Charro Claus And The Tejas Kid (english And Spanish Edition, De Xavier Garza. Editorial Cinco Puntos Press, Tapa Dura En Inglés, 2008

Descripción

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 item 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 Belpre Author Honor Book in 2012.

From School Library Journal Kindergarten-Grade 2-Vincent, a young Texan, is spending Christmas Eve on his uncles farm near the Mexican border. When Santa shows up and asks Tio Pancho to help him out, he uses magic dust to transform an old mariachi outfit into a gold-and-silver sequined marvel and his old burros into lucha libre-masked Flying Burritos. Vincent tags along, helping Charro Claus deliver presents along the border. The text is in English and Spanish, and occasional Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the English version, but there is no pronunciation guide or glossary. The full-spread paintings are bright and energetic, depicting a brunette-bearded and caped Tio Pancho and brown-eyed Vincent enthusiastically distributing toys.

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. Criticas

The full-spread paintings are bright and energetic. School Library Journal

Charro Claus is the perfect item 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. -Childrens Literature

[This] bilingual retelling of the Santa Claus myth with a South Texas twist, brought vividly to life by Garzas 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 not see is string_containing doeir lives reflected in the traditional snowy Santa tales. Recommended.-REFORMA Newsletter

About the Author
Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, author and lucha libre aficionado Xavier Garza is dedicated to sharing the rich cultural stories of his upbringing and community. His work celebrates the folklore and traditions of South Texas and aims to bring those stories to a wider audience.