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...
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...
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...
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...
The Day of the Dead = El D©Ưa 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...
The festival of 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...
D©Ưa 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...
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
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 their loved...

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