The Adventures of Chupacabra Charlie
Frederick Luis Aldama
This is the story of a handsome 10-year-old Chupacabra named Charlie craving adventure. Living in a border town, young Charlie thrives and plays close to The Wall, in the azotea, with his parents Mamá Lula and Papá Rolo. Through Charlie's voice, we learn about the importance of family unity and storytelling, Chupacabra etiquette, and friendship.
Author Frederick Luis Aldama creates an endearing character. In this book, Aldama sends a powerful message about the importance of listening to our elders, knowing where we come from, and acknowledging our stories as a collective. During meals, Mamá Luna and Papá Rolo talk about the old days, before the weather changed and the food ran out. The use of Spanish nurtures these pages, painting a linguistic landscape that normalizes bilingualism, providing depth and authenticity. Through his voyage, Charlie meets Lupe, and together they find their mission—to free the children in cages on the other side of The Wall. Contrary to how The Wall could be personified, Aldama portrays it as an accomplice who helps them find the children, urging them to set the children free.
With full-page illustrations by Chris Escobar, Charlie tells his hero's journey with expressive and colorful images, bringing to life the action and surprise of Charlie's quest. The illustrations also pay great attention to subtle details between the city and rural life, composing a dignified homage to border towns.
Promising to be the first of many adventures, Chupacabra Charlie shines a light on a most relevant topic, family separation. Aldama and Escobar offer a tool to talk to children about this crucial issue naturally and tactfully, while instilling in young readers the notion that everyone can do something to help.
Frederick Luis Aldama is a distinguished scholar at The Ohio State University. He is the founder and director of Latinx Space for Enrichment Research (LASER). In 2016, Aldama received the Ohio Education Summit Award for founding and directing LASER. He is the founder and co-director of the Humanities & Cognitive Sciences High School Summer Institute at The Ohio State University. Aldama is the creator and curator of the Planetary Republic of Comics.
Chris Escobar is an illustrator, print maker, and cartoonist currently he is based in Savannah, GA where he’s pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in the subject of Sequential Art.
The Adventures of Chupacabra Charlie is a publication by The Ohio State University Press. Click to purchase here.
With full-page illustrations by Chris Escobar, Charlie tells his hero's journey with expressive and colorful images, bringing to life the action and surprise of Charlie's quest. The illustrations also pay great attention to subtle details between the city and rural life, composing a dignified homage to border towns.
Promising to be the first of many adventures, Chupacabra Charlie shines a light on a most relevant topic, family separation. Aldama and Escobar offer a tool to talk to children about this crucial issue naturally and tactfully, while instilling in young readers the notion that everyone can do something to help.
Frederick Luis Aldama is a distinguished scholar at The Ohio State University. He is the founder and director of Latinx Space for Enrichment Research (LASER). In 2016, Aldama received the Ohio Education Summit Award for founding and directing LASER. He is the founder and co-director of the Humanities & Cognitive Sciences High School Summer Institute at The Ohio State University. Aldama is the creator and curator of the Planetary Republic of Comics.
Chris Escobar is an illustrator, print maker, and cartoonist currently he is based in Savannah, GA where he’s pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in the subject of Sequential Art.
The Adventures of Chupacabra Charlie is a publication by The Ohio State University Press. Click to purchase here.
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