Joe Hayes (author and storyteller) facts for kids

Joseph (Joe) Hayes (born November 12, 1945) is an American author and storyteller. He is famous for sharing tales from the American Southwest. Joe was one of the first to tell stories in both Spanish and English. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Joe's Early Life

Joe Hayes was born on November 12, 1945, in a small town in Western Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of five kids. His dad loved telling stories to the family. Later, Joe would tell stories to his own children.

When Joe was older, his family moved to Benson, a small town in Arizona. Living in Southern Arizona helped him learn Spanish. This language became a very important part of his stories.

Education and Storytelling Career

In 1968, Joe graduated from the University of Arizona. He earned a degree in English. He started teaching at Sunnyside High School in Tucson, Arizona.

From 1972 to 1976, Joe worked in mineral exploration. He traveled across the western U.S., Mexico, and Spain. In 1976, he moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico. There, he taught English again.

Joe's interest in storytelling grew stronger. His father's stories had a big influence on him. In 1979, he decided to become a full-time storyteller. He mostly tells stories to elementary school kids. However, people of all ages enjoy his work.

In 1989, Joe was named a New Mexico Eminent Scholar. This is a special honor from the New Mexico Commission on Higher Learning. He also gives talks at colleges and universities. He even gave a graduation speech at the University of California, Los Angeles.

In 2001, Joe visited Cuba. He took part in a workshop about translating stories. This trip made him interested in Cuban and African folk tales. For over 40 years, Joe has told stories outside a tepee at the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe. This has become a fun summer tradition for many families.

Joe Hayes' Books

Joe Hayes has written many popular books. Many of his books are bilingual, meaning they are in both English and Spanish.

• A Heart Full of Turquoise, 1988
• Antonio's Lucky Day, 1993
• Coyote and the butterflies : a Pueblo Indian tale, 1993
• The Checker Playing Hound Dog, 1986
• Coyote &, 1983
• The Day It Snowed Tortillas : tales from Spanish New Mexico, 1985
• Dance, Nana, dance = Baila, Nana, baila : Cuban folktales in English and Spanish 2008
• El Cucuy A Bogeyman Cuento, 2001
• Everyone Knows Gato Pinto, 1992
• Ghost Fever/Mal de fantasma, 2004
• The Gum Chewing Rattler 2006
• Juan Verdades The Man Who Couldn't Tell a Lie, 2001
• La Llorona/The Weeping Woman (1987)
• Little Gold Star/Estrellita de oro 2000
• Mariposa, Mariposa, 1988
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Oh!/Lunes, Martes, Miécoles, (O!, 1897
• No Way, José!/(De Ninguna Manera, José, 1986
• Pájaro Verde/The Green Bird 2002
• Soft Child, 1993
• A Spoon for Every Bite, 1994
• Tell Me a Cuento/Cuéntame un story, 1998
• The Terrible Tragadabas/El Terrible Tragadabas, 1987
• Watch Out for Clever Women/Cuidado con las mujeres astutas, 1994
• The Wise Little Burro, 1990
• Where There's a Will, There's a Way/Donde hay ganas hay mañas, 1995

Joe Hayes on Storytelling

Joe Hayes believes storytelling can bring people together. He shared his thoughts on his work:

"My bilingual storytelling helps Spanish-speaking kids feel proud. It also helps non-Hispanic kids learn about and like the Spanish language and culture. I think it's important that I am not Hispanic myself. It helps break down the idea of 'us and them.' For Hispanic kids, I am one of 'them' honoring 'our' language. For non-Hispanic kids, it's one of 'us' honoring 'their' language. This lowers barriers and builds a better community."

He also said:

"Someone said that enemies are just people whose stories we don't know. I think that's very true. When we don't know other people's stories, it's easy to see them as enemies. But when we learn their stories, we see how much we have in common. We also enjoy how their unique traditions make our own lives richer."

Awards and Honors

Joe Hayes has received many awards for his storytelling and books:

• 1989 New Mexico Eminent Scholar
• 1995 New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence and Achievement in the Arts
• 1995 Southwest Book Award for Watch Out for Clever Women/Cuidado con las mujeres astutas
• 1995 Children's Author Award, Arizona Library Assoc. for Soft Child: How the Rattlesnake Got Its Fangs
• 1996 Arizona Young Readers Award – Picture Book for Soft Child: How the Rattlesnake Got Its Fangs
• 2001 Land of Enchantment Children's Book Award for A Spoon for Every Bite
• 2002 IPPY Awards – Children's Picture Book (7 & over) Winner for !El Cucuy!
• 2003 IPPY Award Multicultural Fiction – Juv/Young Adult Winner for Pájaro Verde (The Green Bird)
• 2003 Aesop Accolade Award for Pajaro Verde: The Green Bird
• 2005 Talking Leaves Literary Oracle Award – National Storytelling Network
• 2005 Land of Enchantment Children's Book Award for El Cucuy
• 2005 Latino Book Awards: Best Children's Picture Book – Bilingual (Tie) for La Llorona
• 2005 IPPY Award Story Teller of the Year
• 2007 Texas Bluebonnet Award for Ghost Fever (First Bilingual book to win this prize)
• 2009 Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Awards for Dance, Nana, Dance/Baila, Nana, Baila: Cuban Folktales in English and Spanish