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Five Faves: Día de los Muertos

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It seems like towards the end of the year there's holiday after holiday to celebrate. One of my favorite holidays that often gets overlooked is Día de los Muertos. Day of the Dead is an excellent opportunity to take time to celebrate those in our family who came before us as the year ends. So if you want to celebrate (hopefully) before all of the books are already checked out, here are some of my favorite books to celebrate the holiday.

The Invisible Parade
Written by Leigh Bardugo
Illustrated by John Picacio
New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2025. Picture Book.

This picture book by Leigh Bardugo (who you may know from her Six of Crows YA series) beautifully depicts the loss of a loved one through the eyes of a young child who recently lost her grandfather. Cala can’t focus on Día de los Muertos preparations like the rest of her family. When they head to the cemetery, Cala is separated from her family and swept up by four mythical horsemen who eventually help her find her way through her grief. If your children are into beautiful fantasy illustrations or concepts, this book is an excellent choice.

Huesos
By Luis San Vicente
Los Angeles: Lil' Libros, 2023. Libro ilustrado.

This bilingual picture book portrays the death of a dog so naughty that even the even the underworld doesn’t want to keep him. Huesos is Abuelo's troublemaker of a dog. But despite his bad behavior, Abuelo loves him a lot. Until the day that Calaca Pascuala comes for him. This book discusses grief for loss of an animal while remaining cheery and upbeat.

The Día de los Muertos Story
Written by Andrea Jáuregui De La Torre
Illustrated by Laura González
New York: becker&mayer!kids, 2025. Informational.

If you are hoping to find a book that will teach your children more about the history of the Día de los Muertos holiday, this book is an excellent choice. It traces the roots of the holiday through Aztec and Mexican culture and details how it has spread and expanded over time. It also discusses how Día de los Muertos is celebrated today.

By John Parra
New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book.

In this cute picture book, a small child takes notice of the little ways that one can celebrate Día de los Muertos. Whether he's reading, playing, or tending to the garden, each activity is a way to remember those who have passed before. In a world that can feel like it's going 100 miles an hour all the time, this book will help kids slow down and remember the small moments. Este libro también se puede encontrar en español aquí.

Remembering
Written by Xelena González
Illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia
New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023. Picture Book.

This book, which honored for the Pura Belpre award in 2024, is a bittersweet tale of a child remembering their dog during Día de los Muertos. As the child lovingly readies her ofrenda with flowers, candles, her dog's favorite foods, and other mementos, the family gets a chance to remember their beloved pet. Este libro también se puede encontrar en español aquí.
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