The Festival of Bones / El festival de las calaveras

Review
By School Library Journal

Dancing skeletons create a party atmosphere in the celebration of el Dia de los Muertos. They zip around, coming, going, dancing—all of them happy and content to celebrate their big day in style. The text moves with a lively dance meter. San Vicente’s artwork, done in black outlines with touches of warm color, is just sinister enough to produce a little frisson, but not so frightening as to be off putting to young readers and listeners. The book concludes with information on traditional foods and crafts associated with the holiday. This title surely sets the scene for an explanation as to why the Day of the Dead is the celebration of life rather than a time of mourning.