Beto and The Bone Dance [Hardcover]

Gina Freschet (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

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 souls will come to visit the living. It's a celebratory occasion, but Beto is distraught because he isn't able to find a perfect gift for Abuela's altar. The answer to his dilemma is found in a wild dream, in which Beto joins a conga line of dance-mad skeletons.

Through her effulgent paintings and rhythmic text, the author conveys all the excitement of this unique Mexican fiesta, as well as a comforting message for children who have lost a loved one.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Beto and the Bone Dance by Gina Freschet, a boy celebrates the Mexican holiday, el Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. After a night of dancing and searching for a suitable offering to place atop his grandmother's altar, Beto finally finds just the right gift.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-A sprightly, informative tale. Beto loves el D'a de los Muertos. In spite of the fact that he sometimes feels just a little scared of all those crazy skeletons, the little boy enjoys this day of remembrance. This year is especially meaningful for Beto, as his grandmother has recently died. Given the chance to put something special on the altar for her, he just cannot seem to get the right thing. Every time he thinks of an item (soda pop, chocolate), someone else has thought of it first. It isn't until Beto falls asleep and dreams that he is dancing a bone dance with some skeletons that his grandmother appears and helps him find just the right token. Freschet's vivid, mixed-media illustrations brim with vigor, and the predominant use of golds and reds, along with echoing the color of the traditional marigolds that figure in the celebration, gives the slightly scary tale a reassuring and joyful look. The story pairs perfectly with Tony Johnston's more straightforward Day of the Dead (Harcourt, 1997) to provide a perfect introduction to George Ancona's as yet unsurpassed photo-essay on the subject, Pablo Remembers (Lothrop, 1993). This is a book to keep in mind for a culturally rich storytime.

Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (October 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374317208
• ISBN-13: 978-0374317201
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,858,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My 5 yr old daughter's current favorite., August 20, 2009

By 

L. Bradford "Mother of Two" (Mason Co, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beto and The Bone Dance (Hardcover)

I originally picked up a copy of this book on loan from our public library. My daughter fell in love with this story of a young boy and his family getting ready for the yearly celebration of Dia De Los Muertos with this year being special because Beto is searching high and low for something unique and all his own to put on his recently passed grandmother's altar. It is fun following Beto around in this cute and "spooky" story full of skeletons, special decorations, and foods. The end is sweet because Beto finally realizes the most special thing his grandmother loved the most that he can add to her altar.

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun!, March 3, 2009

By 

Raleigh Hollens "book lvr 4 life" (forks, wa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beto and The Bone Dance (Hardcover)

This book is so wonderful! It will be a great way to introduce spanish culture and customs. This book is about The day of the dead-Halloween and what they do for it. The pictures are very vibrant and beautiful. This is a wonderful story of a little boy who tries to find the perfect thing to put on his grandmother's alter to remember her.