October's BOM: Calavera Abecedario

Calavera Abecedario
A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book
By Jeanette Winter

The LBBC’s recommendation for November’s Libro del Mes, is Jeanette Winter’s Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book.

This fantastic little book is based on the true story of a Mexican family of artistas. Don Pedro spends the year making cartonería (papier-mâché objects) like skeletons for the fiesta of el Día de los Muertos. This is a family business involving everyone from his sons and grandsons to the cat! Each one helps him to create the life-size esqueletos using bamboo, papier-mâché and paint. The result is an imaginative and vibrant parade of skeletons to celebrate the holiday.

The beginning of the book is written primarily in English with Spanish words embedded throughout. However, the actual abecedario is in Spanish and the illustration accompanying each letter depicts the associated word. For example, "G [is for] Granjero, H… Huevera, I…Ilustradora," etc. This really is a great way to expand your vocabulary and introduce occupations. There is a glossary in the back, as well as an author’s note discussing the life of master cartonero, Don Pedro Linares, and the uses of papier-mâché during the many fiestas in Mexico.

Winter does an extraordinary job with the illustrations. Each page is colorful and captivating, and the costumes and accessories that each esqueleto uses are authentic, indicating that Winter is very familiar with the culture.

This books is an excellent read for supplementing lessons on Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos. It may also serve as a springboard for discussions of fiestas, art, and customs throughout Latin America. Family businesses are another possible topic for discussion, as is the importance of children helping their parents.

The LBBC has this and many other titles related to Día de los Muertos in our bookshop. If you would like to buy your own copy of Calavera Abecedario, please click here. Or you can follow the link in our sidebar to the LBBC’s on-line store. We have both new and gently used copies available.