Chat and Chew: Video and Audio Book Talks

The First Thanksgiving

2011-12-18T12:26:00.002-06:00

The First Thanksgiving

written by Garnet Jackson and illustrated by Carolyn Croll

Scholastic;

ISBN-13: 9780439206280;

$.99

Produced by Lisa Huntsman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipOoIK7zxfM

Penguin and Little Blue

2011-12-01T13:28:00.005-06:00

Penguin and Little Blue written by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Katherine Tillotson
Atheneum Books for Younger Readers; ISBN: 0-689-84415-8; $15.95
Produced by Melissa Wylie

To watch the booktalk, click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0F82D2jhmw

Clementine

2011-12-01T13:26:00.004-06:00

Clementine written by Sara Pennypacker and illustrated by Marla Frazee

Hyperion; ISBN-13: 978-0-7868-3883-7; $4.99

Produced by Adrianna Lujan

Cowboy Ned & Andy

2011-12-01T12:56:00.002-06:00

Cowboy Ned & Andy written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; ISBN: 978-1-4169-0041-2; $14.95
Produced by Katy Gribben

Say Hello to Zorro!

2011-12-01T11:29:00.004-06:00

Say Hello to Zorro! written and illustrated by Carter Goodrich

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; ISBN: 978-1-4169-3893-4; $3.79
Produced by Karrie Brooks

The Scrambled States of America

2011-12-01T11:03:00.003-06:00

The Scrambled States of America written and illustrated by Laurie Keller

Henry Holt and Co.; ISBN: 0805058028; $16.99

Produced by Leah Janoe

The Giver

2011-12-01T08:49:00.004-06:00

The Giver written by Lois Lowry

Houghton Mifflin Company; ISBN: 0-395-64566-2; $8.99-$11.56

Produced by Sylvia Gallegos

Turkey Trouble

2011-12-01T07:09:00.003-06:00

Turkey Trouble written by Wendi Silvano and illustrated by: Harper Lee
Scholastic Books; ISBN: 978-0-545-29745-8; $

To view the booktalk, click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq-H7kq1FAg&feature=youtu.be&fb_source=message

The Mixed-Up Chameleon

2011-12-01T06:53:00.002-06:00

The Mixed-Up Chameleon
By Eric Carle
Harper Trophy
ISBD:978-0-06-443162-0
$6.99
Produced by Ashton Ramsey

The Giving Tree

2011-12-01T02:02:00.001-06:00

The Giving Tree

written by: Shel Silverstein illustrated by: Shel Silverstein

Publisher; HaperCollinsPublishers, 1964

ISBN-13; 978-0-06-025665-4

Produced by: Maci McPherson

2011-12-01T01:01:00.002-06:00

Faucet Fish
written by Fay Robinson and illustrated by Wayne Anderson
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile, 2005
ISBN: 0525471669
Produced by: Shelby Steadman

Love You Forever

2011-12-01T00:22:00.004-06:00

Love You Forever
Author: Robert Munsch
Illustrator: Sheila McGraw
Publisher: FireflyBooks Ltd.
ISBN: 1-55209-1109-0
Cost: $17.95
Produced by: Taylor Kneer

2011-11-30T23:39:00.002-06:00

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Written and Illustrated by:

Eric Carle

Philomel Books

ISBN: 978-0-399-25039-2

$29.99 for the pop-up edition

Produced by:

Chelsea Gilgenbach

The Pirate Cruncher

2011-11-30T23:32:00.002-06:00

The Pirate Cruncher

Jonny Duddle

Candlewick Press

978-0-7636-4876-3

$10.00

Produced by Leahlyn Reed

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

2011-11-30T23:23:00.004-06:00

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed written & Illustrated by Mo Willems.

Publisher: Hyperion Books;

ISBN- 10 142311437X;

$16.99

Produced by Shanna Deffebach

Back of the Bus

2011-11-30T22:56:00.002-06:00

Back of the Bus
Author: Aaron Reynolds
Illustrator: Floyd Cooper
Publisher: Philomel Books
ISBN: 978-0-399-25091-0
Cost: $14.52
Produced by Callie Noland

Metropolitan Cow

2011-11-30T22:32:00.002-06:00

Metropolitan Cow
Written and illustrated by Tim Egan
Houghton Mifflin Company
ISBN 0-395-73096-1
$14.95

Produced by Kelsey Robbins

2011-11-30T22:30:00.002-06:00

Where Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery

Written by Jamie Lee Curtis and illustrated by Laura Cornell

HarperCollins

ISBN:006027980X

$16.99

Produced by Katherine Brown

Fancy Nancy

2011-11-30T22:05:00.002-06:00

Fancy Nancy
Written by: Jane O'Conner
Illustrated by: Robin Preiss Glasser
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060542098
$19.95
Produced by: Kiva Carson

Mick Harte Was Here

2011-11-30T21:48:00.002-06:00

Mick Harte Was Here; Barbara Park; Yearling Books; 0-679-88203-0; $5.50; Produced by Claire Cole

The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs!

2011-11-30T21:47:00.002-06:00

The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs!

Written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith

Scholastic

0-590-44357-7

Published by Jordan Wright and Jeff Woodall

Where The Wild Things Are

2011-11-30T18:27:00.004-06:00

Mallory Sandlin

Where The Wild Things Are
Written and Illustrated by Maurice Sendack
Harper Collins Publisher, 1963
ISBN: 978-0-06-443178-1
$7.97
Produced by: Mallory Sandlin

2011-11-30T17:45:00.001-06:00

Moosetache

Written by Margie Palatini and illustrated by Henry Cole

Published by Scholastic Inc, 1997

ISBN: 0-590-53827-6

Produced by Angela Perea

2011-11-30T16:43:00.000-06:00

The New Girl.....And Me
Author: Jacqui Robbins
Illustrator: Matt Phelan
Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books
ISBN-10: 068986468x
Produced by: Heather Brock

"B is for Bear"

2011-11-30T16:28:00.003-06:00

Amanda Aycock
"B is for Bear"
By: Roger Priddy
St. Martin's Press, 2007
ISBN:978-0-312-49918-1
$12.95

Born to Read

2011-11-30T16:19:00.002-06:00

Born to Read
By: Judy Sierra
Illustrated by: Marc Brown
Publisher: Random House, 2008

Fanny by Holly Hobbie

2011-11-30T16:11:00.002-06:00

Fanny

Written and Illustrated by: Holly Hobbie

Publisher: Little Brown and Company

ISBN#: 978-0-316-16687-4

$16.99

Produced by: Bailey Stoehner

What a Day it Was at School

2011-11-30T16:04:00.002-06:00

What a Day it Was at School

Written by: Jack Prelutsky

Illustrated By: Doug Cushman

Scholastic Inc.

ISBN-13: 978-0-545-03624-5

Green Wilma by Tedd Arnold

2011-11-30T15:59:00.002-06:00

Green Wilma written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 0-590-59774-4
Produced by Maci Johnson

Cat Heaven

2011-11-30T15:22:00.004-06:00

Cat Heaven written and illustrated by Cynthia Rylant

Scholastic, Inc.

9780590100540

$16.99

Produced by Eva Papendorf

Llama Llama Mad at Mama

2011-11-30T15:05:00.002-06:00

"Llama Llama Mad at Mama" By Anna Dewdney

Viking Books

978-0-670-06240-9

$15.99

Produced By Erica Peters

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

2011-11-30T13:56:00.003-06:00

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

Written By: Laura Joffe Numeroff and Illustrated By: Felecia Bond

Harper Collins

0-06-024586-7

$19.95

Chrysanthemum

2011-11-30T13:49:00.004-06:00

Chrysanthemum written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Greenwillow Books

0-688-0969-9

$15.95

Publish Post

Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales

2011-11-30T12:31:00.004-06:00

Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales

Authors: Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

Publisher: Penguin Group

ISBN #: 0-670-84487-X

$9.89

Produced by: Katlyn Knowlton

Skippyjon Jones

2011-11-29T18:47:00.004-06:00

Skippyjon Jones
Author: Judy Schachner
Illustrated: Judy Schachner
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books, 2003
ISBN: 9780525471349
Cost: $17.99
Produced by: Alex Urias

Clementine

2011-11-29T18:34:00.003-06:00

Clementine
Author: Sara Pennypacker
Illustrated by: Marla Frazee
Published by:First Hyperion Paperbacks Edition, 2008
ISBN: 9781786838837
Cost:$5.99
Produced by: Victoria Beckman

Mick Harte Was Here

2011-11-29T17:39:00.002-06:00

Mick Harte Was Here

written by Barbara Park

Knopf, 1995

Produced by Natalie Ganotis

Stone Soup

2011-11-29T15:55:00.003-06:00

Stone Soup by Marcia Brown. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 0-684-92296-7. $15. Produced by Courtney Kotyk

Froggy Gets Dressed

2011-11-26T14:52:00.002-06:00

Froggy Gets Dressed

Written by Jonathan London

Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

Published by Scholastic Inc.

ISBN: 0590736000

Produced by Katie Hamill

Lucy and the Bully - Picturebook

2011-11-22T12:06:00.003-06:00

Lucy and the Bully
written and illustrated by Claire Alexander
Published by ALbert Whitman & Company
IBSN: 1862337136
Cost: $16.99
Produced by Kelly McFarland

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy

2011-11-13T23:54:00.002-06:00

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Hyperion; ISBN: 978-1423109600; $14.99
Produced by Ashley Brimeyer

Click on the following link to view the booktalk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwnD3s8CNgM&feature=youtu.be.

The Breadwinner

2011-11-10T21:13:00.004-06:00

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
Groundwood Books; ISBN: 9780888994165; $8.95

Click on the following link to view the booktalk: http://youtu.be/KxbnJDy6HTk.

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type

2011-11-10T10:27:00.003-06:00

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Atheneum Books for Young People; ISBN: 978-0689832130; $16.99
Produced by Binya Bhakta, Brian Hannan, and Gloria Sanchez

Click on the following link to watch the booktalk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-PEfrJ1Fs4.

Waiting for Anya

2011-11-10T09:59:00.004-06:00

Waiting for Anya written by Michael Morpurgo
Penguin; ISBN: 0-670-83735-0; $6.99
Produced by Megan Williams

The Three Pigs

2011-11-10T07:00:00.005-06:00

The Three Pigs written and illustrated by David Wiesner
Clarion Books; ISBN: 0-618-00701-6; $16.99
Produced by: Casey Shaver

Dear Mr. Henshaw

2011-11-09T21:32:00.004-06:00

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
HarperCollins; ISBN-10: 0380709589
Produced by Lara Jacques

Click on the following link to view the booktalk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7muRJZ5qZw

Rainy

2011-11-09T21:12:00.005-06:00

Rainy by Sis Deans
Henry Holt and Company; ISBN 0-8050-7831-2
Produced by Rachel Parker

Click the following link to view the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mWntD6zFw8&feature=youtu.be

The Giving Tree

2011-11-09T21:11:00.004-06:00

The Giving Tree written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein
HarperCollins Publishers; ISBN 06-025665-6; $15.99
Produced by Megan Garth

Click on the following link to view the booktalk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvLc1a-G8W0&feature=feedu

Nappy Hair

2011-11-09T17:15:00.003-06:00

Nappy Hair written by Carolivia Herron and illustrated by Joe Cepeda
Alfred A. Knopf/Dragonfly Books; ISBN: 0-679-87937-4; $6.99
Produced by Amber Joyce

Click on the following link to view the booktalk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeHl7oIzy6I

Henry's Freedom Box

2011-11-09T17:09:00.003-06:00

Henry's Freedom Box written by Ellen Levine and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Scholastic Press; ISBN: 978-0-439-77733-9; $16.99
Produced by Kelly Kenny

Chrysanthemum

2011-11-09T16:29:00.008-06:00

Chrysanthemum written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Greenwillow Books; ISBN: 0-688-09699-9; $16.99

Produced by Brittany Killen

What Was I Scared Of? A Glow-in-the-Dark Encounter

2011-11-09T13:47:00.007-06:00

What Was I Scared Of? A Glow-in-the-Dark Encounter written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss
Random House; ISBN: 978-0375853425; $11.99
Produced by Kalee Anderson, Macy Chatham, and Ashley Webb

Click on the following link to view the booktalk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nzI3UtGAmk.

Clementine

2011-11-09T13:42:00.003-06:00

Clementine written by Sara Pennypacker and illustrated by Marla Frazee

Hyperion Paperbacks for Children; ISBN-13: 978-0-7868-3883-7; $5.99

Produced by Kate McDowell

Benno and the Night of Broken Glass

2011-11-09T13:39:00.013-06:00

Benno and the Night of Broken Glass written by Meg Wiviott and illustrated by Josee Bisaillon
KAR-BEN Publishing; ISBN 9780-08225-9975-3; $7.95
Produced by Art Garza
Cameo by Elvis Garza

Sheila Rae, The Brave

2011-11-09T13:26:00.002-06:00

Sheila Rae, The Brave written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Greenwillow Books; ISBN: 978-0688147389; $6.99
Produced by Olivia Roberts

Bored Bill

2011-11-09T13:20:00.002-06:00

Bored Bill written and illustrated by Liz Pichon
Tiger Tales; ISBN: 978-1589250536; no price listed.
Produced by Shelby Burdoin

Click on the following link to view the booktalk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCsNDrKsVNY&feature=youtube_gdata.

Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again

2011-11-09T13:17:00.003-06:00

Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again written and illustrated by David Horowitz
Puffin; ISBN: 978-0142419328; $6.99
Produced by Ashley Barfield

Click on the following link to view the booktalk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAmPTcs-ZtM.

Sarah, Plain and Tall

2011-11-09T13:04:00.003-06:00

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
HarperCollins; ISBN: 978-0064402057; $5.99
Produced by Morgan Wallace

Click on the following link to view booktalk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_bybmz7y0g

Arrow To the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale

2011-11-09T11:17:00.005-06:00

Arrow To the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale written and illustrated by Gerald McDermott
Puffin; ISBN-13: 978-0140502114; $7.99
Produced by Tracy Mason

Click on the following link to view the booktalk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNrFxITYCfM&feature=email

Clementine

2011-11-09T06:58:00.006-06:00

Clementine written by Sara Pennypacker and illustrated by Marla Frazee
Hyperion Books; ISBN-13 978-0786838837; $5.99
Produced By Bonnie Newman

Confetti Girl

2011-11-08T22:57:00.006-06:00

Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez
Little, Brown and Co.; ISBN: 0316029556; $6.99
Produced by Vanessa Catano

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy US Marshal

2011-11-08T17:03:00.006-06:00

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy US Marshal written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Scholastic, Inc; ISBN 978-0-545-34255-1; $17.95
Produced by Peet Smith

Esperanza Rising

2011-04-29T18:20:00.003-05:00

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Scholastic; ISBN: 9780439120425; $6.99
Produced by Courtney Radloff

Please click on the following link to view Courtney's video booktalk:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5D3O5zYqN0

The Compound

2011-04-28T13:53:00.004-05:00

The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
Square Fish; ISBN: 9780312578602; $8.99
Produced by Katie Green

The Great Gatsby

2011-04-28T13:29:00.004-05:00

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Scribner; ISBN: 9780743273565; $7.63 (Amazon price)
Produced by Kate Whitt

Please click on the following link to view booktalk:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sviww1BxHu4

Feed

2011-04-27T09:50:00.005-05:00

Feed written by M.T. Anderson
Candlewick; ISBN: 9780763622596; $7.99
Produced by Haley Miller

Mexican Whiteboy

2011-04-27T09:37:00.003-05:00

Mexican Whiteboy written by Matt de la Pena
Delacorte; ISBN: 9780440239383; $8.99
Produced by Shelby Harbour

Skippyjon Jones

2010-12-11T18:55:00.007-06:00

Skippyjon Jones written by Judy Schachner
Dutton Children's Books; ISBN: 0-525-47134-0; $15.99
Produced by Christi Peck

To view video book talk, please click the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpbDIMlC4eY

Beany and the Dreaded Wedding

2010-12-11T18:47:00.009-06:00

Beany and the Dreaded Wedding written by Susan Wojciechowski

Candlewick Press; ISBN: 9780763625696; $5.99
Produced by Martha Jones

To view video book talk, please click the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXDWXJD8hMw

Island of the Blue Dolphins

2010-12-04T15:59:00.005-06:00

Island of the Blue Dolphins written by Scott O'Dell

Houghton Mifflin Harourt; ISBN 9780547328614; $6.29

Produced by Erika Silva

Fancy Nancy

2010-12-04T15:16:00.006-06:00

Fancy Nancy and the Sensational Babysitter written by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Glasser
Harper Collins; ISBN: 9780061703782; $3.99
Produced by Christina Soto

Frindle

2010-12-04T14:21:00.004-06:00

Frindle written by Andrew Clements and illustrated by Brian Selznick
Simon & Schuster; ISBN 9780689818769; $5.99
Produced by Elizabeth Isidro

Uh-Oh Cleo: Underpants on My Head

2010-12-04T11:26:00.008-06:00

Uh-Oh Cleo: Underpants on My Head written by Jessica Harper and illustrated by Jon Berkeley
Putnam Juvenile; ISBN: 9780399246722; $14.99
Produced by Cari Carter

The Tooth Fairy Meets El Raton Perez

2010-12-04T00:16:00.002-06:00

The Tooth Fairy Meets El Raton Perez written by Rene Colato Lainez and illustrated by Tom Lintern
Tricycle Press; ISBN: 978-1582462967; $15.99
Produced by Risse Ashburn and Danielle Pedigo

To view video book talk, please click the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBqHZ91rLoo

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery

2010-12-02T14:33:00.003-06:00

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery written by Deborah and James Howe and illustrated by Alan Daniel
Atheneum; ISBN: 978-1416928171; $5.99
Produced by Sara Coats

Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique

2010-12-02T13:44:00.007-06:00

Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique written by Jane O'connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
HarperCollins; ISBN: 978-0061235924; $17.99
Produced by Amber Boyce

Shiloh

2010-12-02T12:14:00.003-06:00

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Atheneum; ISBN: 978-0689835827; $6.99

Produced by Stacy Cherry

Because of Winn Dixie

2010-11-30T23:46:00.006-06:00

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick; ISBN: 0763644323 ; $6.99
Produced by Anita Nigam

Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me

2009-12-05T14:09:00.005-06:00

Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
Simon & Schuster Children's; ISBN: 088708026X; $19.95
Produced by Gywn Cude, Kelsey Dykes, Julie Lester, Amanda Owens, and Keri Strahm

Who's Buried In The Garden?

2009-07-12T00:38:00.003-05:00

Who's Buried In The Garden? by Ray Villarreal
Piñata Books; ISBN 13: 978-1558855465 ; $10.95
Produced by René Saldaña, Jr.

The Smell of Old Lady Perfume

2009-07-11T08:08:00.005-05:00

The Smell of Old Lady Perfume by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez
Cinco Puntos Press; ISBN 13: 978-1933693187; $15.95

Produced by Paige Bowman

An Online Chat with Author/Illustrator Xavier Garza

2009-06-29T23:15:00.006-05:00

The following is an author chat that took place on the 25th of June, 2009, between my EDLL 5351 Children’s Literature for Teachers and Librarians at Texas Tech University and author/illustrator Xavier Garza, using Chatzy.com’s chat room services. I’ve taken the liberty to make some corrections on misspellings, typos, and other minor grammar and usage errors for a clearer reading.

Xavier Garza was born and raised in deep South Texas in Rio Grande City. He received his BFA from University of Texas-Pan American and later his MFA in Art History from UTSA. He lives with his wife, Irma, and their son, Vincent, in San Antonio, Texas, where he is a middle school art teacher at Vale Middle School and teaches art history at Northwest Vista College. Following is a bibliography of his work:

Zulema and the Witch Owl. Houston TX: Arte Público/Piñata Books, 2009.
Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid. El Paso TX: Cinco Puntos Press, 2008.
Juan and the Chupacabra. Houston TX: Arte Público/Piñata Books, 2006.
Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask: A Bilingual Cuento. El Paso TX: Cinco Puntos Press, 2005.
Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys. Houston TX: Arte Público/Piñata Books, 2004.

Rene: Lisa: Have you ever worked in or been in an elementary classroom? How do you know how to gear your writing toward that level?
Xavier: I have been a teacher for 15 years, but at the Jr. High level for the most part. I base all my stories on my childhood memories and experiences. I try my stories on my 6th graders. They are close enough to the elementary level to get an honest opinion fromt hem on the stories.

Rene: Amber: In Charro Claus there is a segment where Charro and the Tejas Kid deliver toys to the children along the Texas/Mexico border. Due to the recent immigration conflicts, has there been any controversy surrounding this book?
Xavier: There has been only minor controversy. An online critic commented that Charro Claus brings fake green cards and social security numbers to Mexicans (check out the review at http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:990EgnJfF0MJ:www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/2090718-santa-claus-mexican-cousin-finally-gets-his-own-bilingual-book/blog/25769730+%22xavier+garza%22+%22charro+claus%22+%22green+cards%22&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us). Maybe there will be more controversy down the road since it looks like Immigration reform will be a hot topic in Washington again. I find things like the Border wall to be an idiot’s solution to illegal immigration. A wall is never a permanent answer to a problem; it’s just a temporary fix. As a child growing up in the Valley, so the border is very much a part of my life. Crossing back and forth between the US and Mexico was done as easily as going to Walmart or HEB.

Rene: Jessica: What book is your favorite to talk to an audience about? And why?
Xavier: Hi, Jessica. My favorite book is Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid. It’s a very personal book. When I was a child, my dad introduced me to the concept of Santa having a Mexican cousin while shopping at a local grocery store. I saw a Santa Claus wearing a Charro hat and asked my dad who this man was. He told me he was Santa’s Mexican cousin. Later, I listened to the song “Pancho Claus” by Lalo Guerrero. All these factors stayed with me. A few years back I realized that what Santa's Mexican cousin had never had was an origin story. I mean who was he? How did he come to be? Why does he deliver presents to the kids on the border? Is he helping Santa, or did he decide to just do it on his own? None of these questions had ever been answered, so I felt that he needed an origin. In short, he needed a story that answered all these questions. The Tejas Kid was inserted into the story so as to insert my own son into the story. I wanted to in my own way to introduce him to Santa’s Mexican cousin just as my father had done for me when I was a child. I also made Charro and Tejas look like both me and my son.

Rene: Kinsey: What inspired you to begin writing children's books?
Xavier: I was raised among storytellers. My dad and grandparents were storytellers, so it grew on me as a child. Eventually I decided to try and get my stories published, rather than just tell them. I have been lucky that I have always had people Like René Saldaña, Jr., (The Case of the Pen Gone Missing (Piñata Books, 2009) and The Whole Sky Full of Stars (Wendy Lamb Books/Random House, 2007)) and David Rice (Crazy Loco: Stories (Dial, 2001) to encourage me to keep going. I have been very blessed to have five books published thus far.

Rene: Bertha: How have non-Hispanic kids responded to your books?
Xavier: For the most part very positively. Lucha Libre has been very well received and is probably my most popular crossover book. It is the one book that you can find at virtually every Barnes and Noble. Kids really seem to enjoy lucha libre, which is a world filled with masked heroes and villains that do battle in the ring.

Rene: Kimberley: You say your dad and granddad are storytellers and they influenced you to tell your stories. Was Lucha Libre based on one of their stories, or another family members, or yours?
Xavier: Lucha Libre is based on two events: as a child, I often visited my cousins in Monterrey. On Friday evenings we would go see lucha libre at the Arena Coliseo in Monterrey. These fond memories of masked heroes (tecnicos) and villains (rudos) stayed with me for years. Later as an adult I met Mil Mascaras, and the idea came to me to author a book that shared the experience of seeing Mexican wrestling.

Rene: Ashley A.: What other projects are you working on? And can you talk about what your writing process is like?
Xavier: I am currently doing a sequel of sorts to Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys. The book is titled Kid Cyclone Versus the Devil and Other Creepy Stories. It is being done with Arte Público/Piñata Books, and consists of 16 scary stories such as “Llorona 911,” “Kid Cyclone Versus the Devil,” “The Saint’s Revenge,” and “Border Watch.” I am also working on another picture book titled La Llorona Versus the Donkey Lady. My writing process is rather simple. First, I come up with an idea by drawing on memories from my childhood. “Llorona 911,” for example, is based on a phone number that we kids passed around. You called the number and you heard a recording of a crazy, angry woman yelling and screaming at you as if you were her scoundrel of a child. A few modifications of this memory led to it becoming a Llorona story. Also, if I have an idea I write it down. I don’t do the whole story, but save the idea instead. Too many stories are lost because the ideas for them aren’t written down.

Rene: Edward: When you write your stories, which seem like they are more geared to a boy audience, do you think consciously of boys as your primary audience? What do you think boy readers need to become better readers?
Xavier: Not all my books are boy based, but I do like girl characters who are strong and a bit tomboyish. Luz, in Juan and the Chupacabras is a lot braver than her male cousin Juan. Also, Zulema in Zulema and the Witch Owl is a tough little girl. Almost all my characters are modeled after real people I have met. I think that what we need to do in order for boys to be better readers is do away with some of the “boys don’t read” stereotypes that are deeply imbedded in our society. We need to encourage reading not only in schools, but also at home. Parents need to encourage their children, boys and girls alike, to excel in education, and reading is a very essential part of reaching these ultimate success.

Rene: Kristin: What have you found to be the benefit of having parallel English and Spanish texts in your writings? Do you write both the English and Spanish translation independently, or do you write in one language first and then translate to the other?
Xavier: I speak Spanish fluently, but I don’t do my own translations. I write in English, and then the publishers get the translator. I am a firm believer in the advantage of being able to speak more than one language.

Rene: Whitney: What techniques do you use to come up with your artwork?
Xavier: I do a lot of pencil sketches, very rough drafts. The characters in Lucha Libre (El Vampiro, Evil Caveman and El Cucuy, for example) are all hybrids of different real life luchadores (Mexican wrestlers) that I combined to create new characters. I will develop the look of the characters first, and then decide on the colors. Something like Zulema and the Witch Owl uses darker, more raw tones so as to add to the dark theme of the story.

Rene: Brandon: Can you tell us about your first teaching experience? Were you nervous? If so, how did you deal with it?
Xavier: I was nervous my first year, but that lasted about one week. Teaching is very fast-paced. Basically I got hired in September, so school had been going on already for three weeks. I was basically told, “Here’s your 130 students, and there’s a closet with supplies. Deal with it.” As such I had to adapt quick, but in the end it made me believe that I can handle any teaching situation that comes my way.

Rene: Last Question: Multiple Questioners: What came first, your teaching or your writing? Did one influence the other? When did you start writing? Any advice for younger would-be writers?
Xavier: The storytelling and the art came first. As a child I loved to draw. Give me a box of crayons and some paper bags and I was ready to go for a few hours. When I went to college I was going to get a degree in Art, but with teaching certification. The writing came about because several people recommended that I should write these stories down. I finally listened, but it was a long process. It took me nine years from when I began to write down my stories and my first book finally being published. I started to write when I was 24, but I was always a reader. I tell any aspiring writer to just keep writing and to never give up. If you believe in what you do, then it will eventually happen, so long as you don’t ever give up.

Rene: Xavier, thanks for giving us this hour of your day. It was very awesome hearing from an author whose works we've been exposed to in class. We wish you well and continued success. Rene.
Xavier: The pleasure was all mine, René. It was an honor to communicate with your students. Nos vemos pronto.

NOTE: for a video booktalk on Xavier Garza's most recent picture book, watch Amador Guerrero's contribution below.

Dooby Dooby Moo

2009-06-24T13:03:00.009-05:00

Dooby Dooby Moo written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Atheneum; ISBN 13: 978-0689845079 ; $16.95
Produced by Ashley Averitte, Robin Kunz, and Kimberly Reid

How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?

2009-06-23T11:18:00.007-05:00

How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Mark Teague
Blue Sky Press/Scholastic; ISBN 13: 978-0439241021; $16.99
Produced by Whitney Brock, Lisa Felan, and Jessica Watson

Zulema and the Witch Owl

2009-06-23T10:44:00.007-05:00

Zulema and the Witch Owl written and illustrated by Xavier Garza
Piñata Books, 2009; ISBN 13: 978-1-55885-515-1; $15.95
Produced by Amador Guerrero, Jr.

Daisy Kutter: The Last Train

2009-05-26T19:28:00.007-05:00

Daisy Kutter: The Last Train written and illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi
Viper Comics, 2006; ISBN 10: 0975419323; $10.95
Produced by Lori Satterwhite

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A Video Welcome to Chat and Chew Online

2009-05-07T11:30:00.004-05:00