David Bowles

A Mexican-American author, poet, and translator, David Bowles is a life-long resident of deep South Texas, where he teaches in the Literatures and Cultural Studies department of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. There are multiple strands to his literary work—for which he has been inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters—all braided together around the ever-present ribbon of Mexico.

David’s debut picture book, My Two Borders Towns and Spanish edition Mis dos pueblos fronterizos, illustrated by Erika Meza was named a 2022 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award winner and a 2022 Américas Award Winner, along with significant critical praise. They Call Her Fregona (Kokila/Penguin), the follow up to Pura Belpré Honor Book They Call Me Güero, is out now. Listen to David talk about his novels in verse on NPR Weekend Edition, here. David also enjoys using the tools of science fiction, fantasy, and horror to explore the Latino experience. Among those titles are the Pura Belpré Honor Book The Smoking Mirror (IFWG), Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky, an epic rendering of Mexican myths (Cinco Puntos Press), The Chupacabras of the Rio Grande in the Unicorn Rescue Society series (Dutton) with Adam Gidwitz, and the 13th Street chapter book series (illus by Shane Clester, HarperCollins), a Latinx Stranger Things for kids starring three cousins who find themselves fighting strange creatures in a spooky alternate world. His translation of The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas by María García Esperón (Levine Querido) was the 2022 Batchelder Honor book. David’s most recent YA novels were The Secret of the Moon Conch, co-written with award-winning author Guadalupe García McCall (Bloomsbury, May 2023), and Pura Belpré Author Honor book The Prince & the Coyote, art by Amanda Mijangos (Levine Querido, October 2023). His second collaboration with Guadalupe García McCall, Hearts of Fire and Snow is now available from Bloomsbury! Continuing his exciting work in translation — in 2024 and 2025, Ediciones NorteSur (an imprint of NorthSouth Books) will be releasing new editions of Marcus Pfister’s classic El Pez Arcoíris/Rainbow Fish series, translated by David! Check out Barnes & Noble’s exclusive bilingual flip book edition here, available now! 

Having grown up on the border, David has been fascinated with local legends and folklore since he first heard the story of la Llorona from his grandmother Marie Garza. To honor and preserve that tradition, he has published several collections of retold tales, among them Border Lore (Lamar University Press) and Ghosts of the Rio Grande Valley (The History Press). This exploration of regional lore drew David to the culture and history of Mexico. He began to focus on the study of indigenous philosophy and legend, studying Nahuatl—the language of the Aztecs—to better access primary sources. In 2014 the Texas Institute of Letters awarded his book Flower, Song, Dance: Aztec and Mayan Poetry (Lamar University Press) the Soeurette Diehl Fraser Award for Best Translation. He continues to translate pre-Colombian texts for various journals, and Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky, his epic rendering of key Mexican myths, is just out from Cinco Puntos Press . David’s poetry and fiction has also been featured in multiple anthologies and magazines such as Rattle, Apex, Strange Horizons, Journal of Children’s Literature and Translation Review.

Visit David on the web at http://davidbowles.us or follow him on twitter/Instagram @DavidOBowles

Praise for THE PRINCE & THE COYOTE

“Riveting.” – Starred review, Kirkus Reviews

“Weaving history and fiction together, David Bowles fashions a rich story of political intrigue, ferocious battles, beautiful landscapes and the enduring hope of humanity.”― Starred review, BookPage

“Bowles adeptly crafts a complex, multi-format, and genre-bending novel for teens.”― Starred review, School Library Journal 

Praise for MY TWO BORDER TOWNS

“Characters’ friendly greetings, the vibrant illustrations, and the thoughtful actions of this father and son come together to create a feeling of warmth and hope, while also bringing to the forefront the plight of so many like Élder and his family. An excellent addition to Spanish picture-book collections.” — Starred review, Booklist

“Bowles’ picture-book debut weaves weightier realities into a story of ordinary border town life, and does so with a gentle hand.” — Starred review, The Horn Book

“Beautiful, honest, complex.” — Starred review, Kirkus Reviews

Praise for THEY CALL HER FREGONA 

“An unforgettable companion to They Call Me Güero… This resonant middle grade title has so much heart. Purchase for every collection serving tweens.” — Starred review, Kirkus Reviews

“This rich verse novel utilizes Güero’s humorous, witty voice to the fullest via varied poetic forms. The author’s deep consideration of Joanna and the other characters is a real delight and results in a story that feels rich in scope… Sublime.” — Starred review, School Library Journal