The Day of the Dead, better known as Día de los Muertos is a holiday that celebrates the life cycle. It is celebrated over two days and recognizes death and life. Families create ofrendas, translated to offerings in English, to honor loved ones who have passed away. Día de los Muertos reunites the living and the dead. Although this holiday is most popular in Mexico, it is also celebrated across the globe. Each location has its own way of honoring those who have passed and celebrating the meaning of life.
Since Día de los Muertos is a holiday everyone can partake in, let’s dive in! Learn about the vibrant culture and beautiful festivities of Día de los Muertos through these books. These books will undeniably make you want to celebrate!
Trigger Warning: The mention of suicide and alcohol abuse may be triggering for some readers. Please exercise personal care when reading this article.
Bread of the Dead by Ann Myers
Rita Lafitte lives in New Mexico and works at a bakery called Tres Amigas Cafe. She is preparing for Santa Fe’s Day of the Dead bread-baking contest by decorating sugar skulls and taste-testing pan de muerto. Everything is going well until her landlord is found dead. His lifeless body was found just next door to Rita’s bakery. The police suspect that Victor’s death was a suicide, but Rita was friendly with him and refuses to believe this. She begins her own secret investigation to uncover the mysterious death with the help of her boss, Flori. As the pair discover secrets and shady neighbors, their list of suspects gets longer. However, things quickly escalate when one of their main suspects dies. Will Rita find out who killed Victor before she is next?
Day of the Dead in the USA by Regina M. Marchi
Honoring relatives by tending to their graves, building altars, and cooking festive meals are traditional customs in Latin America. These customs have shaped Hispanic culture and originated centuries ago. However, these traditions have recently migrated. In the 1970s, Latino activists and artists began expanding the Day of the Dead festivities. They took their celebrations north of the Mexican border through performance art, Aztec Danza, art exhibits, and other public expressions. This quickly influenced American culture and was embraced by the mainstream. As a result, alterations occurred in ethnography, historical research, oral history, and critical cultural analyses. The mix of ethnic identities and cultures between northern Mexico and the southern U.S. represents harmony and unity. This book depicts the beautiful blend of cultures and explains how the Day of the Dead impacted American society.
Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry
This book takes you through each hour as a series of unforgettable events unfold throughout the Day of the Dead. Geoffrey Firmin is a former British consul whose favorite activity is drinking. His hardships with alcohol have negatively impacted his marriage, but his wife, Yvonne, is determined to rescue her husband and their relationship. Geoffrey is located in Quauhnahuac, Mexico, and Yovonne travels there to repair things. She arrives in Quauhnahuac on the Day of the Dead when Mexico is full of magic and vibrance. Although she is on a mission, things get more complicated by the presence of Hugh and Jacques. Hugh is Geoffrey’s half-brother and Jacques is his childhood friend. Everything is happening all at once as all of Mexico celebrates this lively holiday. Will Yvonne be able to save her marriage and husband while dealing with Hugh and Jacques?
El Corazón de la Muerte by Chiori Santiago and Rafael Jesus Gonzalez
The Oakland Museum of California is devoted to the art, history, and natural sciences of California. The museum hosts an annual exhibition and celebration of the Day of the Dead. Therefore, they decided to pay tribute to the holiday through this book. El Corazón de la Muerte features the rituals and traditions that commemorate the dead during this holiday. It gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how the Day of the Dead developed over centuries. It highlights the ancient traditions and the contemporary customs. This book allows you to dive into the culture of the Day of the Dead. It also allows you to practice your Spanish with side-by-side English and Spanish text!
Celebrate the Day of the Dead by Diane de Anda and Gloria Félix
This picture book introduces the Day of the Dead and its celebrations to young readers. It features a sister and brother named Cristina and Carlos, who are very excited to celebrate the holiday with their family. This book includes vibrant illustrations, depicts traditional customs, and explains the holiday. Children will be able to learn and understand the Day of the Dead by reading this book.
Celebrate the Day of the Dead is also available in Spanish—¡Celebra El Día de Los Muertos! It features the same storyline with Cristina and Carlos, just translated into Spanish. The two books can work perfectly together to introduce Spanish to a child or to maintain bilingual skills.
The Skeleton at the Feast by Elizabeth Carmichael and Cholë Sayer
This book is a collection of material that gives you a glimpse of the Day of the Dead. The pages are full of colorful and black-and-white photographs depict the vibrant festivities. You’ll see individuals dancing, playing instruments, decorating graves, feasting, and happily celebrating. The book also features the colorful customs in Mexico and America. The historic origins of the holiday and its prehispanic traditions are explained as well. The Skeleton at the Feast includes interviews with Mexican artists and crafters who provide goods for the holiday. Carmichael and Sayer present all of the things that create the Day of the Dead, including incense, fresh bread, sweets, clothing, candles, marigolds, sugar skulls, and paper-mache skeletons. This book will make you want to celebrate the Day of the Dead through the beautiful Mexican culture, vibrant art, and mystical folklore.
Now that you have this amazing variety of books, you can celebrate Día de los Muertos! Learn how to honor loved ones who have passed and celebrate life through these seven books. Dive into these pages and explore the vibrant culture and customs of Día de los Muertos as the holiday quickly approaches!
Read more about celebrating Hispanic heritage here.
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