Felipa and the Day of the Dead (Paperback)

by Birte Muller (Author) "Felipa lived in a small village high up in the Andes Mountains..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2–When Abuelita dies, Felipa misses her a great deal. When she is told that people's souls live on forever, she asks the donkey, the pig, and the llamas where her grandmother is hiding. They do not tell her. She searches high in the Andes but can not find her there either. In November, the village prepares for a celebration in which special treats, flowers, and candles are taken to decorate the graves and the cemetery comes to life with laughter, music, and stories. The child then feels close to her grandmother through the memories that her parents share with her. The almost-impressionistic paintings are done in rich shades of yellow, orange, and blue; they capture Felipa's emotions but few details of the culture or celebration. This will be an excellent story to pair with nonfiction sources regarding the Day of the Dead but may not be fully appreciated without additional information.–Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review
"Birte Muller's illustrations deftly express the serious nature of Felipa's emotions and the comfort she gains through this tradition. Muller's story is one of reconciliation as the sorrow of Felipa's loss is coupled with the joy of her memories."

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 36 pages
• Publisher: North-South Books (September 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735820112
• ISBN-13: 978-0735820111
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #818,100 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars day of the dead for children unfamiliar with it, December 17, 2006

By	Karyn W "blckwidow8" (Kansas City, MO United States) - See all my reviews

I loved this book, it really captures the spirit of the holiday as celebrated in Latin America through the eyes of a child. The paintings are gorgeous and it has a great ending.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great for children, September 15, 2008

By	Jennifer Adair "africaisntacountry" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is beautiful and peaceful. My children have read it over and over - the words are fun to read as an adult and the children love the way Felipa thinks and tries to solve her concerns. Felipa as a child character is smart, thoughtful, proactive and sentimental. After being a regular storytime book, we used this book when a family member died a few months ago as a way to make our children see that those we love are always with us. Peruvian culture that is represented in this book is subtle and respectful. I recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good Intro to Dia de Los Muertos for New Readers, March 29, 2007

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

This children's book tells the story of Felipa, who lives high up in the Andes Mountains. After her grandmother dies, she looks for her soul everywhere. She wanders so far away, her father has to come find her in a field. Her father assures her that her grandmother's soul will come to her on Día de los Muertos. Felipa waits eagerly for November to arrive, and celebrates the holiday, and says goodbye to her grandmother until next year. This book has a simple explanation of the holiday for younger readers for them to understand and be able to read on their own. It's illustrations are expressive, interesting, and provide much visual stimulation. This book doesn't get into too many details of the customs associated with Día de los Muertos, but is a good introduction.