Night Stories: Folktales from Latin America - (Toon Latin American Folktales) by Liniers (Hardcover)

About the Book

Three Latin American folktales include the story of La Yuna, a mermaid who lures men to her underwater domain, the tale of La Lechuza, an enormous owl with the face of a woman, and two gauchos' encounter with La Luz Mala, a spooky light that terrorizes travelers.

Book Synopsis

The New York Public Library Best Book for Kids 2024
ALA Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List

"Liniers' comics are funny and fanciful and whimsical and philosophical in the best sense." -- Matt Groening, The Simpsons

Classic Latin American folktales get an update in this new collection by celebrated author Liniers!

New York Times bestselling author and Eisner Award winner Liniers brings his exuberant cartooning style and irrepressible sense of humor to the spooky folktales of his childhood, telling three from across Latin America: the Iara, a mermaid (or a pink dolphin?) who lures young men to her underwater domain in the Amazon basin; La Lechuza, an enormous owl with the face of a woman, who terrorizes people who venture out after dark (a legend found in Mexico, Chile, and Uruguay); and La Luz Mala, a spooky, evanescent light that menaces gauchos and other travelers on the Argentine pampas. Liniers animates these thrilling tales with lighthearted twists. Combined with informative backmatter on their ecological, cultural, and historical background and a bibliography, these old stories will come alive for all young readers, from those who have grown up hearing them to those who are encountering them for the first time.

The award-winning TOON Latin American Folktales series highlights authentic Latin American stories and cultures, bringing them a to a new generation of graphic novel fans around the world.

Review Quotes

A Bank Street Best Book 2025

"On the cover of NIGHT STORIES: Folktales From Latin America...by the Argentine cartoonist Ricardo Liniers Siri, known as Liniers, the 'O' in the title is cleverly replaced by a moon with a furrowed brow. Once an open vowel, once a hole in the word 'stories, ' the worried moon shines on a brother and sister as they tell each other Latin American folk tales from a bunk bed set against a starry sky...The book's introduction, by David Bowles, touches on the Aztecs' and other Nahua people's creation myths, reminding us that sometimes it takes five tries to get a world right. And a treasure trove of back matter in turn explains the origins of Liniers's three 'night stories.' --The New York Times

"An appealing dose of humor, accentuated by Liniers' artwork, full of intricate linework and muted colors [...] spine-tingling, enlightening, and fun." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Three frightful folk tales...are brought to life using a whimsical cartoon style that will engage and encourage children to learn about these rich and dynamic folk tales." --School Library Journal

"[...] Delicate ink and watercolor scenes accompany humorous dialogue and text ("The monkey had very little maritime experience"), showcasing the enduring power of folktales and whetting readers' appetites for further tellings." -- Publishers Weekly

"Creatively showcases the importance and power of telling and passing stories through generations via oral, textual, and visual narratives." -- Horn Book Magazine

"He draws funny!" -- Jeff Smith, Bone
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​"Liniers' comics are funny and fanciful and whimsical and philosophical in the best sense." -- Matt Groening, The Simpsons

About the Author

Born in Argentina, RICARD LINIERS SIRI (a.k.a. Liniers) started his artistic career making fanzines for his friends when he realized we was not made for law school. He won the Inkpot Award for career achievement in 2018, and the Reuben Award for Best Newspaper Comic Strips in 2021. He has more than 30 books published, many of which have been translated to English, French, Italian, Czech, German, Portuguese, Korean and Chinese. He has illustrated 7 covers of the New Yorker magazine.

DAVID BOWLES is a Pura Belpre honor-winning Mexican American author, translator, and educator. David has been fascinated with legends and folklore since he first heard the story of La Llorona from his grandmother Marie Garza. Because of his family's roots in Mexico, he has traveled all over that country studying Indigenous languages, collecting creepy legends, exploring ancient ruins, and avoiding monsters (which he has managed to do so far).