Honors
In 2012 the Historical Society of New Mexico honored Dr. Nasario García by naming him recipient of its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award. The notification letter by Nancy Owen Lewis, Chair of the Award Committee, cites Dr. García for his “… stellar contributions—as an educator, community activist, and author—to New Mexico History. The letter also states, “The stories and insights you have shared through your children’s books as well as those geared for adults, have furthered our understanding of traditional New Mexico culture. Twenty-three authored or co-authored publications is an impressive record indeed. Your work in the advancement and preservation of Hispanic language, culture, and folklore in New Mexico has been unparalleled. Your academic career, which includes numerous university appointments, has been outstanding.”
Honors and Awards
2025
 Clarita’s Clay Pot/la olla de barro de Clarita: A Bilingual Story of Friendship
  • Winner, Pablita Velarde Award, Historical Society of New Mexico, for Outstanding Children’s Publication Related to New Mexico or Southwest Borderlands History.
2021
 Lagrimas, Poems of Joy and Sorrow
  • Winner: Best Adult Bilingual Book New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.
2020
 Grandma Lale's Magical Adobe Oven:El horno mágico de Abuelita Lale, Rio Grande Books
  • First-Place Winner, Fiction New Mexico New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards
2019
 No More Bingo, Comadre!
  • Stories, First-Place Winner, Fiction New Mexico, New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards
  • 2nd Place, Children’s Book. National Federation of Press Women.
2016
 Grandpa Lolo's Matanza: A New Mexico Tradition, Río Grande Books, 2016.
New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.
  • Winner, Children's Bilingual Book.
  • Finalist, Children's Picture Book.
  • Finalist, Young Reader.
  • Finalist, Multi-cultural Subject.
Hoe, Heaven, and Hell: My Boyhood in Rural New Mexico, University of New Mexico Press.
  • First Place, Best Autobiography--English. International Latino Book Awards.
2015
 Grandma Lale's Tamales: A Christmas Story, Rio Grande Books, 2015.
Second Place, Best Latino Focused Children's Picture Book--Bilingual. International Latino Book Awards.

Grandpa Lolo's Matanza: A New Mexico Tradition, Río Grande Books, 2016.
  • New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.
  • Also: 2015. First Place, Best Autobiography--English. International Latino Book Awards.

Hoe, Heaven, and Hell: My Boyhood in Rural New Mexico, University of New Mexico Press, 2015. Historical Society of New Mexico.
  • Winner, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Award, for outstanding publication regarding domestic life in New Mexico
  • New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards. Winner, Best Book on New Mexico.
  • Winner, Biography-New Mexico Subject.
2014
 Grandma Lale’s Tamales: A Christmas Story, Río Grande.
New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.
  • Winner, Children’s Picture and Activity Bilingual.
  • Honorable Mention (3rd place), Best Latino Focused Children's Picture Book--Spanish or Bilingual.
  • Pablita Velarde Award, for outstanding publication or significant contribution to New Mexico or Southwest borderlands history, Historical Society of New Mexico.
  • Second Place, Children’s book-fiction (English & Spanish), New Mexico Press Women.
Bernalillo: Yesterday's Sunshine/Today's Shadows
  • First Place, International Latino Book Awards, Best History Book--Spanish or Bilingual.
  • First Place, oral short stories, New Mexico Press Women.
  • Winner, Best New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards 2014
The Talking Lizard: New Mexico’s Magic and Mystery, Río Grande. New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.
  • Winner, Young Readers.
  • Honorable Mention, Children’s book-fiction (English & Spanish), New Mexico Press Women.
Grandpa Lolo and Trampa: A Story of Surprise and Mystery,
  • Third Place, Children’s book-fiction (English & Spanish), New Mexico Press Women.
  • Winner, Young Readers’ Book (to Grade 3), New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards 2014
Grandma’s Santo on Its Head: El Santo patas arriba de mi abuelita,
  • Western Heritage Award for outstanding Juvenile Book, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City.
  • Finalist, New Mexico Book Awards 2014
2013
 Grandpa Lolo’s Navajo Saddle Blanket,
  • The 2013 International Latino Latino Book Awards 2nd Place for Best Children’s Fiction Picture Book—English, New York City.
  • Southwest Book Award, The Border Regional Library Association, El Paso, Texas.
2012
 An Indelible Imprint: Rubén Cóbos, A Multi-Talented Personality,
  • Finalist, New Mexico Book Awards
2010
 Rattling chains and Other Stories,
  • Finalist, New Mexico Book Awards
Fe y tragedias: Faith and Tragedies,
  • Finalist, New Mexico Book
2009
 The Naked Rainbow and Other Stories: El arco iris y otros cuentos,
  • Southwest Book of the Year, Pima County Public Library, Tucson, Arizona
2008
 Brujerías: Stories of Witchcraft and the Supernatural in the American Southwest and Beyond,
  • Finalist, New Mexico Book Awards, New Mexico Book Co-op
2007
 Brujerías: Stories of Witchcraft and the Supernatural in the American Southwest and Beyond,
  • Southwest Book of the Year, Pima County Public Library, Tucson, Arizona
2006
 Old Las Vegas: Hispanic Memories from the New Mexico Meadowlands,
  • Southwest Book Award,Border Regional Library Association, El Paso, Texas
1999-2000
 New Mexico Book Awards (Friends of New Mexico Books)

Zía Award (Distinguished Alumnus), University of New Mexico
1992-1993
 Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society, Recognition of Excellence in Teaching, New Mexico Highlands University
1983-1984
 Scholarship Award, Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
1982-1983
 Recipient, Outstanding Faculty Award, University of Southern Colorado (USC)
1981-1982
 Recipient, Outstanding Faculty Award, USC
1980-1981
 Southern Fellowship Research Grant, Emory University
1978-1979
 NEH Summer Institute Fellow, "Teaching Spanish to the Native Speaker," New Mexico State University
1977-1978
 Recipient, Outstanding Faculty Award, USC
1976-1977
 Nominee, Educator of the Year Award, Excellence in Teaching Performance, University of Southern Colorado Students (USC)
1975-1976
 Nominee, Educator of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching Performance, Students National Education Association (USC)
1962-1963
 NDEA Title VI Portuguese Fellow, University of New Mexico
1962
 NDEA Title VI Portuguese Fellow, University of Wisconsin at Madison