Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid

Gr 2-5–Vincent is spending Christmas Eve with his Tío Pancho; a retired mariachi singer who lives on an old farm near the border between Texas and Mexico. When Santa Claus arrives at the farmhouse looking for his cousin, Vincent is stunned to learn that his uncle is the jolly one's relative. His surprise only increases as he witnesses Santa transform his uncle into his helper, Charro Claus. Santa's magic powers also enable Pancho's old wagon and burros to fly him back and forth along the border; a border that he considers his home, and on this magic night, neither weather nor walls will keep him from delivering presents to children. Wanting to be part of the adventure, Vincent hides inside the magic sack of presents, not realizing that this act will turn him into another one of Santa's helpers.Garza's original text and bold, full-page illustrations will surely pull readers into the excitement of this new "border" story. A wonderful acquisition for elementary and public libraries, as well as bookstores looking to enhance their bilingual Christmas offerings.

(K-Gr 2) Vincent, a young Texan, is spending Christmas Eve on his uncle's farm near the Mexican border. When Santa shows up and asks Tío 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. The full-spread paintings are bright and energetic, depicting a brunette-bearded and caped Tío Pancho and brown-eyed Vincent enthusiastically distributing toys. A cheerful purchase.

Even Santa Claus sends the jobs he is unable or unwilling to do to Mexico. The jolly old outsourcer enlists his primo Pancho to deliver presents along the Texas-Mexico border, and his young nephew Vincent stows away in the present sack, in this colorful storybook by local author-illustrator Xavier Garza.Pancho, dressed in a mariachi suit, pilots a wagon hauled by flying burritos (the non-delicious, non-musical sort). The simple South Texas Christmas tale is printed in both English and Spanish, allowing for several different bilingual reading opportunities, a logical choice for a book that pointedly asserts: "Not even rain or cloudy skies or walls or wire fences keep them from crossing back and forth to El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, to Roma and Miguel Aleman, to Rio Grande City and to Camargo. . . . The border is his home!"Charro Claus is the perfect gift for the children of your Minute Men relatives.

In his 2007 children's picture book "Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask," San Antonio artist and author Xavier Garza unmasked Mexican wrestling in a heartwarming story of a boy and his hero. Garza has now decided to sit on Santa's lap. Coming in November, "Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid" is a bilingual retelling of the Santa Claus myth with a South Texas twist, brought vividly to life by Garza's colorful, expressive drawings.Vincent is a young boy spending Christmas eve with his Tio Pancho on his border ranch. Tired from milking cows and feeding chickens, Vincent is about to drift off to sleep when -- what should he hear? Si, a thump, thump, thump on the roof. It's Santa Claus, who happens to be Tio Pancho's cousin. "I need your help, primo," Santa says.Instead of the red suit, Pancho gets to wear his mariachi outfit. Thanks to magical, tiny colored stars, the pants don't split at the seams. In fact, Pancho is transformed: "a gold jacket with matching sequined trousers, rattlesnake-skin boots with silver spurs, a big sombrero covered in gold sequins and blinking Christmas lights, a great big cape and a golden mask."Santa doesn't stop there. His magic repairs a decrepit old wagon, and with a single touch, the burros -- Rigo, Jaime, Freddie and Little Joe -- sprout lucha libre masks and capes and become "the incredible Flying Burritos."And what about Vincent? Well, he stows away in Charro Claus magic bag and helps deliver presents to children along the border as the Tejas Kid -- complete with mask, cape, hat and guitar. Quite the dynamic duo.According to Garza, whose work is inspired by his deep South Texas roots and the family stories he heard growing up, "Yes, Virginia, Santa Claus really does have a Mexican cousin!"The book was published from the indispensable Cinco Puntos Press in El Paso, a small press with a big heart.

"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. . . . This will be especially useful in bilingual homes or classes."

"In south Texas, where it doesn't snow and there are no reindeer, the big guy in the red suit has to adapt. The red cap is replaced with a mariachi hat, and sleigh boots with cowboy boots. The transformation is finally triggered by a little magic dust, some tiny stars and a few sprinkles that turn a cowboy and his nephew into Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid. This fascinating story reflects small-town Texas life and the magic of the holiday season."

For kindergarten through grade two, this cheerful book about a Border Santa is endorsed by the School Library Journal, which says, "Santa transforms an old mariachi outfit into a gold-and-silver sequined marvel and his burros into lucha-libre-masked Flying Burritos. The text is in English and Spanish. The illustrations are bright and energetic, depicting a brown-bearded Tío Pancho and young Vincent enthusiastically distributing toys.

Vincent, visiting his Tío Pancho on Christmas Eve, is surprised to discover that his uncle is Santa Claus's cousin. Santa has come to Pancho's farm on the Mexico-Texas border asking for help delivering presents to the children living along that border. Of course Pancho agrees, and with the help of Santa's magic, becomes "Charro Claus". Instead of a red suit, he wears a golden mariachi outfit; his old wagon and little burros (renamed the "Flying Burritos") are his means of transportation. This charming story will be embraced by children who do not see their lives reflected in the traditional snowy Santa tales. Recommended.