Teachers and parents often look for ways to share Hispanic traditions, legends, and culture with their children. This selection of classic picture books brings to life the festive celebrations surrounding The Day of the Dead, a uniquely Latin American holiday. For more seasonal stories readers can check out picture books concerning Cinco de Mayo, Carnaval, Las Posadas and Three Kings Day at the end of this article.
The Hispanic Holiday of El Día de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead
November first, All Saints Day, and November second, All Souls Day, are the times Latin Americans remember loved ones who’ve passed away. The festive holiday, known as El Día de los Muertos, is celebrated with family gatherings to decorate gravestones with flowers as families in the United States do on Memorial Day. Families also gather the loved ones favorite foods, drinks, and treasured possessions for a commemorative altar. Because of its festive fireworks and sugary treats, the Day of the Dead is a holiday especially enjoyed by children.
Unlike Halloween, a Latin American celebration of Día de los Muertos has no place for spooky or scary overtones. Though comical skeletons are a traditional decoration, the holiday is seen by Hispanics as a time for family closeness and honoring lost loved ones.
Picture Books Depicting the Celebration of El Día de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead by Tony Johnston and Jeanette Winter is a richly illustrated book portraying the customs and traditions surrounding a family’s celebration of El Día de los Muertos. Two eager children participate in preparing festive foods, join in a candlelit procession, and remember their ancestors on this Latin American holiday. Because of its colorful illustrations and straightforward text, the book is an especially good choice for introducing young children to the Latin American holiday.
Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead by George Ancona is a photo essay depicting how Pablo, a young Mexican boy, remembers his grandmother and celebrates The Day of the Dead. Photographs bring to life holiday traditions of making sugar skulls, baking special bread, gathering with family for parties and fireworks, and creating a remembrance altar.
Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book by Jeanette Winter features Don Pedro who makes paper Mache skeletons, or Calaveras, for the celebration of The Day of the Dead. His Calaveras come to life and use the Spanish alphabet to describe important features of the Latin American holiday.
Ghost Wings by Barbara M. Joosse and illustrated by Giselle Potter is the story of how a Mexican girl deals with the loss of her Grandmother. Through the holiday, El Día de los Muertos, and the brightly colored monarch butterflies, she is finally able to remember her grandmother’s songs, scents, and homemade tortillas she misses so much.
Felipa and the Day of the Dead by Bert Muller is a touching story of a little girl who lives high in the Andes Mountains. The story artfully captures Felipa’s grief on the loss of her grandmother and her comfort in sharing in her grandmother’s memory.
The Spirit of Tío Fernando a Day of the Dead Story by Janice Levy tells how Nando and his mother prepare a remembrance altar for Tío Fernando who passed away only six months earlier. The book introduces many cultural aspects to the Hispanic holiday through the eyes of a young Latin American Boy.
Beto and the Bone Dance by Gina Freschet is a story of a young boy remembering his grandmother during the celebration of The Day of the Dead. Beto is looking for just the right gift to present his deceased grandmother, but everything he thinks of has already been placed on the holiday altar by other members of his family. In a dream, Beto remembers his grandmother and comes up with the perfect present.
Readers who enjoyed these picture books pertaining to the Latin American holiday El Día de los Muertos, will certainly enjoy other classic children’s books portraying the celebration of Carnaval, Cinco de Mayo, or Hispanic Christmas customs for Three Kings Day and Las Posadas.
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