Del Alma Publications, a South Texas book publishing company, will release a second edition of the classic folktale collection, Stories That Must Not Die, by the late Juan Sauvageau. Combined into a single volume, the young adult book series is slated for release in the spring of 2027. Del Alma Publications editor Dr. María Alma González Pérez acquired world rights to the book with an audiobook to be released simultaneously in English and in Spanish.
The collection of 40 bilingual folktales is a South Texas classic. Sauvageau, a university professor and folklorist, came to South Texas in the 1970s to teach at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University – Kingsville). A scholar of the human experience, he sought out local folklore by visiting small towns and ranches across South Texas in search of unique Mexican American folktales and traditions with the desire to preserve them for future generations.
Some of the tales include eerie ghost stories, such as the infamous La Llorona, mysterious treasures like All or Nothing, historical accounts like The Rangers, and fables like The Horse and the Bee, among others.
“Stories that Must Not Die has transcended time by bringing to light the rich tradition of storytelling in Mexican-American culture,” Pérez said.
The upcoming edition includes illustrations by Ethan Morales, a student at Texas A&M University. A reader’s reflection as well as vocabulary and cognate lists for extension of learning will be available for download via the publisher’s website.
Del Alma Publications is a Latina-owned, independent book publisher that offers original bilingual and Spanish works written by U.S.- based Hispanic/Latino authors. Publisher Maricia Pérez can be reached at (956) 278-0760 or service@delalmapublications.com.
