Lucha Libre: Stories of Adventure and Mystery

Ladies and gentlemen, ¡Señores y señoras!...prepare yourself to enter the lucha libre ring!  These stories celebrate the dramatic and popular Mexican sport of lucha libre wrestling, complete with masks, capes, and lots of mystery.  To learn more about kids' interest in books about lucha libre, take a look at this review of Lucía the Luchadora from School Library Journal, as well as this Q & A with Lucía's author, Cynthia Leonor Garza.

Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid

Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid
Age Level: 3-6

On Christmas Eve, Vicent discovers that his uncle, Tío Pancho, is actually Santa's Mexican cousin! Santa needs his help delivering presents along the border with Mexico and wants to know if Pancho is up for the challenge. His mariachi outfit may be too tight and his guitar may be missing a few strings, but with a little magic and a team of lucha libre burros, Pancho is ready to save Christmas. The colorful illustrations and hilarious adventures of Charro Claus will have a special resonance with children who call the border home.

Lucha Libre: Anatomy / Anatomia

Illustration of three lucha libre masks
Illustrated by: Ariana Stein
Age Level: 0-3
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Lil' Libros baby board books uses a simple one word/one image per page format to introduce the littlest readers to first concepts such as numbers and colors. This title about lucha libre focuses on parts of the body.

Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask

Product Description: 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!

Lucía the Luchadora

Lucía in her lucha libre outfit
Illustrated by: Alyssa Bermudez
Age Level: 6-9, 9-12
Language: Spanish vocabulary featured

Lucía zips through the playground in her cape just like the boys, but when they tell her "girls can't be superheroes," suddenly she doesn't feel so mighty. That's when her beloved abuela reveals a dazzling secret: Lucía comes from a family of luchadoras, the bold and valiant women of the Mexican lucha libre tradition. Cloaked in a flashy new disguise, Lucía returns as a recess sensation!

Maximilian & the Bingo Rematch: A Lucha Libre Sequel (Max's Lucha Libre Adventures)

Illustration of lucha libre fighter in mask
Language: Spanish vocabulary featured

In this sequel to Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel, everybody seems to be fighting: a couple of cranky tías who, like lucha libre rudos, will stop at nothing to triumph in the church's lotería game; Max's 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!

Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller (Max's Lucha Libre Adventures)

wrestler with mask
Age Level: Middle Grade (9-14)
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Product Description: Maximilian acts like any other eleven-year-old aficionado of lucha libre: he worships all the players. But in the summer just before sixth grade, he tumbles over the railing at a match in San Antonio and makes a connection to the world of Mexican wrestling that will ultimately connect him — maybe by blood! — to the greatest hero of all time: the Guardian Angel. A 2012 Pura Belpré Author Honor Award winner.

Maximilian and the Lucha Libre Club: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller (Max's Lucha Libre Adventures)

Illustration of lucha libre fighters in masks
Language: Spanish vocabulary featured

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.

Niño Wrestles the World

wrestler
Age Level: 6-9
Language: English, Spanish vocabulary featured

Señoras y Señores: It's time for Niño to take the stage against his lucha libre foes, including La Llorona (the crying ghost woman), El Extraterrestre (the alien), and El Chamuco (the demon).  Niño has all kinds of tricks up his sleeve, and he definitely looks the part in his mask and underwear. Then comes a foe that would terrify the most experienced wrestler — his twin sisters! Join Yuyi Morales in this playful tribute to the popular tradition and its devoted fans. Winner Pura Belpré Illustrator Award.

Tag Team: El Toro & Friends

Tag Team: El Toro & Friends
Age Level: 6-9
Language: English, Spanish vocabulary featured

Little Lobo introduced readers to his wrestling hero El Toro in Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market! Now El Toro is off on his own adventures in this early reader graphic novel series! After last night’s match, the stadium is a mess! With the collaborative spirit they have in the ring, El Toro and La Oink Oink tackle the cleaning up together.

The Great and Mighty Nikko

Illustration of boy in lucha libre mask
Language: Spanish vocabulary featured

Nikko loves bedtime. That's because his bed turns into a magical wrestling ring for the masked luchadores that he loves. His mom, of course, doesn't believe Nikko, but 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. 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.

¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat

¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish vocabulary featured

Little Lobo is excited to take in a show with wrestling star El Toro in his bustling border town! After getting lunch orders from the luchador and his friends to help prepare for the event, Little Lobo takes readers on a tour of food trucks that sell his favorite foods, like quesadillas with red peppers and Mexican-Korean tacos. Peppered with easy-to-remember Spanish vocabulary and packed with fun details and things to see, this glorious celebration of food is sure to leave every reader hungry for lunch!