Día de los Muertos: Libro de actividades preescolares

I am so excited to share that my Day of the Dead: Preschool Activity Book now has a Spanish version! 

Thank you so much to my amiga, Dania Santana, for double-checking some of the translation. She helped get it in shape for publication. 

Last year, I published the English version and it was very popular. But I had a ton of requests for it in Spanish, so I'm happy to be able to offer it to bilingual families.

These 40-page activity books are filled with fun, colorful activities to keep your preschooler learning while having fun.

They include a short description of the holiday at the beginning of the book and then launches into activities that help your children develop their literacy and counting skills. Coloring pages give them an opportunity to strengthen their fine-motor skills, and puzzles and mazes give them an opportunity to work on hand-to-eye coordination. Your kids will identify the beginning sounds of specific words and can also practice writing.

The activities are diverse to engage children at different skill levels. Beginning preschoolers may prefer simpler activities, and older children will enjoy more complex ones.

Purchase yours here:

Book Review: Paquito y Abuelito

It occurred to me that I have never done an actual review of the book, Paquito y Abuelito. Everyone knows its sister title, Rosita y Conchita, but few actually know what this other story by Eric Gonzalez is about.

So let me tell you why I love this book just as much as their first Day of the Dead story.

Día de los Muertos has arrived, but for Paquito, it's just another day. He prefers to spend his time playing video games and is bored by most everything else. Then his Grandmother, his Abuelita, walks in with a box full of stuff and asks him to set up the altar in honor of his late Abuelito (Grandfather) for that evening's festivities. Paquito is apathetic, but agrees.

He goes back to his video games when all of a sudden Abuelito appears and takes Paquito on a journey that shares his adventurous life with his grandson. And he uses NICHOS to do so.

The book Rosita y Conchita taught us all about the significance of the altar and the ofrendas. Now, Gonzalez introduces readers to another Day of the Dead tradition: nichos.

I love the creativity and humor in this story and I think you will, too. The illustrations are (again) bold and vibrant and full of action. It's impossible for kids to read this book and not get engaged in both the storyline and the visual story. Take a look at some of the inside pages...

I also love that the main characters are male, for those of you whose children may have thought Rosita y Conchita too girly. This book is really the perfect complement to the other and a must-have for any home or school library.

The best thing about these books is how the author has included full text in both English AND Spanish.

And just as they added a section in the back of the first book with a sugar skull recipe and directions on how to draw Rosita, the Muertoons characters are back at the end of this story with directions for making your own nicho (so funny!).



Want to get one for your family or someone you know? You can buy your copy from my online shop. But for guaranteed delivery by Nov 1st, please order by Wednesday, October 23rd.

Enjoy!

Skeletitos: Make Every Moment Count

If you haven't heard, the lovely people over at Canticos have launched a new line of products. Skeletitos is a new set of stories with a Day of the Dead theme.

The first book was published this month. Skeletitos: Make Every Moment Count is a fun little board book that has a unique presentation.

First, at the beginning, you can find a link to the Skeletitos website that offers free downloadable activities (coloring pages and cut-out masks) to accompany the book. You also find out that there is a Skeletitos app available on the App Store and Google Play. This will allow your kids to sing along as you/they read the book.

There's also a page dedicated to space where your child can draw their own face in the picture frame. Will they choose a calavera face? I recommend that you take the time to read the book together first to inspire their imagination before pointing out this page to them.

Then the actual story begins. Susie Jaramillo (the author and illustrator) already has a way of presenting board books in an unusual way. Her Canticos line contains accordion-fold board books that can be read one way in English and the other way in Spanish.

Susie continues that interactive board book approach by having the inner pages fold out. And the first official page of the story folds out into a manipulable clock, which you can then leave open as you read the book. It is so much fun!! AND educational! On each page, the clock strikes a different hour and the skeletitos do something different. Your children can change the hands on the clock to match each hour and thereby learn to count and/or how to tell time as they read this book. 😍

Check out this video from their YouTube channel:



I believe they have seven books in this series planned and the next one debuts next year and features the adventures of Skeletina.

Anyway, it is because of the unusual but engaging presentation of this book and its fantastic educational component that I have added this to my list of favorite books for Day of the Dead.

It is available at Target and Amazon:

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Los Pollitos Bilingual App
  
  
• Holiday Gifting: Canticos
  
  
• Canticos Bilingual Preschool App
  
  
• Skeletitos: Make Every Moment Count
  
  
• Preschool at Home: A Guide for Caregivers

Paquito y Abuelito Books Now Available

My only shipment of the year of Paquito y Abuelito books has arrived! Order by Oct 23rd get yours before Day of the Dead. Don't wait, though, because I sell out of them every year.

If you've been waiting to order your copy, you can do so now in my online shop: http://bit.ly/35Bvrrh

Unfortunately, Eric says they didn't publish any of the Rosita y Conchita books this year.

MommyMaestra's Favorite Dia de los Muertos Books for Children

I frequently get asked what my favorite books are for various holidays or subjects. So many message that come in start off with "What books would you recommend for...?" I'm usually pretty good about sharing them here on MommyMaestra. So I was surprised when I realized I didn't have a list of my favorite children's books for Día de los Muertos!

There are MANY wonderful titles out centered around this holiday. But these are my favorites.

If you are one of those who recently messaged me, I hope you enjoy this list...

This post contains affiliate links.

The Best Children's Books about Day of the Dead

Always at the top of my list is Rosita y Conchita by Eric Gonzalez. This is probably the most accurate and attractive book available for children AND IT IS BILINGUAL with full text in both English and Spanish. Here is my full review.

Everyone loves it and I sell out of it every year. You can click here to see if I have any avilable. (Unfortunately, this year - 2019 - they are completely sold out and I was not able to order any. BUT I did get some of their other title...)

It is closely followed by Paquito y Abuelito, which is a similar story that features a young boy who learns about Día de los Muertos from his deceased grandfather. Abuelito reveals how adventurous his life on Earth had been by showing Paquito the "nichos" that his wife has made in his memory. It's a wonderful story. Read my full review here.

You can purchase your copy here in my online shop!

Duncan Tonatiuh's Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras is next on my list. It is a wonderful look at the man behind the La Catrina and other calaveras. Here's my full review with shots of the inside pages.

Día de los Muertos (aff link) by Roseanne Greenfield Thong and illustrated by Carles Ballesteros is also in my top five. It is a visual delight and follows the story of a family preparing for Day of the Dead. You can see my complete review and peek at some of the pictures, if you click here.

One of my new favorites for this year is Skeletitos: Make Every Moment Count by Susie Jaramillo (of Canticos!). A review of this book will be up next week but for now, let me just tell you that this little board book is educational and packed full of surprises. Read my full review here.

Day of the Dead Activity Book is just the funnest thing for older kids! It includes an actual punch-out ofrenda for kids to assemble. You can see what it looks like and read my review here.

And, of course, for little kids, Day of the Dead Preschool Activity Book is a fun way to pass on cultura while your little ones are learning. I'm not biased, of course, since I just published it this year. But you can read about it here. 

PSST! The second edition is coming soon!

Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book by Jeanette Winter is a fantastic little book based on the true story of a Mexican family of artistas. I love this book! I've had a copy since my older kids were little bitty. I'll share a review next week.

Other Posts About Latino Children's Lit:

• Bilingual Children's Books for the Holidays
  
  
• Guacamole: A Cooking Poem
  
  
• New Books to Celebrate Día
  
  
• 8 Picture Books for Jolabokaflod That Feature Latinos
  
  
• 7 New Titles for Classrooms this Hispanic Heritage Month

Other Posts About Day of the Dead:

• Last-Minute Print-and-Go Day of the Dead Activities
  
  
• Monarch Butterflies & Day of the Dead
  
  
• Dia de los Muertos Nichos
  
  
• PBS Celebrates Día de los Muertos
  
  
• Hosting a Sugar Skull Decorating Party

Book Review: Día de los Muertos by Roseanne Gerenfield Thong

Remember how I mentioned that there were several new children's books out this year on the topic of Day of the Dead? Well, here's my review of Día de los Muertos by Roseanne Greenfield Thong. And if you'd like to see other children's books on this topic, check out my list of favorite Dia de los Muertos books for children.

This post contains affiliate links.

Día de los Muertos by Roseanne Greenfield Thong

Día de los Muertos is a visual feast of a book. Illustrated by Carles Ballesteros, it takes the readers through the day as it is celebrated by one family. You'll read about how they decorate their home altar and visit a cemetery where they decorate the graves of their loved ones.

Roseanne Greenfield Thong does a particularly good job of making the book rhyme and weaves Spanish words throughout. (You may remember her as she is also the author of Round is a Tortilla and Green is a Chile Pepper.) There's a glossary at the end of the book to help non-Spanish speakers understand the words she uses. And she also includes a section explaining the tradition surrounding the holiday and where it finds its roots.

Carles Ballesteros was born in Spain and now lives in Chile. You should totally look up his website where you'll see sneak peeks of the illustrations he's done for other children's books - many of them in Spanish! (I totally love learning about new authors and illustrators!)

Ballesteros' illustrations in this book are fun and colorful. He fills the pages with lots of details that you and your child will enjoy discovering. 

When to Use this Book

This book is a great resource for lesson plans and unit studies covering Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos, world cultures, Halloween, Mexico, family traditions, and more. 

I recommend adding it to your home library simply because it is such a fun book and because young children who cannot read yet, can still enjoy "reading" on their own. They can curl up in their favorite reading spot and just go through the book looking at the beautiful illustrations.

Where to Purchase

You can find this lovely book on Amazon.

Other Posts on Day of the Dead

• MommyMaestra Resources for Día de los Muertos
  
  
• Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead Lesson Plans and Activities
  
  
• Día de los Muertos Activity Calendar
  
  
• 10 Videos for Kids on How to Draw Sugar Skulls
  
  
• Day of the Dead Crafts, Printables, & Recipes

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras

There are a few new books out this year to celebrate Día de los Muertos, and they are fabulous so I want to share them with you. The first is a wonderful biography of José Guadalupe Posada, who is best remembered for his drawings of calaveras, especially La Catrina.

This post contains affiliate links.

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh

There are a lot of talented Latino authors and illustrators out there, and Duncan Tonatiuh is one of my favorites because I love his unique art style, as well as his fearlessness when it comes to the topics of his books. He's not afraid to address controversial issues such as immigration and segregation. And he both writes and illustrates his books.

His latest book is another treasure. My kids and I loved learning about Posada and the way in which he created his artwork. From lithography to engraving to etching it amazes us how much talent people can have. I especially enjoy how Duncan's collage technique merges Posada's art into his own illustrations.

He also challenges the young readers to think about Posada's calavera drawings and to guess what message the artist was trying to get across through his work.



This book provides a unique perspective and allows us to study Day of the Dead from a totally different perspective. As an educator, I especially appreciate materials that allow us to delve deeper into history and explore an aspect of the holiday other than the traditional focus on the ofrenda.

Funny Bones is a treat not just for children, but parents, abuelos, and teachers, too.




You can find this wonderful book on Amazon:

DIY Calavera Poems

Teach your students about Calavera Poetry by having them create their own calavera poems! 

This activity includes a brief description of calavera poems, directions, graphic organizer for writing your own poem, sample calavera poems, and various Día de los Muertos writing pages. The directions and sample poems are in English only. The writing pages may be used in any language.

Get your Calavera Poems PDF file from my TpT shop.

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• José Guadalupe Posada Lesson Plans
  
  
• DIY Catrina Activity for Kids
  
  
•  Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead Lesson Plans and Activities
  
  
• MommyMaestra's Favorite Dia de los Muertos Books for Children

Day of the Dead Activity Book

One of my favorite parts of Día de los Muertos is how I discover new, amazing resources every year to share with my children. I've shared all of those discoveries here with you, and you can find them on my page listing Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead Lesson Plans and Activities. Anyway, this year is no exception. I am just so ecstatic to find this wonderful Day of the Dead Activity Book that is just perfect for my children.

This post contains affiliate links.

Day of the Dead Activity Book

by Karl Jones

illustrated by Steve Simpson

One of the newest titles released this year for Day of the Dead is this fun activity book published by Penguin Group. The illustrations are fantastic and make the 16-page book seem longer than it is. However, it is the press-out ofrenda, paper dolls, and stickers that truly make this book worth purchasing. The first 16 pages include your typical Día de los Muertos information and activities like what the holiday is about, how to make paper marigolds, and a couple of recipes. 

This post contains affiliate links.

But the most exciting part is the 3D ofrenda you can punch out and assemble...

The instructions weren't super clear for us, until after I went back to the first page of the book and looked at the finished ofrenda image shown. Then I was able to make better sense of the instructions and show my kids how to assemble it. We liked the finished project...

And then my daughter had a lot of fun punching out and putting together the paper dolls to surround the ofrenda. 

My son loved the stickers, and I supposed they could be used to decorate the sides of the ofrenda, but we preferred to use them for another project (more about that later!). Still here's a peek at them. Aren't they super cute?

The art work in this book is just excellent and very child friendly. My two kids were enthralled with it (and so was I). I love the originality and the color combinations. The final ofrenda project was vibrant and beautiful; we were happy to display it in our home.

How to Use This Book

I think this would be a great gift to give your children in the month leading up to Día de los Muertos. Not only is it a great way to introduce the tradition, but if your family doesn't build an ofrenda each year, this is such a fun and simple way to learn about the process and build a miniature version of your own.

You can follow this up with any of the activities from my Día de los Muertos Activity Calendar.

Get Your Copy!

If you're already sold on the idea of this beautiful book, you can find it on Amazon...

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• MommyMaestra's Favorite Dia de los Muertos Books for Children
  
  
• Monarch Butterflies & Day of the Dead
  
  
• Dia de los Muertos Nichos
  
  
• Free Día de los Muertos Digital Classroom

Review: Paper Crafts for Day of the Dead Book (& Activity)

Paper Crafts for Day of the Dead 

by Randel McGee

Amazon Paperback: $7.15
Kindle: $6.59 

Last year (after Día de los Muertos) I received a copy of this book for review. It has been waiting patiently the whole year for Day of the Dead to roll back around.

I have to say, that it is a fun book with eight activities inside. As you can see from the cover, some of the projects include making paper marigolds, a calavera mask, skeleton figures, as well as clothing for said figures, a skeleton candy basket (so cute!), papel cortado and Aztec animal  decorations. Randel McGee is the author, and he does a good job describing how to make these little projects. The photographs that accompany some of the different steps are helpful. And he even included templates/patterns in the back. The only thing I don't like is that you're supposed to copy them enlarged by between 145% and 240% which I find difficult because I just have a simple copier/scanner/printer that doesn't enlarge. It wasn't too much of a big deal for us, though, because we didn't use the patterns anyway, but I wish books would simply provide patterns of the correct size so all I have to do is copy them.

Obviously, I can't share a full activity with you here (you'll have to purchase the book for that - or request it at your local library), but I do want to share with you one of the activities the kids and I did. They had tons of fun and it kept them busy for at least an hour. The book is best suited for kids 6 to 12, in my opinion.

We used the materials in the picture above, plus some tape and a few markers. (Notice I got my air-dry clay on sale at Target!) Take a look at our little calaca family...