Two cousins, one in Mexico and one in New York City, write to each other and learn that even though their daily lives differ, at heart the boys are very similar.

When Gemma tears a hole in her big sister's special silver mask, Luc�ia's grandmother, Abu, has an idea--a trip to the mercado to find a luchadora mask for Gemma.

"Join Miguel and his dog, Dante, as they solve a family mystery"--Back cover.

Led by Charley, Uncle James's ranch foreman, Rick and his cousins explore a hidden cave in New Mexico hoping to solve an old mystery about a stagecoach robbery.

Illustrations and text describe how the Mixtecs create painted manuscripts, or codices, that reflect their way of life and document their history, science, land tenure, tribute, and sacred rituals. "A young Aztec girl tells her little brother how their parents create beautiful painted manuscripts, or codices. She explains to him how paper is made from local plants and how the long paper is folded into a book. Her parents and others paint the codices...

"As a young Nahua girl in Mexico during the early 1900s, Luz learned how to grind corn in a metate, to twist yarn with her toes, and to weave on a loom. But when the Mexican Revolution came to her village, Luz and her family were forced to flee and start a new life. In Mexico City, Luz became a model for painters, sculptors, and photographers--artists interested in showing the true face of Mexico and not a European version. Through her work Luz found...

Confident that Stanley can succeed where international spies and thieves have failed, Stanley's mom-- who loves to cook-- mails him to Mexico to get a secret herbal ingredient that she must have.

In this rhythmic cumulative tale Rosa Maria spends the week getting ready for her granddaughter's birthday party and trying to avoid attracting mice--unaware that the mice in her walls are preparing for a party of their own.

Tavo dreams of nothing but being a famous basketball star, and getting new shoes so that he can practice better, but his village in Mexico faces a serious drought and Tavo and his father must work to convince the other people that the old way of irrigation will save their crops.