Author & Reteller Profile
David Bowles
5 Books
David Bowles is a Mexican American author, poet, translator, and educator from South Texas whose work often draws on Mexican, Indigenous, and borderlands history, folklore, and mythology. He writes for young readers and teens across picture books, middle-grade adventure, fantasy, and young adult fiction, including the Garza Twins books, the 13th Street series, My Two Border Towns, and Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico. His books are known for blending fast-paced storytelling with cultural memory, bilingual border life, and Mesoamerican traditions.
Books in "13th Street"
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.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
96 Pages
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.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
96 Pages
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.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
96 Pages
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.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
96 Pages
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.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
96 Pages
