  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 08/01/2015 PreS-Gr 2—A festive and colorful celebration of the Mexican and Latin American holiday. Thong's rhyming narrative introduces the traditions practiced during El Día de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead, from the sugary, skull-shaped candies (calaveras) and altars built in remembrance of the dearly departed to decorating tombstones and picnics at the cemetery. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout, sometimes defined through their context or otherwise included in the helpful glossary. From daybreak to nightfall, the holiday, often celebrated on November 1, is showcased as a town-wide event and is depicted as a family festivity. Ballesteros's vibrant and child-friendly art bursts off the page, sometimes overcrowding the tableau in a way that marries well with the partylike atmosphere. Mexican cultural references are made throughout, including cameos by Frida Kahlo, La Llorona, and the recently deceased Mexican actress and comedian Maria Elena Velasco, best known for her character La India Maria. The skeleton images made popular by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada are also prevalent in each spread, but these almost jolly figures won't frighten young readers. Pair with Paul Bracegirdle's The Dead Family Diaz (Dial, 2012) for a themed storytime, or include in Halloween displays. VERDICT A jovial primer on the Latin American holiday for the uninitiated and a fiesta for those who already partake.—Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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