As summer approaches, many families are looking for books to keep young minds engaged and entertained amid their respite from school. Whether you’re packing for a trip, planning quiet afternoons at home or encouraging a screen break, a good book can make all the difference.
Developing a reading habit early in life can set the foundation for long-term academic success. Students who are not proficient in reading by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than those who are, according to a 2021 study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Encouraging young readers to explore books not only boosts literacy skills but also strengthens comprehension, vocabulary and critical thinking — tools that can support them well beyond the classroom.
El Paso is home to a growing literary community that supports readers of all ages.
The following list of children’s and young adult titles from El Paso authors reflect the borderland’s unique identity — celebrating bilingualism, family, place and discovery. Add them to your child’s summer reading list and explore stories rooted in this vibrant community.
Children’s Picture Books and Early Readers
“A Birthday Basket for Tía” by Pat Mora, a children’s picture book, about a young girl who gathers a basket of cherished items to celebrate her great-aunt’s 90th birthday, each symbolizing a special memory they’ve shared. Simon & Schuster/Aladdin, 1992. Find it here.
“A Library for Juana” by Pat Mora, a children’s biography, tells the story of Juana Inés de la Cruz, a 17th-century Mexican girl who loved reading, writing and learning, and overcame societal barriers to become one of Mexico’s most celebrated scholars and poets. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2002. Find it here.
“Buenas Noches, El Paso” by Luke Lowenfield, illustrated by Hal Marcus, a children’s bedtime story that gently celebrates the city of El Paso with poetic text and illustrations. Blue Sky Publishing, 2019. Find it here.
“Campfire Songs with Mema” by Christine Durfee, a children’s family story, celebrates the loving relationship between a grandchild and her grandmother, and the lasting lessons passed down through generations through classic camp songs, sing-alongs and illustrations. Self-published, 2025. Find it here.
“Carmelita” by Meagan O’Toole-Pitts, a bilingual children’s book about Carmelita Torres, a 17-year-old Mexican girl who sparked a powerful protest on the Paso del Norte International Bridge, also known as the Santa Fe Street Bridge, between El Paso and Juárez in 1917, inspiring courage and highlighting the strength of youth activism. Self-published, 2023. Find it here.
“Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid” by Xavier Garza, a bilingual holiday story, follows Santa’s Mexican cousin, Tío Pancho, and his stowaway nephew Vincente as they deliver gifts along the Texas-Mexico border on Christmas Eve, with help from magical lucha libre burros and a lot of borderland spirit. Cinco Puntos Press (now Lee & Low Books), 2008. Find it here.
“Harley Farley” by Donna Muñoz, a children’s educational series, features a character who helps young readers navigate life lessons and everyday challenges. In “Harley Farley’s First Halloween,” Harley — a friendly little zombie — teams up with a boy named Eddie to learn the fun of trick-or-treating, in a rhyming, activity-filled adventure for ages 4-8. Self-published, 2014. Find it here.
“I’ll Be the Moon – A Migrant Child’s Story” by Phillip Cortez, a children’s book about a young girl’s journey north to reunite with her father across the border, guided by the light of the moon. Piñata Books, 2023. Find it here.
“Juan and the Chupacabras” by Xavier Garza, this bilingual picture book follows young Juan and his cousin Luz as they listen to Abuelo’s chilling tale of a battle with the legendary chupacabra. They then set out to uncover the truth themselves. The story celebrates Mexican-American folklore and intergenerational storytelling. Arte Publico Press, 2006. Find it here.
“Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask” by Xavier Garza, follows Carlitos on a trip to a lucha libre match in Mexico City, where he begins to suspect that his mysterious Uncle Vicente might be a famous masked wrestler. The book celebrates Mexican wrestling and the heroes that inspire young fans. Cinco Puntos Press (now Lee & Low Books), 2005. Find it here.
“¡Muchas Gracias Maria!” by Luke Lowenfield, illustrated by Hal Marcus, a children’s picture book that celebrates gratitude, family and cross-border traditions through the story of a young El Pasoan and his Abuela Maria, who makes his birthday unforgettable with love, music and cultural warmth. Blue Sky Publishing, 2020. Find it here.
“¡Vamos! Let’s Cross the Bridge” by Raúl the Third (Raúl Gonzalez), a children’s picture book, where Little Lobo and friends cross a bustling bridge to deliver goods, showcasing bilingual storytelling and community spirit. Versify/HarperCollins, 2021. Find it here.
Middle Grade & Young Adult Fiction
“Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, a coming-of-age novel set in El Paso, about two Mexican-American teens who forge a deep friendship while exploring identity, family and first love. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012. Find it here.
“Julieta and the Diamond Enigma” by Luisana Duarte Armendáriz, a mystery in which a curious bicultural girl helps solve the theft of a diamond from the Louvre while uncovering family secrets. Tu Books (Lee & Low), 2020. Find it here.
“Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel” by Xavier Garza, this novel follows a wrestling-obsessed boy who may have a real-life connection to the legendary luchador, El Ángel de la Guardia. Cinco Puntos Press (now Lee & Low Books), 2011. Find it here.
“Our House on Hueco” by Carlos Nicolás Flores, a coming-of-age novel about a Mexican-American teen growing up in El Paso who grapples with family tensions, cultural identity and adolescence while navigating life in a working-class neighborhood. Texas Tech University Press, 2006. Find it here.
“Pig Park” by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez, follows teenager Masi as her community comes together to save their struggling Chicago neighborhood by building a giant pyramid. Cinco Puntos Press (now Lee & Low Books), 2014. Find it here.
“The Everything I Have Lost” by Sylvia Zéleny, diary entries tell the story of a girl growing up in the violence-stricken border city of Juárez while grappling with family, identity and fear. Cinco Puntos Press (now Lee & Low Books), 2020. Find it here.
“The Smell of Old Lady Perfume” by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez, a young girl named Chela navigates adolescence, grief and her cultural identity after her father falls ill. Cinco Puntos Press (now Lee & Low Books), 2008. Find it here.
“Thirty Talks Weird Love” by Alessandra Narváez Varela, a novel-in-verse where a 13-year-old girl in Ciudad Juárez is visited by her 30-year-old future self, inspiring her to value her life amid growing pressures. Cinco Puntos Press (now Lee & Low Books), 2021. Find it here.
The post Children’s, young adult books by El Paso authors for your summer reading list appeared first on El Paso Matters.
Read: Read More