing devil, but it’s going to take all his friends’ and cousins’ wits to make it work. This bilingual book for intermediate readers, the fifth installment in Garza’s Monster Fighter Mystery series, follows the dangerous battle between a seasoned devil and one unsure of her powers, a witch owl and several very determined kids!

 

 

XAVIER GARZA is the author of numerous books for kids, including four previous volumes in the Monster Fighter Mystery series: Vincent Ventura and the Curse of the Weeping Woman / Vincent Ventura y la maldición de La Llorona (Piñata Books, 2021), Vincent Ventura and the Diabolical Duendes / Vincent Ventura y los duendes diabólicos (Piñata Books, 2020), Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Witch Owl / Vincent Ventura y el misterio de la bruja lechuza (Piñata Books, 2019) and Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Chupacabras / Vincent Ventura y el misterio del chupacabras (Piñata Books, 2018). He lives with his family in San Antonio, Texas.

LA LLORONA CAN’T SCARE ME / LA LLORONA NO ME ASUSTA

By Xavier Garza

Spanish translation by Gabriela Baeza Ventura

 

ISBN:  978-1-55885-924-1

Publication Date:  October 31, 2021

Format:  Hardcover

Pages:  32

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 4-8

 

Traditional Latin American monsters are sure to thrill young readers!

 

Little Damian is getting ready for bed, and the spooky monster called La Llorona is hollering up a storm outside his bedroom window. But he’s not afraid. “You can’t scare me, silly Llorona,” says Damian, “and neither can your monster friends!”

 

When evil-looking witch owls fly around his room and little green duendes, or goblins, make creepy noises under his bed, he’s still not frightened. Not even a little bit. The Donkey Lady, a chupacabras and even some little devils parade through his room, but Damian still isn’t afraid. A witch casting spells, a ghost rattling its chains, a cucuy with a burlap bag to catch him … nada. None of them can terrify brave little Damian. How can a little boy like him be so fearless?!?

 

No one knows it, but Damian has a secret weapon: a night light shaped like a mighty wrestler wearing a silver mask. When he plugs it in, its bright light terrifies all the monsters and sends them running for a place to hide! Touching on issues such as bedtime rituals and nighttime terrors, children ages 4-8 will enjoy this entertaining story that features creepy creatures familiar to many Hispanic kids.

 

“Full-bleed color artwork populates all the recto pages, while the running refrain, “You can’t scare me….Not even a little bit / No me asusta….Ni un poquito,” concludes most text on verso and will likely have young audiences chiming in.” —Kirkus Reviews

 

 

XAVIER GARZA is the author and illustrator of numerous books for kids, including picture books Juan and the Chupacabras / Juan y el Chupacabras (Piñata Books, 2006), Zulema and the Witch Owl / Zulema y la Bruja Lechuza (Piñata Books, 2009), Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask (Cinco Puntos Press, 2007) and The Great and Mighty Nikko (Cinco Puntos Press, 2015). He lives with his family in San Antonio, Texas.

Vincent Ventura and the Diabolical Duendes / Vincent Ventura y los duendes diabólicos

By Xavier Garza

ISBN-13: 978-1-55885-909-8

Publication Date: October 31, 2020

Format: Trade paperback

Pages: 130

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 8-12

Monster fighter Vincent Ventura returns to battle another creepy creature in this third installment in Xavier Garza’s bilingual series!

Another family has moved into the house at 666 Duende Street across from Vincent Ventura’s, and once again there’s something mysterious going on. There’s a boy who constantly argues with himself. “You can’t tell me what to do,” Vincent hears him say, but there’s no one around. Who could he be talking to? When Vincent sees a green creature with glowing red eyes and needle-sharp teeth terrorize the boy into vandalizing a neighbor’s car, he knows there is another monster mystery to solve!

His cousin, Michelle, is one of the smartest kids around, and she quickly finds information in a library book on Latin American monsters. She’s sure the creature Vincent saw is a duende, which is similar to an evil troll or gnome. Is Sayer Cantú really a target of these wicked beasts?! Everyone at school knows he’s a troublemaker to avoid. Could duendes be forcing him to misbehave?

Once again Vincent Ventura recruits his cousins and gathers his monster-fighting tools—crosses, holy water, packs of salt, silver metal beads and slingshots—for the upcoming showdown. This bilingual book for intermediate readers, the third installment in Xavier Garza’s exciting Monster Fighter Mystery series, also contains the author’s black and white sketches of the creepy creatures. This spine-tingling short novel introducing Latino creepy creatures to kids ages 8-12 is sure to thrill a new generation of readers!

“Monster fighter extraordinaire Vincent Ventura battles his latest foe: the dreadful duende! Book 3 in Garza’s Monster Fighter Mystery series adds a little psychological horror to Vincent’s newest adventure, and this installment [is] a cohesive story centered on friendship and, more importantly, kicking monster butt. A case of lighthearted fun during the witching hour.”—Kirkus Reviews

Vincent Ventura's Series

Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Witch Owl 

Vincent Ventura y el misterio de la bruja lechuza

Once again, a monster has taken up residence in Vincent Ventura's neighborhood, and this time it's a witch owl! Vincent Ventura, monster fighter extraordinaire, is back in this second volume of the Monster Fighter Mystery series.

Contains the author/illustrator’s black and white sketches of witch owls.

Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Chupacabras 

Vincent Ventura y el misterio del chupacabras

Vincent Ventura, monster fighter extraordinaire, investigates the disappearance of neighborhood dogs, and the grisly trail leads to a mythical creature known as the chupacabras! Award-winning author returns with thrilling new bilingual series for intermediate readers!

XAVIER GARZA is the author of numerous books for kids, including Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Chupacabras / Vincent Ventura y el misterio del chupacabras (Piñata Books, 2018), The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories / La señora Asno se enfrenta a la Llorona y otros cuentos (Piñata Books, 2015) and Maximilian and the Lucha Libre Club (Cinco Puntos Press, 2016). He lives with his family in San Antonio, Texas.

Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid

By Xavier Garza

•            Age Range: 5 - 12 years
•         Grade Level: Kindergarten - 6
•         Hardcover: 40 pages
•         Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press; Bilingual edition
•         Language: English, Spanish
•         ISBN-10: 193369324X
•         ISBN-13: 978-1933693248

“Even Santa Claus sends the jobs he is unable or unwilling to do to Mexico...in this colorful storybook by local author-illustrator Xavier Garza...The simple South Texas Christmas tale is printed in both English and Spanish, allowing for several different bilingual reading opportunities...Charro Claus is the perfect gift for the children of your Minute Men relatives.” —San Antonio Current, Nov. 19, 2008

Let’s welcome Santa’s newest helper: his cousin Pancho, a farmer living down in South Texas who is so smart he speaks both Spanish and English. 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, well, a little older and a little wider all around. Then one night his primo Santa Claus showed up. Santa needed some help along the US/Mexico border. Pancho volunteered. And then, poof, Santa transformed Pancho into the resplendent Charro Claus with his incredible Flying Burritos. And Charro Claus, it turns out, even had his own surprise elf—his nephew Vincente!

All Christmas Eve, Vincente and Pancho deliver toys to the boys and girls on the border. Neither rain, cloudy skies, wire fences, or concrete walls keep them from covering every inch of their newly assigned territory. And they don’t forget a single town or city. How could they? The border is their home.

A native of the Rio Grande Valley, Xavier Garza is a prolific author, artist, teacher, and storyteller whose work is a lively documentation of the dreams, superstitions, and heroes in the bigger-than-life world of South Texas. Garza has exhibited his art and performed his stories in venues throughout Texas, Arizona, and Washington State. He lives with his wife and son in San Antonio, Texas, and is the author of five books. His book Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel was a Pura Belpré Author Honor Book in 2012.

REVIEW

"Garza’s original text and bold, full-page illustrations will surely pull readers into the excitement of this new 'border' story. A wonderful acquisition." — Críticas

"The full-spread paintings are bright and energetic … A cheerful purchase." — School Library Journal

"Charro Claus is the perfect gift for the children of your Minute Men relatives." — San Antonio Current

"Bold, stylized cartoon-like illustrations help this creative author/illustrator tell the story of Santa Claus' Mexican cousin—telling it in both English and Spanish." —Children's Literature

"[This] bilingual retelling of the Santa Claus myth with a South Texas twist, brought vividly to life by Garza's colorful, expressive drawings." —San Antonio Express-News book blog

"This fascinating story reflects small-town Texas life and the magic of the holiday season." —Tucson Citizen

"This charming story will be embraced by children who do not see their lieves reflected in the traditional snowy Santa tales. Recommended."—REFORMA Newsletter