Día de Muertos

K-Gr 3–Told from the perspective of a young Latinx boy named Poncho, this first-person narrative takes readers through the purpose, preparations, symbolism, festivities, and food of the Latinx holiday Día de Muertos. A personal touch brings the story to life as Poncho prepares to add his recently deceased abuelo Rubén to his family’s ofrenda. The story is followed by several pages of in-depth information about the history, regional variations, and symbolism of the holiday, as well as a recipe for pan de muerto, instructions for making papel picado, and how to dress up like La Catrina or El Catrín. A quiz completes the book. The text of the story is pleasant and accessible to children with the slight exception of appropriate Spanish vocabulary sprinkled consistently throughout, which nonspeakers can easily learn to pronounce with guidance. Artwork is vibrant, appealing, and well-fitted to the text, as it adds detail to the story without overwhelming readers. Spreads highlight the progress of the characters’ festive preparations. Illustrations extend to the informational pages in the back, which are distinguished by colorful geometric borders and accompanied by relevant photographs.