In this post: A round-up of the best Spanish books to read to your kids to learn about the Day of the Dead.
Día de Muertos is coming up and at Llamitas Spanish we are excited to share a series of beautiful thematic board books and picture books to help you celebrate the holiday with your kids!
Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that celebrates loved ones that have passed. Unlike Halloween, it is not spooky or dark, but rather joyful and rooted in the celebration of life.
To learn more about the holiday, read our post on Día de Muertos Lessons and Activities for Kids.
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Llamitas Spanish Día de Muertos Unit
At Llamitas Spanish we love thematic units! If you want to teach your kids about this holiday we invite you to check out our Seasonal Bundle which includes 7 holiday units, including Day of the Dead!
It includes a digital cultural magazine, a series of gorgeous printables, games, songs and flashcards to enjoy at home.
Now, let’s dive into the round-up of our favorite Day of the Dead books!
Related Post: Halloween Spanish Books for Kids
Day of the Dead Board Books
For our babies and toddlers we have a series of fun board books to teach vocabulary and simple phrases, all rooted in the traditions of the holiday.
Día de los Muertos
This adorable finger puppet book is perfect for babies! With bold colors and lots of gorgeous illustrations, wiggle the puppet back and forth and practice counting to ‘diez’ (ten) in Spanish!
La Catrina
The Lil’ Libros books are fantastic first concept, vocabulary learning books for younger children.
La Catrina teaches the child about emotional expressions in English and Spanish, such as triste (sad) and emocionado (excited). It is a beautiful addition to our Day of the Dead themed learning.
Mi Ofrenda
A stunning new title in the Lil’ Libros bilingual board book series. This search and find book focuses on the vocabulary and symbolism of items placed on ‘la ofrenda’. This is the altar that families assemble to honor loved ones who have passed.
Día de los Muertos
We recently discovered the ‘Celebrate the World’ board book series which focuses on holidays and celebrations across the globe, and we have really enjoyed learning about the traditions illustrated within this one!
It is in English BUT it’s all culturally ‘Hispanic’ and relevant!
‘This festive board book teaches that Día de los Muertos honors ancestors and loved ones who have passed. From sugar skulls to papel picado, this is a holiday that truly commemorates the cycle of life.’
Day of the Dead – Día de los Muertos
A bilingual board book with beautiful photography of real life altars, people and calaveras (perfect for Montessori families!)
This book also comes with a craft for children to make their own skeleton!
Related Post: Spanish Halloween Books for Kids
Day of the Dead Picture Books
Día de los Muertos
This is a mixed language book: Mostly in English with Spanish keywords sprinkled throughout. As a non-native speaker, I love code mixing books! I find they engage my kids a lot more than books that are only in Spanish. Especially if the language is a little more advanced.
This story is a beautiful introduction to El Día de Muertos and the traditions of the celebration. This is a fantastic, vocabulary-enriched book for non-native families.
The Day of the Dead ~ El Día de los Muertos
This bilingual book is a great option for introducing the traditions and vibrant colors of the Day of the Dead celebration. It follows two children as they remember their ancestors.
‘They prepare offerings of flowers, sugar skulls, and special bread, and make delicious foods to eat and share. By spreading marigold petals, they guide the dead home to join the festivities. After hours of singing, dancing, and reminiscing, it’s time for bed.’
I Remember Abuelito ~ Yo Recuerdo a Abuelito
This is a wonderful bilingual book about a young girl who is making the preparations for Día de Muertos. She reflects on her grandfather and how much she misses him. A culturally rich, concrete example of waiting for his spirit to visit that night.
¡Es la hora de los esqueletos! It’s Skeleton Time!
This bilingual book is not only a great cultural option for learning about the traditions of ‘the day of the dead’, but also teaches readers how to tell the time!
‘Following an adaptation of a traditional Costa Rican song, a group of skeletons jump out of their tombs and engage in fun activities as the clock strikes each of the 12 hour marks.’
Mi Familia: Celebrating the Day of the Dead
Follow along as Valentina, a 7 year old girl, and her family celebrate Day of the Dead. From decorating the altar to baking pan de muerto and sharing stories about loved ones who are no longer with them. This is a beautiful picture book, written in English and Spanish.
Day of the Dead Coloring Books
Colorful Bones: Dia de los ...Shop on Amazon
Día de los Muertos Colorin...Shop on Amazon
Sugar Skulls Coloring Book ...Shop on Amazon
Don’t forget to check out our Día de Muertos unit to enrich your child’s thematic learning at home!
Founder of the Llamitas Spanish® Curriculum and former Spanish teacher. Corrie holds a Masters in Spanish and Education and is raising bilingual children in San Diego, CA.