Day of the Dead (Paperback)

by Tony Johnston (Author), Jeanette Winter (Illustrator) "Above a small town in Mexico, the sun rises like a great marigold..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3. This graphically arresting treatment of the Mexican celebration introduces its traditions in story form. As two children notice all the food being cooked, the flowers being gathered, and the special packages bought at the bakery, they long to taste, smell, and investigate. The repeated refrains, "Wait" and "Esperense," add to readers' and listeners' curiosity. The acrylic illustrations are bold and stylized, with wide black borders decorated with varying designs. Although the book's small size makes it difficult to share with a large group, it will work one-on-one and with small groups. It also provides a wonderful bridge to Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith's Day of the Dead (Holiday, 1995), which looks at the holiday in a Mexican-American context, or George Ancona's wonderful Pablo Remembers (Lothrop, 1993), a photo essay on El dia de los muertos as experienced by a young Mexican boy and his family.?Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews
The team that collaborated so gracefully on Diego (1991) returns with another little book showing how a Mexican family celebrates el d¡a de los muertos, the holiday commemorating the dead. Everyone spends days preparing special foods, which are carried in a candlelight procession to the cemetery for a nightlong celebration of singing, dancing, and feasting at the graves of loved ones. A number of Spanish words and phrases are worked into Johnston's simple text, as the children are repeatedly told ``esp‚rense''--``wait''--when they try to sample the empanadas (meat pastries) or the pan de muertos (special ``bread of the dead,'' shaped like human figures and decorated with colored sugar). Winter's square acrylic paintings, in rich hues of green, pink, purple, blue, and gold, float within thick black borders that change with each turn of the page. The covers, endpapers, and title page are decorated with silhouettes reminiscent of the cut-paper banners that beautify the ofrendas, home altars bearing candles, fruit, flowers, and photographs of the departed. A warm, fictional introduction for an audience younger than that for the photo-essays by Kathryn Lasky (Days of the Dead, 1994) and Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith (Day of the Dead, 1994, not reviewed). (Picture book. 4-7) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Voyager Books (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152024468
• ISBN-13: 978-0152024468
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #407,818 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Tribute to a Mexican Holiday, January 13, 2000

By	Barbara Harsh (Rio Rico, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Day of the Dead (Hardcover)

I have read this book to my 6 year-old daughter ab out a dozen times in the last 2 weeks. The colorful and rich illustrations are awe-inspiring and capture the spiritual side of this Mexican holiday. The story reflects the anticipation of the children as their parents prepare for this day of feasting and honoring passed souls.

Another plus in this book is the use of the Spanish language. Scattered throughout the book in short phrases, the words can be interpreted by context for the non-speaker.

I love this book and so does my daughter. We live near the border of Mexico and can attest to the fact that it is culturally accurate and reflects the Mexican culture in a beautiful way. I highly recommend this book!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Illustrations, Accurate Story, October 31, 2001

By	Jane Swartz (Midland, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This lively story tells the meaning of Dia de los Muertos--honoring loved ones--with beautiful illustrations, a good mixture of English and Spanish text, and accuracy. Great teaching tool.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Charming, March 29, 2007

By	Kristen Fournier "kr!sten" (austin, tx, usa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book feels as though it is illustrated using papel picado techniques, with its geometric colorful shapes that are symmetrical and have black-colored backgrounds. This book charmingly uses lots of Spanish language to teach vocabulary to readers. It uses lots of words that have to do with the customs of Día de los Muertos. The narrative of the story leads the reader from the preparations for the fiesta all the way through the procession and celebration. The book is attractively small and square, which will also attract younger readers without intimidating them, but offers more than enough information for these younger readers to get a comprehensive view of Día de los Muertos.