Ever have something happen that makes you want to learn more about something?
When I was invited to the Disney Pixar Coco event (read more about the Disney Pixar COCO movie and the press trip here) I realized the only things I really knew about Day of the Dead is what I had learned in The Book of Life movie. I was determined to change that! My boys and I headed to the library where I requested all the childrens books about Day of the Dead they had. We’ve spent the last few days reading the books as they came in and learning about the Latino holiday, Day of the Dead. Take a look at what we think are some great books to help your family learn more about this holiday too.
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is celebrated from October 31 – November 2.
If you are a children’s author with a book about Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) that you would like to see considered for this listing, please contact us at [email protected] for information on sending samples of the book for us to review.
Childrens Books about Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
Picture Books about Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
Clatter Bash!: a Day of the Dead Celebration
- Author: Richard Cleminson Keep
- Price: Available in paperback and hard cover new and used for as low as $2.49 with this Amazon link. Also available as an Amazon Prime item.
Our Clatter Bash!: a Day of the Dead Celebration book review
This children’s book about Day of the Dead features page after page of visual images reflective of Day of the Dead activities. As we flipped through the colorful pages, skeletons were pictured emerging from their coffins, leaving the cemetery, and heading into town for the Día de los Muertos celebration. As the picture book ends we see the skeletons return to their coffins. Each page features a few words. Most words are in English, but some are in Spanish. This is a good book for younger children because the story is in the pictures. There aren’t sentences to read. Instead, kids can interpret the pictures to create their own story. The last two pages offer an explanation into what Day of the Dead is all about. There are smaller pictures and sentences that describe the significance of the day and its traditions.
Story Books about Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
Día De Los Muertos
- Author: Roseanne Thong
- Price: Available in hard cover and on the Kindle, new and used for as low as $5.38 with this Amazon link. Also available as an Amazon Prime item.
Our Día De Los Muertos book review
This was one of our favorite children’s books about Day of the Dead and the first one we read together as a family. It is beautifully illustrated with a few sentences on each page. As we read through the story, we followed one family as they prepared for the day and celebrated Día de los Muertos with their community. Each page introduced us to one or two words in Spanish. We used the context clues to help us figure them out, but later discovered a glossary on the last page of the book. The book also includes 2 pages at the back that talk more about Day of the Dead traditions.
Dia De Los Muertos was a perfect first book for us in our quest to learn more about this Latino holiday. I felt it gave us an incredible look at how elaborate the traditions and customs of this holiday can be without being overwhelming.
Felipa and the Day of the Dead
- Author: Birte Muller
- Price: Available in hard cover and paperback, new and used for as low as $2.49 with this Amazon link.
Our Felipa and the Day of the Dead book review
We are currently waiting for a copy of this to become available at our local library. Once we’ve read it, we’ll update this post with our review.
I remember Abuelito: a Day of the Dead story
- Author: Janice Levy and Loretta Lopez
- Available in paperback and on Kindle, new and used for as low as $.99 with this Amazon link. Also available as an Amazon Prime item and KindleUnlimited item.
Our I remember Abuelito: a Day of the Dead story book review
We are currently waiting for a copy of this to become available at our local library. Once we’ve read it, we’ll update this post with our review.
Pablo Remembers: the Fiesta of the Day of the Dead
- Author: George Ancona
- Available in hard cover, new and used for as low as $4.97 with this Amazon link.
Our Pablo Remembers: the Fiesta of the Day of the Dead book review
We are currently waiting for a copy of this to become available at our local library. Once we’ve read it, we’ll update this post with our review.
Chapter Books about Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
Day of the Dead: a Latino Celebration of Family and Life
- Author: Carol Gnojewski
- Available in hard cover, new and used for as low as $2.99 with this Amazon link.
Our Day of the Dead: a Latino Celebration of Family and Life book review
The Day of the Dead: a Latino Celebration of Family and Life is a great chapter book about Day of the Dead for an independent reader or to read with your older child who wants to know more about this Latino holiday. It breaks down explaining the holiday and Latino culture in 6 easy-to-read chapters: Day of the Dead, Ancient Aztec Beliefs, Spanish Conquest, My House is Your House, Fiesta Flowers and Food, and Skull Symbols. Nearly every page has a photograph and some of those photographs are large enough to fill the whole page. There’s even a Day of the Dead craft project at the end of the book as well as a list of resources for your family to explore to learn more about the Day of the Dead.
We hope you enjoyed our recommendations for childrens books about Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). Which one do you think your child will most enjoy?
You can find more recommendations for childrens books about Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) with our Amazon link. For more Jersey Family Fun Childrens Book reviews, please click over to our childrens book review series.
If you are a children’s author with a book about Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) that you would like to see considered for this listing, please contact us at [email protected] for information on sending samples of the book.
Click over for more about How to Teach Kids about Day of the Dead Día De Los Muertos.
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