School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-The text of this attractive photo essay alternates between the personal narrative of a set of Mexican-American twins observing the Day of the Dead and an informational, social-studies text. The history of the Mexican holiday is covered in detail, as is its American adaptation. The excellent-quality, full-color photographs, drawings, and cut-paper illustrations are well placed and appealing; they do a fine job of capturing the familial nature of the celebration. Hoyt-Goldsmith provides a good deal of background, making Day of the Dead a solid report source. George Ancona's Pablo Remembers (Lothrop, 1993) has a stronger, more straightforward narrative, making it the title of choice on this topic, but libraries serving Hispanic communities will certainly want copies of both books.-Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
'Día de Muertos', the holiday on which Mexicans of Indian background honor dead relatives and friends, is described from the perspective of two Mexican-American sisters. An accessible text and color photographs depict the decorating, cooking, and religious festivities associated with the celebration. The volume is a good addition to multicultural nonfiction books. Glos., ind. From HORN BOOK 1994, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 4-6. Ten-year-old twins from Sacramento, California, tell the story of their family's Day of the Dead celebration. In contrast to books that portray the holiday in rural Mexico, this explains the holiday's history while focusing on celebrations of an American family living in a Mexican American community. The twins and their mother are photographed in ordinary clothes, with the state capitol in the background, as well as in costume and in a procession. Aztec beliefs and their intermingling with Catholic rituals are explained, and descriptions of dancing, art, and prayer repeatedly illustrate the unity of past and present during festival days. A glossary of terms with clear phonetic pronunciations follows. Pair this with Ancona's Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead [BKL F 1 94]. ~--Mary Harris Veeder