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...
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...
Uncle monarch and the Day of the Dead
Goldman, Judy
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...
The remembering day
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
This affectionate picture book reveals Rosita's sense of loss when her grandmother dies and how the family works together on the Day of the Dead to restore the healing power of remembrance. Full color.
The Day of the Dead El Da̕ de los Muertos
Barner, Bob.
CD
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 : the little-bitty book for the day of the dead = El festival de las calaveras
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! : a Day of the Dead celebration
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...
Da̕ 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...
Barrilete : a kite for the Day of the Dead
Amado, Elisa.
Paper Book
-- The touching story of a boy honoring the memory of his 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
Tony Johnston
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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