The Spirit of Tio Fernando: A Day of the Dead Story [Paperback]

Janice Levy (Author), Morella Fuenmayor (Illustrator), Teresa Mlawer (Translator)

Book Description

Grade Level: K and up

It's the Day of the Dead and Nando and his mother are going to honor Tío Fernando. Nando, named for Uncle Fernando, listens as his mother tells him that later, at the cemetary, they will meet with Tío Fernando's spirit.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4?As the Day of the Dead approaches, Nando and his mother make preparations to remember Tio Fernando. Nando's curiosity leads him to ask the adults around him how his uncle's spirit will find him when it returns: "...Will I see him? Will he make noise? How will I know it is really him?" That night, Nando discovers his uncle's spirit in a place he least expects?inside himself. Levy presents this story in both Spanish and English from the realistic viewpoint of a child experiencing the Day of the Dead celebration. She relates the customs of this traditional Mexican and Central American holiday. Unfortunately, though, the author fails to bring Nando to life. The watercolor illustrations are done in somber hues and merely reflect the tone of the text, adding nothing substantial to the story. George Ancona's Pablo Remembers (Lothrop, 1993) and Fiesta U.S.A. (Lodestar, 1995) are excellent nonfiction choices on this holiday and are available in Spanish.?Maria Redburn, Collier County Public Library, Immokalee, FL
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5^-10. "The Day of the Dead is a time to remember people who have died, whom we will always love," Nando's mother tells him as they prepare to celebrate the holiday and honor Tio Fernando, who died six months earlier. After they decorate a makeshift altar, Nando's mother sends him to buy things that remind him of his uncle to take to the cemetery that night. Buying a "skeleton of marzipan candy and a cake baked narrow and skinny, like Tio Fernando," the boy wonders how he will meet his uncle's spirit. But after he and his mother have decked Tio's grave with marigolds and sung his favorite songs, Nando's heart is full, and he is sure that Tio Fernando knows that he is loved and not forgotten. Soft watercolor illustrations tenderly portray Nando's joyful experience. Including the traditional activities, and imbued with an authentic sense of the Mexican holiday, the warm, well-told story, provided in a bilingual format, will be welcomed as a picture book featuring a child's celebration of the Day of the Dead. Pair it with Ancona's photo-essay Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead (1993) for a multicultural alternative to the typical fall Halloween program. Annie Ayres --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807575860
• ISBN-13: 978-0807575864
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #912,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Mexico

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must have", April 21, 2000

By 

F. Evans "french tortilla" (Truckee, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirit of Tio Fernando: A Day of the Dead Story (Paperback)

This book features beautiful colorful illustrations and a very cute story, full of accurate cultural details. To be enjoyed by children and adults alike, it also is a great way to "teach" your kids about death, or to help them deal with mourning, whether or not you are hispanic.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, March 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Spirit of Tio Fernando: A Day of the Dead Story (Paperback)

El Espiritu de Tio Fernando is an excellent book describing the mexican celebration of Days of the Dead. The book follows a young boy and his mother as they remember his uncle who has died within the last year. The book is simple yet includes many aspects of the celebration. The illustrations are wonderfully detailed so as to show the emotions of each part of the celebration. The text is in both English and Spanish allowing all children to enjoy it equally.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Spirit of Tio Fernando, May 4, 2008

By 

Miss M's Fourth Graders (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spirit of Uncle Fernando (Hardcover)

The spirit of Tio Fernando by Janice Levy is a book about the Day of the Dead.
Fernando wakes up and today is the Day of the Dead and they are going to see the spirit of Tio Fernando. Fernando`s mother set all Tio Fernando `s favorite foods on the table. She also put out some pictures of Tio Fernando. After Fernando`s mother gave him some pesos to go buy things that Tio Fernando liked also to remember him. Fernando went to the market and saw Senor Romero and then Senor Romero gave Fernando a skull with his name on it. Fernando saw Senora Magdalia and Senora Magdlia gave him a little ghost and Senor Magdalia tells Fernando how he will meet Tio Fernando's spirit and how he will feel good inside. After Fernando went home they went to the cemetery to Tio Fernando's cross and put marigolds there. Fernando's mother sang Tio Fernando's favorite songs. Fernando heard a heart beating but maybe it was only Fernando. Fernando feels something in his body. Then they stayed at the cemetery for the Day of the Dead.

The lesson I learned from the book was that your loved ones will always be beside you. In one part of the book I found they tell Tio Fernando's spirit to join them. Even if Tio Fernando is dead he knows he isn't forgotten. Fernando feels his uncle in his body and by the sounds too. Fernando remembers Tio Fernando by the pictures and by the second toe of his right foot. I like the way this book tells you about the Day of the Dead and that your loved ones will always be beside you.

By Graciela