Day of the Dead Picture Books

From fun and spooky tales to poignant family stories, this collection of Day of the Dead picture books covers a lot of ground.
Updated October 2, 2022
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Funny bones : Posada and his Day of the Dead calaveras
Tonatiuh, Duncan.
Paper Book
A Sibert Award Winner, Pura Belpr\u00e9 (Illustrator) Honor Book, New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2015 and International Latino Book Award Finalist! Funny Bones tells the story of how the amusing calaveras - skeletons performing various everyday or festive...
The spirit of TĂ­o Fernando : a Day of the Dead story
Levy, Janice.
Paper Book
It's the Day of the Dead and Nando and his mother are going to honor Tío Fernando. Nando, named for Uncle Fernando, listens as his mother tells him that later, at the cemetery, they will meet with Tío Fernando's spirit. SPANISH DESCRIPTION
Gustavo, the shy ghost
Drago, Flavia Z.
Paper Book
A #1 New York Times bestseller! This winning debut picture book from Mexican artist Flavia Z. Drago about finding the courage to make friends is perfect for the spooky season -- or anytime. Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through...
Beto and the bone dance
Freschet, Gina.
Paper Book
A fantastic encounter on the Day of the Dead. Today is Beto's favorite holiday -- the Day of the Dead. First, he and his father craft an altar at home in honor of Beto's recently departed grandmother, filled with the things she loved in life. Later, it's off to the cemetery, where at midnight all...
Uncle monarch and the Day of the Dead
Goldman, Judy 1955-
Paper Book
A family celebrates Día de Muertos, a holiday for remembering those who have passed. When the monarch butterflies return to her Mexican countryside, Lupita knows that Día de Muertos, "the Day of the Dead," is near. She and her favorite uncle watch the butterflies flutter in the trees. When a...
The dead family Diaz
Bracegirdle, P. J.
Paper Book
A fresh, funny take on the Day of the Dead that's packed with kid appeal Every skeleton in the Land of the Dead is excited to celebrate el Día de los Muertos with the Living. But not Angelito. His big sister has told him all about their horrifying bulgy eyes and squishy skin. So...
Ghost wings
Joosse, Barbara M.
Paper Book
Set in Mexico amidst the monarch butterflies' annual migration and during the Days of the Dead,Ghost Wings, written by Barbara M. Joosse, author of the best-sellingMama, Do You Love Me?, and illustrated with the luminescent artwork of Giselle Potter, is the touching story of a little...
Maria Molina and the Days of the Dead
Krull, Kathleen.
Paper Book
In Mexico, Maria and her family celebrate Los Dias de los Muertos, The Days of the Dead. Includes a recipe for pan de los muertos.
The remembering day = El dia de los muertos
Mora, Pat
Paper Book
Long, long, long ago, Bella and her grandmother Mamá Alma admired their vegetable garden. They liked gardening together. They grew sunflowers and lilies too, and chatted with lizards and hummingbirds. They walked around the flowers and vegetables holding hands, something they had done frequently...
Calavera abecedario : a Day of the Dead alphabet book
Winter, Jeanette.
Paper Book
Every year Don Pedro and his family make papier-mache skeletons, or calaveras, for Mexico's Day of the Dead fiesta. FromAngel andDoctor to Mariachi andUnicornio, each letter of the alphabet has its...
A gift for Abuelita : celebrating the Day of the Dead
Luenn, Nancy.
Paper Book
The love and rituals surrounding the Mexican folk holiday-- The Day of the Dead.
Felipa and the Day of the Dead
MĂźller, Birte.
Paper Book
Felipa's beloved grandmother, Abuelita, has died. Felipa misses her terribly and is very sad. Her parents try to comfort Felipa. They tell her that the souls of the dead live on forever. So Felipa decides to find Abuelita's soul. But where is it? She asks her grandmother's donkey, her pig, and...
The Day of the Dead = El DĂ­a de los Muertos
Barner, Bob.
Paper Book
Follow two children as they celebrate their ancestors on this vibrant holiday. They offer marigolds, sugar skulls, and special bread, and make delicious foods. By spreading marigold petals, they guide the dead home to join the festivities. Finally, after singing and dancing, it's time for bed. Bob...
Festival of the bones = El festival de las calaveras : the little-bitty book for the day of the dead
San Vicente, Luis.
Paper Book
Mexico's Day of the Dead fascinates U.S readers, whether for its joyful celebration of an unusual tradition or because it simply feels like home. San Vicente lets children join the celebration as they watch the skeletons rock, rattle, and roll those long old bones as they get ready for the...
Just in case : a trickster tale and Spanish alphabet book
Morales, Yuyi.
Paper Book
From three-time Pura Belpré Winner Yuyi Morales, a delightful alphabet picture book about a Día de los Muertos skeleton who must find the perfect birthday gift (or gifts!) A 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year Winner of the 2009 Pura Belpré Medal for...
Clatter bash!
Keep, Richard Cleminson.
Paper Book
Get ready for a rollicking Day of the Dead celebration! Graveyard skeletons shake, rattle, and roll as a Mexican family marks the annual Day of the Dead holiday. ? ?[A zesty look at a special night.? ?School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW At dusk on the holiday...
DĂ­a de los muertos
Thong, Roseanne
Paper Book
El Día de Muertos, Day of the Dead, is here--a holiday for celebrating the lives of departed family and friends. Altars are decorated with sugar skulls and marigolds. Tamales and sweets are ready to eat. Soon it will be time for picnics, music, and a costume parade! Come join in these joyful and...
Un barrilete para el Dia de los muertos
Amado, Elisa.
Paper Book
A boy continues his family's tradition of building a Day of the Dead barrilete (kite) in honor of his late grandfather.
Just a minute : a trickster tale and counting book
Morales, Yuyi.
Paper Book
In this original trickster tale, Senor Calavera arrives unexpectedly at Grandma Beetle's door. He requests that she leave with him right away. "Just a minute," Grandma Beetle tells him. She still has one house to sweep, two pots of tea to boil, three pounds of corn to make into tortillas -- and that...
Day of the Dead
Johnston, Tony 1942-
Paper Book
Above a small town in Mexico, the sun rises like a great marigold, and one family begins preparations for an annual celebration, El día de los muertos,the Day of the Dead. Soon they will go out into the night, join their neighbors, and walk to the graveyard to welcome the spirits of...

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