Día de los Muertos

July 2, 2018
Eliot introduces readers to Día de los Muertos, describing traditional observance in Mexico and other places. “With delicious foods, brightly colored decorations, and festive parties, we honor the lives of the people we miss,” Eliot writes. Gutierrez fills jewel-toned artwork with skeletons and altars to lost loved ones, and toothy cartoon characters decorate sugar skulls and gather flowers. An addition to the Celebrate the World series of holiday-themed board books, this is an informative exploration of a rich, vibrant holiday. Ages 2–4.

January 1, 2019
The traditions and history of one of Mexico's most important holidays are introduced in this latest of Eliot's Celebrate the World series. From setting up the flower-festooned altars to decorating the calaveras, the preparations depicted involve entire communities over several weeks. Characters in cowboy hats, sombreros, and baseball caps place the final touches on skeletons in full lucha libre regalia or spangled mariachi outfits. However, instead of accurately using Mexico's name for the holiday, Día de Muertos, Eliot uses the English back-translation, "Día de los Muertos," as is common in the U.S. even though the story evidently takes place in Mexico. Also, aside from stating that the celebration "is an ancient tradition," there is no mention of its Indigenous, pre-European/Christian roots nor does the book actively distinguish between Día de Muertos and Halloween. The first-person narration vacillates between child and adult perspectives. "We do all this to celebrate the beauty of life and death rather than mourn it." Gutierrez's mixed-media illustrations are convulsive, crowded panes of frenetic activity. Exaggerated facial features border on stereotypical caricatures--snouts and bug eyes abound. Contributing to the crowded page design is the unfortunate choice of board rather than picture-book format. Consequently, the initial perception is that this series is geared toward toddlers, when it is the school-age child who would most benefit from the information in this book.Pass. (Board book. 4-7)

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