Books for Day of the Dead and Discovering Other Cultures Through Books

A great way to teach children about other cultures is by teaching the holidays and celebrations of those cultures. It offers a glimpse into the values and customs of a culture. A great picture book can open up the a child's eyes to the lived experiences unique to other places.

Today is Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

 
Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book
by Jeanette Winter
The family of Don Pedro makes the special papier-mache skeletons for the Day of the Dead fiesta. Each skeleton corresponds to a  different alphabet letter.

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras
by Duncan Tonatiuh
This books won the 2016 Sibert Award, which means it is a distinguished informational book.

This is picture biography of the Mexican artist José Guadalupe (Lupe) Posada (1852–1913). A little back story on him is that he was a political cartoonist during the Mexican Revolution. He is primarily known for his calavera drawings, which are tied to the Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations each year.

The illustrator's own style is often compared to that of the Mayan.  The story of Lupe Posada is interesting and it includes information about the Mexican Revolution as well as information on the Day of the Dead holiday. 

Happy Reading!