Nikko loves bedtime. That's because his bed turns into a magical wrestling ring for the masked luchadores that he loves. They bounce up and down like crazy. His mom, of course, doesn't believe Nikko. She accuses him of jumping on his bed. But that's just not true at all. She just can't see what Nikko sees. And to prove his point-zoosh! Here comes luchador numero UNO with a golden mask and a silver cape. Oh, wow. Number TWO wears an orange mask with yellow flames. Another looks like a jaguar and he growls! A rooster! A bull with horns! And a dragon that breathes fire! And so it goes until TEN luchadores are jumping on Nikko's bed. That's when the Great and Mighty Nikko puts on his mask, taking on all ten wrestlers at once and defeating them soundly. Ahh, a fresh victory under his belt, now it's time for Mighty Nikko to catch some zzzzzs! Artist and storyteller Xavier Garza is celebrated for his lucha libre picture books and chapter books. Maxmillian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel was a Pura Belpre Honor Book, 2012, and a ALA Notable Book, 2012. Xavier, who is a much requested storyteller for schools, has been a featured speaker at the American Library Association (REFORMA), the Tucson Book Festival, and the Texas Library Association.

"Maximilian & the Bingo Rematch" is the sequel to "Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel," an honor book for the Pura Belpre Award. Xavier Garza rules the ring when it comes to writing and illustrating action-packed, high-interest books filled with crazy comic-book art and set in the emotionally charged world of sixth grade.

In "Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel," Max tumbles over the railing at a lucha match in San Antonio and makes a connection to the world of Mexican wrestling that will ultimately link him to the greatest hero of all time: the Guardian Angel. He also falls in love with the beautiful Cecilia Cantu. In "Maximilian & the Bingo Rematch," suddenly everybody seems to be fighting: a couple of cranky tias who, like lucha libre "rudos," will stop at nothing to triumph in the church's loteria game; his masked uncles going for the tag-team title of the world; and a green-eyed vixen named Paloma who challenges his love for Cecilia. Will good triumph over evil? Max sure hopes so
Winner of the NACCS-Tejas Foco Young Adult Fiction Book Award and the Texas Institute of Letters H-E-B Award for Best Children's Book. 2014-15 Tejas Star Reading List Selection.

Xavier Garza was born in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. He is an enthusiastic author, artist, teacher, and storyteller whose work is a lively documentation of the dreams, superstitions, and heroes in the bigger-than-life world of south Texas. Garza has exhibited his art and performed his stories in venues throughout Texas, Arizona, and the state of Washington. He lives with his wife and son in San Antonio, Texas.

The fights still rage on in the third installation of Max's Lucha Libre Adventures series. Max seems like any other nerdy kid until he's asked to join the Lucha Libre Club. The super-secret club admits only the offspring of wrestling royalty. And Max is a prince, descended through his mother from royal blood, his uncle the very king of lucha libre: The Guardian Angel. Trouble is, the club is so secret that Max can't tell his best friend or girlfriend what he is up to. Just that vexing girl, Paloma. Xavier Garza lives in San Antonio, Texas.

Have you ever been too scared to sleep with the lights off? Were you frightened by a scratching sound inside of your walls or the beady red eyes and knotted green fingers of a duende? In his first collection of scary stories, Xavier Garza asks these questions. The stories in this collection curdle with the creepy and crawling characters of traditional folklore. These stories brim with the supernatural: the mysterious disappearance of children who made deals with duendes, evil trolls who live inside the walls of our houses; the ghostly specter of La Llorona who floats along the creek bed, howling, "!Ay, mis hijos!"; witches that turn into great white owls; a severed hand that hurtles across floors and catches a death grip; and even the Devil himself harvesting wayward souls. These are all cucuys, supernatural beings who have come to haunt the imagination in these tales of wonder and warning. These delicious and frightful stories come down through generations of grandmas teaching children to respect the laws of nature and the All Powerful. These particular spooky cucuys are recounted and illustrated by master storyteller Xavier Garza, just the way he heard them at the knees of other masters when he was growing up in South Texas. Garza has preserved just the right gory detail and startling surprise to frighten the socks off you. And he always insists that you learn your lesson and take heed, or else...

In Xavier Garza's bilingual kids' book, young Carlitos attends his first lucha libre match in Mexico City. At ringside, Carlitos sees the famous luchador-the Man in the Silver Mask, a man whose eyes look terribly familiar. The masked wrestler even smiles at Carlitos! He is mesmerized as the Man in the Silver Mask is pitted against the terrible forces of evil-los rudos, the bad guys of lucha libre. They make the audience boo and hiss! In the end, though, the Man in the Silver Mask triumphs and, in the process, gains a lifelong fan.