David Bowles author page

David Bowles Biography

David Bowles is a Mexican American author, translator, and educator from South Texas, recognized for his contributions to children’s and young adult literature. He has authored over forty books that explore themes of identity, culture, and folklore, often drawing from his heritage and experiences along the U.S.–Mexico border.

Bowles earned his BA, MA, and PhD from the University of Texas–Pan American. He teaches literature and Nahuatl at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and serves as the current president of the Texas Institute of Letters. In 2017, he was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters, acknowledging his impact on Texas literature.

His acclaimed works include They Call Me Güero, a novel in verse that received a Pura Belpré Honor, and its sequel, They Call Her Fregona. His debut picture book, My Two Border Towns, illustrated by Erika Meza, won the 2022 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award and the Américas Award. Bowles has also co-authored The Secret of the Moon Conch and Hearts of Fire and Snow with Guadalupe García McCall, blending historical and contemporary narratives.

In addition to fiction, Bowles has translated and retold numerous Mesoamerican myths. His works include Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico and Flower, Song, Dance: Aztec and Mayan Poetry, the latter earning the 2014 Soeurette Diehl Fraser Award for Best Translation. He has also contributed to the Unicorn Rescue Society series with The Chupacabras of the Río Grande, co-written with Adam Gidwitz.

Bowles is an advocate for diversity in publishing. In 2020, he co-founded #DignidadLiteraria, a movement promoting Latinx representation in literature. His work has appeared in various publications, including The New York Times, School Library Journal, and the Journal of Children’s Literature.