Skeletons, Skulls, and Stories: A Día de Muertos Reading Adventure

To my Gordita, who at 13 years old has passed on to a better life, accompanied by Xolotl on her journey to the Mictlán of the Doggies.

El Día de Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, has a fascinating syncretic origin. It’s a blend of pre-Hispanic indigenous traditions from what is now Mexico, and the Catholic customs brought over during Spanish colonization. Long before this fusion, though, death was already celebrated and honored by the native peoples of the region. The concept of mortality was an integral part of their worldviews, and they had many unique ways to acknowledge it.

Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around this occasion. We would spend the entire day at the cemetery, honoring our departed loved ones in what felt like one of the most joyful and extraordinary gatherings ever! There were delicious foods, dancing, singing, and we kids would play in the cemetery all day long, sitting around graves adorned with marigolds. Of course, amidst the laughter and joy, there were always moments when we shed a few tears, missing those we had lost.

Of course, Mexicans and Latin Americans who have migrated bring this tradition with them, and now we come together to celebrate and keep it alive, no matter where we are. And I’m guessing that the global recognition exploded after the success of the Disney movie, which introduced the beauty of the festival to so many.

While there has been a surge in children’s books on the topic, I have to admit that many of these new titles don’t quite capture the richness of the tradition. In fact, some are of pretty low quality in terms of story and illustration, in my opinion. Sadly, some of my absolute favorite Day of the Dead tales aren’t available in Finnish libraries yet—but I remain hopeful! These narratives are deeply rooted in indigenous cultures—the Aztecs, Mayas, Mixtecs, and others—each with their own unique views, legends, and customs surrounding death and this special day. 

7 children’s books recommended for El Día de Muertos

Since finding good children’s books on Día de Muertos in Finnish libraries is still a bit tricky, I’m going to focus on recommending some wonderful titles from various places around the world. Not all of them deal directly with Día de Muertos, but they do feature death as a main character—whether it’s La Calaca, La Parca, the event of passing, or even stories where death dies (yes, really!). Some of these books are fun, while others are just festive, maybe more reflective, or even gothic. Each has its own distinctive tone and aesthetic.

So without further ado, let’s dive into some lovely crafted picturebooks that celebrate death with captivating stories, stunning illustrations, and thoughtful messages! I’ll be recommending 7 books, as the number seven holds special significance for El Día de Muertos. The altar de muertos traditionally features seven levels, with each tier representing a different realm according to the type of death.

• Funnybones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (¡Qué risa de huesos!): This delightful story features two skeletons—a human pair—and their skeletal dog. After a little mishap where the dog’s bones scatter across the grass, the human pair must put him back together before they can head off to spook someone. But, as you can imagine, plenty of funny misadventures happen along the way. The creators of this book, a famous wife-and-husband duo, are well-known for their charming children’s stories. And here’s a fun fact: the illustrator, Allan Ahlberg, once worked as a grave digger for two years! Read it in Spanish at the public libraries.
• Many of you may already know the poignant and beautiful story Duck, Death and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch, one of our all-time favorite authors—and for good reason! This moving tale explores the delicate relationship between a duck and death with both simplicity and grace. While it’s available in Finnish public libraries in Swedish and Russian, you won’t find it in other languages just yet.
• Parco by Alex Nogués and Guridi (illustrator). Get ready for a wild ride with mariachis and a very sociable dead man who just refuses to rest in peace! This charming and hilarious book is inspired by El Día de Muertos—although the original idea was simply to create a delightfully “living” dead character. While you can only find it in Russian at the moment, the original was written in Spanish.
  
• Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago. Gustavo is a timid ghost secretly in love and just wants to make friends with other monsters before the Day of the Dead. Because, let’s face it, we introverts and oddballs want a few pals too, right? You can find this heartwarming tale, along with other monster-themed books by the same author, in English and Russian at libraries.
• All the Dear Little Animals by Ulf Nilsson and Eva Eriksson (illustrator). In this playful story, children hold funerals for the tiny animals they find that have passed away. This Swedish author’s book strikes a lighthearted tone and is available in Finnish and Swedish. Another book by Nilsson, Bye, Mr. Muffin, illustrated by Anna-Clara Tidholm, delves more deeply into emotions, especially grief in the face of death. It’s a bit more somber and nostalgic and is available in Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Turkish, and Arabic.
• The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown and Christian Robinson (illustrator). In this tale, children discover a dead bird in the park and instinctively give it a funeral and burial. The event is portrayed as a natural, almost ritualistic part of their day, with simple and straightforward language that normalizes death as an everyday occurrence. This touching story is available in English.
  
• The Skull by Jon Klassen. I have a special fondness for this dark yet deceptively simple story, which you can find in libraries in English and Swedish. It tells the eerie yet captivating tale of a girl running through a cold, snowy forest who stumbles upon a skull living alone in an old house. What could possibly happen when these two meet? This atmospheric story has a haunting charm that fascinates me!
  

To wrap up this article, I have an exciting surprise for you from Wonder Ponder, a project that brings Visual Philosophy to All Ages: a short, thought-provoking booklet from the Great Beyond titled DYING TO ASK: Vital Ideas for Thinking About Mortal Questions. Written by Anna Juan-Cantavella and Ellen Duthie, and illustrated by Loreta Lion, this unique booklet is part of an international project where Wonder Ponder invited children aged 6 to 12 to explore death through questions, drawings, and writing.

Do you dare dive into these deep questions with your little ones? I hope you’ll take the time to explore it with your children—it promises some serious fun! Best of all, the booklet is freely available from the Spanish publisher, and you’re welcome to share, download, or print it. Of course, a donation to support their project is always appreciated. The booklet is available in Spanish, English, Basque, Portuguese, and Catalan.

Find more reading suggestions to enjoy with your children