New Release Books by Joe Hayes

A bilingual middle grade collection of playful folktales from Afro-Cuban tradition in side-by-side English and Spanish text, featuring ingenious human, animal and magical protagonists. Did you know that fire first came from an old sorceress? Cuban folklore teaches us about how she selfishly kept it for herself, until two clever twin boys who "could play their drums as if they had magic in their hands" tricked the hechicera into sharing it with the world. Whether or not you grew up hearing the story of Obbara the Orisha, who gained his special power by appreciating even the humblest gift, or of the three resourceful baby herons who used their song Tin ganga o, tin ganga o, yo mama ganga reré to find their parents-- this folktales collection will charm you with its humor, magic, and wisdom. In this Aesop Prize-winning book, reformatted for middle grade readers, folklorist and storyteller Joe Hayes shares stories he learned after years visiting Cuba and listening to local storytellers. He first visited Holguín, Cuba, the sister city of his hometown, Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2001. He fell in love with the island and began to look for opportunities to meet and listen to Cuban storytellers, and to share the stories he knew from the American Southwest. He returned year after year, establishing a rich cultural exchange between U.S. and Cuban storytellers. Out of that collaboration came this fun collection of thirteen Cuban folktales. Joe gives context to the collection with an introduction and an all-important Note to Storytellers. In the Note, Joe goes over some of background of each of the tales included--what culture these stories originate from, some of the cultural meanings of elements in the stories, previous collections these stories have been included in, or other relevant storytelling and anthropological information. This collection is a wonderful resource for anyone trying to learn about the unique blend of Spanish, African and Caribbean influences on Cuban culture; for intermediate students of Spanish or English; storytellers looking to expand their repertoire; or anyone who enjoys a good folktale. Have fun reading and re-telling these stories yourself! "A captivating collection of thirteen folktales with influences from the Caribbean, Spain and Africa; Hayes has captured the essence and diversity of Cuba. Creation myths, legends and Pataki comprise this fascinating folktale anthology."--REFORMA Joe Hayes' bilingual Spanish-English tellings have earned him a celebrated place among America's storytellers. He began sharing his stories in print in 1982. In 2005, Joe received the Talking Leaves Literary Award from the National Story telling Network, an award given to members of the story telling community who have made considerable and influential contributions to the literature of story telling. His books have received the Arizona Young Readers Award, two Land of Enchantment Children's Book Awards, four IPPY Awards, a Southwest Book Award, a Skipping Stone Honor, an Aesop Prize, and an Aesop Accolade Award. They have been on the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List twice, and his book Ghost Fever was the first bilingual book to win the Bluebonnet Award. Mauricio Trenard Sayago was born in Santiago de Cuba in 1963. He was raised by his family and society to believe in the power of art to educate and transform the individual and society. This environment strongly influenced him. His goal is to use his work to simplify, exaggerate or change how we see our current realitites so that we can make the world a better place. Mauricio came to the United States in 2000 and lives in Brooklyn, making his living as an artist and using painting not only to create new images, but also to explore himself in his new cultural context.

Out on the Left Coast, a rising tide of wealth generated by the 1999 Silicon Bubble isfloating all boats, but swamping Harper Powell, a groundwater geologist and GrandCanyon river guide. Growth pressures from boom times are crushing his personalCalifornia dream combining Grand Canyon river trips, the throwback surf culture ofhis adopted home town, and his own geology business. The power and glory of a GrandCanyon river trip with motley friends brings solace, but he returns to water battles,shrinking habitat for free agents, and an unexpected death of a friend. Harper and hisriver buddies must head back into Grand Canyon for a high water chase to rescue ascoundrel friend from himself. On the way, they find the key to saving a special place,and rescue their self-respect.

Rattlesnakes and storyteller Joe Hayes must have a thing for each other. Joe’s teamed up again with Antonio Castro to tell us how one day he saved a rattlesnake’s life. Sure enough, that made the rattlesnake so happy he followed Joe home. The snake became Joe’s pet. Just like a dog. Oh, wow, Joe’s tall tales get taller every year!

“Hayes's flowing plot, enlivened by several wry twists, is decidedly satisfying. Fiedler's spare, earth-toned paintings convey the particulars of the setting from traditional garb to the sprawling landscapes as well as the timelessness of folklore.”—Publishers Weekly Don Ignacio is a wealthy landowner whose prized possession is an apple tree that produces the most delicious fruit around. He trusts only one man to care for this tree—his ranch foreman Juan Verdades. Don Ignacio is also a proud man and he lets his pride carry him into a dangerous bet! He bets a neighboring rancher his ranch that Juan Verdades cannot tell a lie. His opponent is determined to win the bet, using guile and the help of his beautiful daughter to trick Juan Verdades into stealing all of the fruit from the prized apple tree. Will Juan Verdades be able to tell the truth about what he has done? The ranch depends on it. Originally published in 2001, this paperback edition of Joe Hayes’ classic story features the bilingual style common to his most popular books. Joe’s bilingual Spanish-English tellings and books have earned him a distinctive place among America’s storytellers. He lives in Santa Fe and travels extensively throughout the United States telling his stories. Joseph Daniel Fiedler was born and raised in the Appalachian hill country of western Pennsylvania. He attended the Ivy School of Professional Art and Carnegie Mellon University. He is the recipient of a silver medal from the Society of Illustrators for book illustration.

Folktales with an affirmative action twist: In each a woman uses her wits to overcome adversity.

Respected raconteur Joe Hayes is built for tall tales—he’s got the world’s longest legs! And Joe—who travels all over the United States telling stories to kids—says that The Gum-Chewing Rattler is the perfect tall tale for kids because it combines so many familiar experiences—chewing lots of bubblegum, getting in trouble in school, driving your mom crazy—with the wild, impossible claim that a certain rattlesnake chewed gum and blew a bubble with it. Couple that with kids’ natural fascination with poisonous snakes, and The Gum-Chewing Rattler turns out to be one of Joe’s most requested stories. Joe’s been telling this wild story for years, since before 1980, when he took those long legs of his out on the road. But now, that old gum-chewer is here for the first time in a picture book with full-color illustrations by Antonio Castro L. Here’s how Joe’s story goes: When Joe was a boy, he chewed lots of bubblegum, his mom got so mad because the gum in his shirt pocket made a terrible mess in the wash! But this wad of bubblegum just happened to save Joe from a rattlesnake’s fangs! Really!! Don’t worry—his mother didn’t believe the story either.

A collection of ten classic tales from Northern New Mexico retold in Spanish and English.

Kids today grow up knowing all about recycling. But when Joe Hayes was a kid, recycling hadn't been invented. Money was so tight for Joe's family that they had to be inventive about using and reusing everything. They didn't call it recycling, they ca

"Move over Pep Le Pew: A pair of black-and-white high-top sneakers become the love interest of a skunk--much to the chagrin of the boy who's wearing them."--Los Angeles Times "An upbeat and playful story."--School Library Journal

Joe Hayes' mother knew how to stretch the family's budget nearly as well as Joe streeeeeetches the truth.

A tall tale of a boy whose chewing gum habit saves him from a rattlesnake's bite.

A retelling, in parallel English and Spanish text, of the traditional tale told in the Southwest and in Mexico of how the beautiful Maria became a ghost.

A little girl named Nanabah heeds her grandmother's advice and calls upon the horned toad and the ants to help her when she runs into trouble on the mesa.

Presents favorite Southwestern folktales of storyteller Joe Hayes, photographs of Hayes performing, and storytelling tips.

A young boy's shyness and habit of fantasizing is mistaken for foolishness. A man who feels superior to the boy entertains himself by instructing the boy in correct terminology. The boy thinks of a way to get even.

A bilingual edition of Joe Hayes' classic tale about the dangers of a rich man's pride.

In the 1950s, fourteen-year-old Elena Padilla and her father move into a haunted house in Duston, Arizona, where only Elena can see and help the ghost of the young girl who died there.

Do we really know and understand our pets? Are we totally aware of their personalities and their habits, good and bad, even when we aren't around to observe them? Of course not! How could we? The neighbors tell us that our sweet little dog just trashed their yard with the garbage bag, or their cat is afraid to go outside. Well, what if a pet's main caretaker dies, and he/she is left to fend for him/herself? Blindspot is a blind Australian shepherd who loves his owner unconditionally, as expected. Unintentionally, she fails to realize all his needs when it comes to health and well-being, causing the dog to find his own meals, and he does, in animal and human flesh. Creating an overall panic and disruption in a small town in Texas, a Native American widow, Nelda Cannon, is totally unaware of her dog's eating habits. When she learns that he is suspected of murder, and it is her responsibility to be aware of what he does, she literally goes underground to protect him and herself. This story is not only focused on a misunderstood, hungry dog. It also raises some issues about the plight of the Native Americans, and their entitlements to land and privacy, the questions concerning the capture and elimination of endangered species if they are dangerous to mankind, and focuses on the loyalty of one family through hard and difficult times. A chain of strange circumstances follow for Nelda Cannon and the dog's benefit, leaving the reader totally amazed or perplexed in the ending of this story.

Although her mother and sisters make fun of her decision to marry a green bird, to Mirabel he is a prince and so when her family's jealousy endangers him, she sets out to save his life and their love.

Christmas stories and legends.

Includes four stories about a butterfly, a rooster, a monster, and a poor woman who meets some elves

Three sisters run away in fright from the terrible Tragadabas but in the end the Tragadabas gets a terrible shock of his own.

Contains twenty short stories.

"A rich man tries to prove his wealth to his poor neighbors by using a new spoon for every bite. In the process, he's served a pretty dish of come-uppance."

An entertaining marriage of pictures and words.-Kirkus Reviews In 1996, master storyteller Joe Hayes and illustrator Rebecca Leer created A Spoon for Every Bite. It became an instant classic. In this lovely New Mexico folktale, a rich man tries to prove his wealth to his poor neighbors by using a new spoon for every bite. In the process, he's served a pretty dish of come-uppance. A Spoon for Every Bite is available for the first time in the bilingual format for which Hayes is famous. Joe Hayes is one of America's premier storytellers-a nationally recognized teller of tales from the Hispanic, Native American and Anglo cultures. His bilingual Spanish-English tellings have earned him a distinctive place among America's storytellers.

The happy tale of La Maripose the butterfly told in two langauges.