Festival of Bones / El Festival de las Calaveras: The Little-Bitty Book for the Day of the Dead (English and Spanish Edition) [Hardcover]

Luis San Vicente (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

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 biggest event of their social calendar. A short and fun essay, directed toward young readers, will explain this important Mexican holiday.

The works of Mexico City artist Luis San Vicente have been exhibited in Mexico, Venezuela, Europe, and the United States. He has won UNESCO’s prestigious NOMA Encouragement Concours Prize for Illustration, and UNESCO honored his work (1997, 1998, and 1999) in their prestigious Youth and Children’s Catalog of Illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Originally published in Mexico, this bilingual primer on the Day of the Dead may be best suited to those already familiar with the festival. For the uninitiated, an afterword explains that Mexicans celebrate el d¡a de los muertes from October 31 to November 2. Feasts, music and visits to gravesites help the living honor the dead, who are believed by many to return for the festivities. Vicente, a respected Mexico City artist, creates charming skeletal characters; their playfulness accentuates the holiday's merriment. Rendered in a style reminiscent of scratchboard illustrations, his bony subjects dance in top hats and ride bicycles amid a fetchingly surreal world. For "Pascual's skeleton sings a song/ Without any pain or dread/ Although half a leg is really gone/ Still a flower sits upon his head," he pictures the skeletal fellow balanced on one leg atop a crescent moon and a wide-eyed owl as his audience. But for norte¤os, the macabre content may not translate well. The text abruptly begins with a deceased guitarist crooning, "The skeletons are going along the road to the graveyard.... These are the dead. How happy they are." They may be further confused by a shifting narrative voice and non sequitur conclusion. But for those immersed in Mexican culture, this neatly designed square volume offers a fresh look at a familiar subject. Ideas on how to honor the dead and recipes for the holiday feast are included. Ages 4-10.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press; Bilingual edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English, Spanish
• ISBN-10: 0938317679
• ISBN-13: 978-0938317678
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #569,528 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic bilinqual book!, October 4, 2002

By 

Zanne Marie Gray "[e-mail]" (Monona, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Festival of Bones / El Festival de las Calaveras: The Little-Bitty Book for the Day of the Dead (English and Spanish Edition) (Hardcover)

Having been born and raised in the Midwest, I've always had a fascination with Mexico's Day of the Dead. The idea that you could joyously celebrate the lives of family and friends who have passed on struck me as being unique and beautiful.

The Little-Bitty Book for the Day of the Dead starts with an imaginative and whimsical poem, in both English and Spanish, illustrated with the most charming group of skeletons that you are likely to encounter in a children's book.

Rounding out the book is information about The Day of the Dead, including suggestions on how to celebrate this popular Mexican holiday, with recipes for Pan de Meurto and sugar skulls.

This book is a must have for any multi-cultural children's library.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource!, March 29, 2007

By 

K. Fournier "kr!sten" (austin, tx, usa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Festival of Bones / El Festival de las Calaveras: The Little-Bitty Book for the Day of the Dead (English and Spanish Edition) (Hardcover)

This "little-bitty" book is small in size but definitely not small in information. This book was packed full of all kinds of facts and ideas for Día de los Muertos. The book begins with a little story that is brilliantly illustrated in pen-and-ink with spot color. The illustrations are skeletons wearing clothes in the style of Juan Guadalupe Posada, the "patron saint" of Día de los Muertos illustrations. This story is a rhyming tale of the skeletons during the fiesta told in both English and Spanish. This is great because it can be read by patrons that read either language, and can improve bilingualism in those that are learning English or Spanish. These illustrations are more in the style of the holiday than any other print source I could find. After the story, the book becomes very informative. It gives the history of the holiday, and gives ideas to children on how to celebrate at the cemetery. It lists many ideas for making an ofrenda (altar and its offerings) for a departed loved one, and then gives recipes for making Pan de Muerto and a Sugar Skull.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Festival of Bones, February 9, 2011

By 

Mary E. Young "JanaRose1" (Covington, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Festival of Bones / El Festival de las Calaveras: The Little-Bitty Book for the Day of the Dead (English and Spanish Edition) (Hardcover)

Mexico's Day of the Dead is a three day celebration where one's deceased loved ones are remembered and celebrated. At the end of the book there are suggestions for celebrating the Day of the Dead along with several recipes. Although I enjoyed the book and the illustrations, I think the skeletons may be frightening or scary for young children. Particularly, "the baby skeleton, with her scary mask and her box with the little candle."