See also: El Coco, El Cucui, El Kookoóee
Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys by
Have you ever been too scared to sleep with the lights off? Were you frightened by a scratching sound inside of your walls or the beady red eyes and knotted green fingers of a duende? In his first collection of scary stories, Xavier Garza asks these questions. The stories in this collection curdle with the creepy and crawling characters of traditional folklore. These stories brim with the supernatural: the mysterious disappearance of children who made deals with duendes, evil trolls who live inside the walls of our houses; the ghostly specter of La Llorona who floats along the creek bed, howling, Ay, mis hijos ; witches that turn into great white owls; a severed hand that hurtles across floors and catches a death grip; and even the Devil himself harvesting wayward souls. These are all cucuys, supernatural beings who have come to haunt the imagination in these tales of wonder and warning. These delicious and frightful stories come down through generations of grandmas teaching children to respect the laws of nature and the All Powerful. These particular spooky cucuys are recounted and illustrated by master storyteller Xavier Garza, just the way he heard them at the knees of other masters when he was growing up in South Texas. Garza has preserved just the right gory detail and startling surprise to frighten the socks off you. And he always insists that you learn your lesson and take heed, or else...
El Cucuy... and other Spooky Legends from Latin American Folklore by
El Cucuy ...and other Spooky Legends from Latin American Folklore, is a bilingual book that retells classic childhood folktales. The stories are told in rhyming verse in both English and Spanish. The book includes legends from various countries across Latin America, including El Cipitio from El Salvador, El Silbon from Venezuela, La Patasola from Colombia, and others such as La Llorona, La Siguanaba, La Mano Peluda, and los Aluxes. These tales connect us to our ancestors, as many Latin American communities would bond through the collective sharing of these spooky folktales that were passed on from generation to generation. These fables are an important part of Latino cultural heritage. The legends contained here are a more gentle adaptation of the original legends, to make them more palatable for all audiences.
The Cucuy Stole My Cascarones / el Coco Me Robó Los Cascarones by
Mighty Monster Mysteries! Roberto and his mother made thirty dozen confetti-filled eggs, or cascarones, for his birthday party. Roberto can't wait to crack the hollowed, painted and confetti-stuffed eggs over his friends' heads. But, when he goes to the kitchen to get the cascarones, they're gone! The only clue they ever existed is a trail of confetti that leads to a shadow. The shadow of the cucuy, or boogeyman! A party isn't a party without cascarones. So, even though the cucuy has scary eyes, sharp claws and pointy fangs, Roberto resolves to get them back. He grabs his little red wagon with the squeaky wheels and follows the trail of confetti, only to discover the tamales, cake and piñata for his party also have been swiped by the cucuy! Children ages 4 to 8 will follow along in breathless anticipation as brave Roberto conquers his fears and sets out to get his party back. Author Spelile Rivas and illustrator Valeria Cervantes team up again in this engaging sequel to their award-winning debut, No Time for Monsters / No hay tiempo para monstruos.
El Cucuy or El Coco goes by many names and exists in most cultures. English-speaking cultures refer to it as the Bogeyman. It serves to frighten children from misbehaving or engaging in dangerous activities. Like the Bogeyman, el Cucuy is independent of physical manifestation, form, or gender. Oral and written references to el Cucuy date back to ancient times. Spanish colonizers brought the first stories of El Cucuy centuries ago to the New World, and adults throughout Latin America still tell these stories to children. The term “Cucuy” can be applied to any cryptid that is featured in a children’s cautionary tale, such as La Llorona.
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Wikimedia Commons: Los Caprichos is a set of 80 aquatint prints created by Francisco Goya for release in 1799.
Chuck Garcia began working for the University Library as a Graduate Assistant with Scholarly Communications in 2022. He later served as Library Assistant I at Special Collections & Archives in Brownsville from November 2023 - April 2024. Chuck holds BA and MAIS degrees in Anthropology from UTRGV.