In the US, many people celebrate Halloween this time of year, but in Mexico and for those with Mexican heritage in other parts of the world, it is time for the celebration of El Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead (November 1-2). A holiday that combines elements of indigenous Aztec celebrations like Quecholli with the Catholic or Christian holidays of All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day, El Día de los Muertos is all about remembering and celebrating loved ones who have died. Unlike Halloween, this is not meant to be a scary holiday, and instead those who celebrate focus on the love and happy memories they have of those who have passed on. Here are just some children’s books at our library about the El Día de los Muertos:
La Catrina: Emotions = Emociones by Patty Rodríguez (2017).
This board book for babies and toddlers could be a first introduction to La Catrina and other imagery of El Día de los Muertos as it teaches littles ones emotions in both English and Spanish.
The Day of the Dead = El Día de los Muertos by Bob Barner (2010).
This short bilingual picture book from our Children’s department’s Spanish section manages to rhyme (more or less) in both English and Spanish as it explains the main parts of the holiday.
The Festival of Bones = El Festival de las Calaveras: The Little-Bitty Book for the Day of the Dead by Luis San Vicente (2002).
This bilingual book is a poem with artwork that toes the line between creepy and silly, with skeletons getting ready for their special day. The backmatter also has lots of great info about celebrating El Día de los Muertos.
Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh (2015), 40 pages.
This nonfiction picture book tells the story of a Mexican artist named José Guadalupe Posada, whose calaveras or skeletons (including the famous La Catrina) doing everyday things like riding bikes became symbols of El Día de los Muertos celebrations.
Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago (2020).
This is the story of a sweet, shy ghost who is working up the nerve to play the violin for an audience on Day of the Dead, hoping that it will help him make some friends, even if they can’t see him.
Happy reading!
-Teresa Moulton
