Local Children’s Book "¡Muchas Gracias, Maria!" Available Now

El Pasoans Luke Lowenfield and Hal Marcus are back with a new book in ¡Muchas Gracias, Maria!, the sequel to their popular book, Buenas Noches El Paso.

After the success of their first book collaboration, Luke Lowenfield (Vice President of Casa Ford) along with local artist Hal Marcus are back with a new and fantastic story in ¡Muchas Gracias, Maria!.

Luke Lowenfield and Hal Marcus recently sat down with me to talk to me about the development of the new storyline, which touches on bigger topics such as immigration, Christmas, and a crossover of cultures living along the border, as well as the obstacles that they’ve faced during an ongoing pandemic.

The wildly popular Buenas Noches El Paso, the first book in the series, was created from a poem that Luke Lowenfield wrote for his two sons. ¡Muchas Gracias, Maria!, the second book in the series, evolved from the stories that Hal Marcus shared with his cohort about his travels across the border as a child with his grandmother.

¡Muchas Gracias, Maria!, tells the story of a child's birthday celebration that is made magical by his beloved grandmother, who incorporates the festive traditions of her hometown across the border. The storyline is accompanied by lively and colorful illustrations that bring the beautiful sister cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez to life.

¡Muchas Gracias, Maria! is a darling book and a perfect addition to any child’s book collection this holiday season.

Right now, save $10 off a 3-book bundle set that includes Buenas Noches El Paso, ¡Muchas Gracias, Maria!, and The Animal Alphabet Album found exclusively at the Hal Marcus Gallery. Plus, when you purchase your books at the Hal Marcus Gallery you can get them signed directly by Hal Marcus himself.

The children's book ¡Muchas Gracias Maria! is also available for sale at various locations, across town including: