Rooster Joe and the Bully
Xavier Garza

​Rooster Joe and the Bully / El Gallo Joe y el abusón is the story of Joe López, a seventh grade student, who aspires to become a great artist just like his grandfather. His days at school become more difficult when he stands up to a bully who picks on a small boy. Now the bully and his gang have decided to make Joe their new target and threaten him in an effort to break his spirit. In order to defeat a bigger adversary, Joe will have to learn a lesson of power through unity.

In this bilingual flip book, the author Xavier Garza exposes a very real and serious issue within our society that occurs regardless of age. In these days of political turmoil, Rooster Joe and the Bully becomes more relevant than ever to our Latino community, as well as other minorities, who face a political bully whose name we shall not mention.  

Through this book, Xavier Garza teaches us a great lesson of inner strength. He also presents a solution to this problem that should resonate not only with our children but our entire Latino community as well. Now more than ever, it is important to understand that we don't have to face a bully on our own. Just like Joe, we have to understand that we are stronger together as a community; that when we chose to be indivisible, we also become invincible. ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!

Xavier Garza (Río Grande City, Texas) is the author of Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel, Kid cyclone Fights the Devil and Other Stories, The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories and more.

Rooster Joe and the Bully can be purchased through Arte Público Press. Click here to purchase. 
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Reviewed by
Gerald A. Padilla
1/9/2017

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