Luis San Vicente

A company of skeletons cavort and play in this entertaining picture-book romp from Mexico, enjoying the Day of the Dead that the living have put on for them. The bilingual text is a rhyming, rhythmic celebration of their joyful dance, and is accompanied by author/artist Luis San Vicente's colorful, energetic illustrations, that ably capture the humor and fun of the day. An extensive afterword gives instructions on creating one's own altar for a deceased loved one, as well as recipes for Pan de Muerto (bread of the dead) and sugar skulls...

Originally published in Mexico as El Festival de las calaveras, and then translated into English by John William and Bobby Byrd for this bilingual American edition, this picture-book offers an entertaining and cheerful celebration of the joy that Day of the Dead represents for those who celebrate it. I found the text engaging, and the artwork quite appealing. That said, I was a little uncomfortable with the afterword, and with the instructions for creating an altar. Keeping an altar of any kind is, after all, a religious custom, even if it is also a cultural one, and some families might not believe in such practices. I think the intent here was probably benign - an attempt to share a meaningful cultural practice - but some parents might interpret the inclusion of this section, which encourages children to engage in a (partly) religious practice, as a form of proselytizing. I'd still recommend this one to picture-book readers looking for fun Day of the Dead titles, but with the caveat that adult readers should preview the afterword, and see if it fits with their own family's practices and beliefs.… (more)

Festival of bones is about Dia De Los Muertos a holiday celebrated in Mexico and many communities in the states. Interesting enough people have the misconception it is a religious holiday. The event is based on the belief that we should remember all those important people in our lives, and so on one day people flock to the cemetery to share moment dedicated to the deceased. And so the book is about a family of skulls dancing and celebrating the holiday heading to the cemetary.
Great book for beginners and illustrations are great. A book to use when discussing autobiographies, culture, spirituality, family and respect.… (more)

The Festival of Bones
Luis San Vicente
Cinco Puntos Press
978-1-941026-03-8
$7.95, 32 pgs

The Festival of Bones, written and illustrated by Luis San Vicente, is The Little-Bitty Book for the Day of the Dead, a bilingual early reader, translated from the Spanish by John William Byrd and Bobby Byrd of Cinco Puntos Press. Luis San Vicente is a Mexico City artist whose work has been exhibited in Mexico, Venezuela, Europe and the United States. He is a winner of UNESCO's NOMA Encouragement Concours Prize for Illustration.

Originally published in Mexico in 1999, Festival is a poem, song, cookbook, history and craft how-to all rolled into one enchanting package. An ancient Aztec tradition that has been incorporated over hundreds of years into the Catholic tradition, El Día de los Muertos is a holiday celebrated in Mexico from October 31st through November 2nd. It is a joyful time when family and friends gather together to remember the dead.
They're coming and they're going

And you see them passing by.
They're dancing over here,
They're chatting over there...
It's their day
And they're going to have a good time.

The illustrations in Festival, in Mexican folk-art style, depict a happy celebration of the lives of the dead as they make their way to the graveyard, singing and dancing, rollerskating and riding bicycles.

Included in the text is a simple history of the holiday and ideas for your own celebration, including suggestions for building an altar and recipes for pan de muerto (a sweet bread) and sugar skull candies. Festival is a charming book that would be a great addition to every little Texan's library.… (more)