Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book - Hardcover

Winter, Jeanette

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0152051104 ISBN 13: 9780152051105

Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books, 2004

Synopsis

Every year Don Pedro and his family make papier-mache skeletons, or calaveras, for Mexico's Day of the Dead fiesta. From Angel and Doctor to Mariachi and Unicornio, each letter of the alphabet has its own special calavera.

Come dance with them in this unusual ABC book inspired by a real Mexican family of artists and the many colorful folk-art traditions surrounding the celebration of the Day of the Dead.

Includes a glossary of Spanish words and an author's note.

About this title

About the Authors

JEANETTE WINTER has written and illustrated many books for children, including Day of the Dead by Tony Johnston and her own My Name Is Georgia and Josefina. She lives in New York City.

JEANETTE WINTER has written and illustrated many books for children, includingDay of the Dead by Tony Johnston and her own My Name Is Georgia andJosefina. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 4–A title that features jaunty illustrations inspired by Mexican folk art and a short story about preparations for the Day of the Dead that includes within it an alphabet book based on the Spanish alphabet. The heart of the book is the artwork: vivid pastel clothing and scenery set against shiny black backgrounds and complemented by the bright white of the skeletons that form an integral part of the Mexican and Mexican-American celebrations. Skeletal characters in the alphabet portion of the book include ángel (angel) and bruja (witch), Kahlo (as in Frida, about whom Winter has written), and zapatero (shoemaker). While the glossary is helpful, the illustrations offer plenty of clues as to what each word means. The story that surrounds the alphabet concerns the family of Don Pedro, three generations of which join in the yearlong making of the papier-mâché skeletons for the fiestas in early November. An author's note includes information about the real Don Pedro, whose life inspired her book. This is a lovely book that approaches the Day of the Dead from an unusual angle, reflecting not only the close family ties common to Mexican life but also the non-"devilish" nature of the celebrations.–Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

K-Gr. 3. Winter's continuing fascination with Mexican culture is evident in this alphabet book featuring el Dia de los Muertos--the Day of the Dead. The book opens as Don Pedro and his sons make papier-mache skeletons, Calaveras, on a rooftop in Mexico City. When the calaveras are ready, each one acts out a word in Spanish that begins with a letter of the alphabet: E for enfermera (nurse); H for huevera (egg seller); V for vaquero (cowboy). The Spanish language has no W, so that page depicts a skeleton pushing the letter off the edge of the picture. A glossary concludes, and an author's note pays tribute to a famous cala vera maker, Don Pedro Linares. Borders in sun-soaked colors contrast with black backgrounds that dramatically set off the white skeletons. Although readers looking for specific information about the fiesta won't find it here (for that they'll need to turn to Winter's 1997 book with author Tony Johnston, Day of the Dead) this striking celebration of an intriguing tradition will be welcomed by teachers, librarians, and Mexican American families, as well as by kids everywhere. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0152051104
• ISBN 13: 9780152051105
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 48