All About Día de los Muertos Day of the Dead Books for Kids

With Day of the Dead celebrations coming up, it’s a great time to look at some favorite Day of the Dead books for kids! Children’s books can do a great job explaining Día de los Muertos, elements, symbols, and even some Spanish vocabulary. Let’s take a look at some Day of the Dead books for kids!

Day of the Dead Books for Kids

Día de Los Muertos by Roseanne Greenfield Thong is a colorful book with vibrant illustrations that is perfect for young children you want to learn about Day of the Dead celebrations!

Yo Recuerdo a Abuelito: Un Cuento del Día de los Muertos by Janice Levy includes the Spanish story as well as the English version “I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story” is a bilingual book about a young girl preparing to celebrate Día de Muertos with her family members.

The Day of the Dead / El Día de los Muertos by Bob Barner has a rhythmic sense to it as you read about 2 children sharing traditions around Day of the Dead. They discuss the flowers, sugar skulls, and special bread, and much more!

Día de los Muertos by Hannah Eliot is a board book illustrated by award winning Mexican illustrator Jorge Gutierrez. This is a great way to teach toddlers about a different cultural tradition – or about your own family traditions!

Pablo Remembers by George Ancona – While most books in this list are full of bright colors and beautiful illustrations, what I love most about this one is that it’s actual, real, photos of the celebration. 

Our Day of the Dead Celebration by Ana Aranda shares the story of Day of the Dead celebrations from the perspective of a grandma reminiscing with her granddaughter. 

The Dead Family Diaz by P.J. Bracegirdle is a fun twist on the usual Día de los Muertos story! The main message is not to be afraid of people who look differently, and conquering fears of the unknown.

The Remembering Day / El día de los muertos by Pat Mora is a bilingual book that does a beautiful job of emphasizing the importance of honoring and remembering loved ones.

Gift For Abuelita / Un regalo para Abuelita by Nancy Luenn is a bilingual book with Spanish and English on each page. While other books on this list are perfect for toddlers, this book is better for your elementary students or Spanish students!

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh tells the story of how calaveras came to be. The amusing figures are the creation of Mexican artist José Guadalupe (Lupe) Posada (1852–1913). 

Felipa and the Day of the Dead by Birte Muller is about a young girl who is just learning about the celebrations of Day of the Dead and is a beautifully simple introduction to Día de los Muertos.

Let’s Celebrate!: Special Days Around the World (World of Celebrations) by Kate DePalma  is a book that includes Day of the Dead, but also includes 12 other holidays and celebrations from around the world. 

Maria Molina and the Days of the Dead by Kathleen Krull – Warning! This one might be tough for some students, but it talks about an important aspect of the celebrations. Maria’s baby brother and her grandmother have died in the last year, and the girl and her family honor them during the Days of the Dead celebration. This story discusses the multi-day celebration and how children are remembered during Day of the Dead.

Save this post for later!

More Day of the Dead Resources

Check out my other blog post options for Day of the Dead activities, crafts, and lesson plans for your students!

• Simple Art Project
• How to Make Tissue Paper Marigolds
• Digital Day of the Dead Activities
• Free Day of the Dead Fonts
• Easy Printable Day of the Dead Skull Crafts for Kids
• Alternate Activities for Day of the Dead
• Day of the Dead Worksheets & Reading Activities
• Day of the Dead Activities for Spanish Class
• Day of the Dead Craftivity Build a Skeleton Craft and Writing Activity