Welcome to Lava Landing, population 27,454, a town just this side of Mexico, where Miss Magma reigns and rockabilly and mariachi music are king. Enter our protagonists, Natalie and Consuelo, self-described "like-minded individuals." They spend their days at The Big Cheese Plant and their nights at The Big Five-Four, the hottest spot in town. But they have long-term projects, foremost among them to cure Consuelo of her unreasonable fear of public transportation and long car rides so they can finally take Natalie's 1963 Cadillac convertible on the road trip it deserves . . .

Caramba is disappointed that he can't fly like other cats, but when his cousins decide to show him how, he discovers that he does have a unique talent that other cats don't have.

Caramba's little brother Henry is a nightmare. He won't share anything, he squishes Caramba's favorite caterpillars, and he screams all the time. But the very worst thing about Henry is that he is learning how to fly -- much to Caramba's dismay. Caramba can't keep up with Henry who, as he learns to fly, gets into all sorts of trouble. Caramba tries to protect his little brother, but it only makes Henry unhappy. Finally Caramba ties a string around Henry's waist and lets him soar like a kite. One day Henry breaks free. It's dark and the moon is rising when Caramba and his friend Portia finally find him clinging to a tree branch. And when Caramba manages to talk him down, a very relieved Henry purrs his first word: "Car-r-r-amba." True to form, Marie-Louise Gay's new Caramba story is straight from the heart of a young child.

As a distant howl echoes through the forest, animals quickly stop what they're doing and run for home. Look out—Wolf's coming! As the shadowy figure gets closer and closer and the day draws to a close, the animals shut the door, pull the shades, and turn out the lights. Soon the wolf's glowing eyes appear at the window and the front door opens . . . But things are not as they seem in this suspenseful, clever story, and it's the reader who's in for the biggest surprise of all!

An “absurdly entertaining first novel” (Los Angeles Times) about mamacitas and mariachis, fiestas and tupperware parties, rodeos and Miss Magma beauty contests. “Endlessly inventive ... very funny. Martinez’s deadpan perspective on faith, romance and the uneasy bonds of family is truly wonderful.” —The Washington Post Book World Natalie and Consuelo are like-minded individuals who live in Lava Landing, California. When they aren’t working at The Big Cheese Plant, they get all dolled up for the racetrack, or go for at a tequila float at The Big Five Four. They urgently need to get Consuelo’s father out of Purgatory: he won’t stop turning up in women’s dreams until they do. But that means a trip to Mexico, and Consuelo still hasn’t gotten over her fear of long car rides…. In this touching and dazzling fresh novel, inspired by La Loter’a, a Mexican game of chance not unlike bingo, the American experience emerges in a brilliant new language and landscape.

A sleepy farmer worries about the coming day's mixed-up chores while he copes with noisy farm animals and other mishaps.

A boy and his monster confront their mutual fears in this unlikely friendship story that’s rooted in Mexican folklore Ramón is a little boy who can’t sleep. He is nervous for his first day at a new school. And El Cucuy is the monster who lives in Ramón’s cactus pot. He can’t sleep, either. It turns out that El Cucuy is scared, too! This gentle, perceptive story explores the worries that can accompany moving to a new place and beginning a new journey—and reveals how comfort, bravery, and strength can be found through even the most unexpected of friendships.