David Bowles

A Saturday trip across the bridge becomes a journey through two homes, two languages, and one caring community. A boy and his father travel from their Texas border town to El Otro Lado, the Mexican town just across the Rio Grande. They visit familiar places: a favorite restaurant, Tío Mateo’s jewelry shop, the paletero, and the pharmacy. Each stop feels ordinary and special at the same time, filled with family, food, friendship, and memories. But their last stop shows the deeper purpose of the trip. Together, father and son bring supplies to friends seeking asylum, showing how kindness can cross borders too. Warm, thoughtful, and beautifully illustrated, this picture book gives young readers a tender look at border life, family tradition, and community care.

A ski trip should mean snow, hot chocolate, and maybe a few wipeouts. For Ivan, Malia, and Dante, it means another impossible detour to 13th Street. The cousins think they are safely away from the weirdest street in town, until a portal pulls them into a mountain adventure packed with danger and jokes that might actually hurt. This time, they must face cackling cougars whose punch lines are not nearly as funny when you are the target. Fast, silly, and spooky in just the right amount, this highly illustrated chapter book is built for readers who like short chapters, monster mayhem, cousin teamwork, and laugh-out-loud danger.

Malia, Dante, and Ivan have a friend to save, but 13th Street is never easy to find when you need it—and never safe once you do. The cousins are searching for a portal so they can help Mickey get home. Waiting for them are sharks with shocking electric power, turning the mission into a splashy, scary, high-energy showdown. To reach Mickey in time, the cousins will have to dodge danger, trust one another, and keep going even when the weirdness gets wild. This highly illustrated chapter book offers quick pacing, monster fun, and just enough spooky suspense for young readers who enjoy adventure stories with jokes, action, and brave kids at the center.

Dante, Malia, and Ivan are back in Nopalitos, and everything seems normal—until their school bus takes the worst wrong turn imaginable. Suddenly the cousins are on 13th Street again, facing strange monsters and a new round of danger. This time, fire-breathing ferrets are part of the chaos, and surviving the ride will take courage, teamwork, and help from friends. The monsters may be fierce, but the adventure stays fast, funny, and full of page-turning surprises. With illustrations throughout and an easy-to-grab chapter book format, The Fire-Breathing Ferret Fiasco is a great fit for readers who enjoy silly scares, creature battles, and adventurous kids who never quite know what weird thing will appear next.

The evil queen of 13th Street is not done with Malia, Dante, and Ivan. This time, she has monsters on her side that can stop the cousins cold. Birds with freeze-ray powers are waiting, and one icy look could turn the rescue mission into a disaster. To shut down 13th Street once and for all, the cousins will need bravery, quick thinking, and the kind of teamwork that keeps them moving even when the odds get weird. Packed with illustrations, spooky jokes, and fast chapter-book action, Fight with the Freeze-Ray Fowls is a fun pick for readers who like monster battles, silly danger, and short, energetic adventures.

Malia, Dante, and Ivan are ready to take on 13th Street’s creepy forces. Then Ivan gets snatched by giant tarantulas with a truly terrible talent. Now Malia and Dante must push past sticky webs, spider scares, and some seriously stinky trouble to rescue their cousin. The danger is spooky, the humor is gross, and every page keeps the action moving as the cousins face another monster-packed challenge. Perfect for readers building confidence with chapter books, Tussle with the Tooting Tarantulas mixes short chapters, bold illustrations, silly horror, and family teamwork. It is a funny, fast-paced adventure for kids who like their monsters more ridiculous than terrifying.

Long before people walked the earth, the moon shone alone in a quiet sky. Ancient Night draws young readers into a luminous tale inspired by Nahuatl traditions. Rabbit, Opossum, moonlight, and fire move through a dreamlike world where the night is alive with mystery. The story weaves together traditions of the rabbit on the moon and the fire-stealing opossum, offering a poetic picture book experience that feels both ancient and new. With spare, lyrical text and richly glowing illustrations, this is a beautiful choice for readers who enjoy myths, bedtime stories, and picture books that invite slow looking. Backmatter adds context for curious children ready to learn more about the Mesoamerican roots behind the tale.

A brand-new adventure begins for the Unicorn Rescue Society, and this time, the mystery is right on the border! When Professor Fauna bursts into Elliot and Uchenna's classroom with a frightening report from the Texas-Mexico border, the team knows they have to act fast. Something mysterious has completely drained the blood from a cow! The crew immediately flies to Laredo, where rumors are flying and tempers are running high. To solve the mystery, Elliot and Uchenna team up with local kids Lupita and Mateo, along with their brilliant mother and curandero father. Together, they must track down the legendary chupacabras. But are these spiny, bloodsucking creatures really dangerous monsters, or just misunderstood animals in need of help? Can the Unicorn Rescue Society save the region's mythical wildlife and bring a divided community back together? Join the team for a thrilling, funny, and action-packed mission where the real magic is teamwork!