Bilingual Books to Teach Children about Day of the Dead

Discover the perfect reads for young minds with this curated list of children’s books about Day of the Dead. Find moving stories and vibrant illustrations that introduce kids to this rich Mexican tradition.

children's books day of the dead

I have been reading to Amado since he was in my womb. Now my husband and I take every opportunity to read with Amado and many of our books highlight each of our unique cultural backgrounds. Today I’d like to share a few of our favorite children’s books about Day of the Dead that introduce the beautiful traditions associated with Día de los Muertos, which is a holiday that I hold near and dear to my heart.

Amado and I have been working on Day of the Dead decorations for weeks and his little eyes light up every time we add something new to our altar. I love how reading and working on our ofrenda helps us bond as we maintain beautiful cultural traditions within our family and home.

I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story

Janice Levy and Loretta Lopez

In this bilingual book, a young girl helps her family prepare to honor her abuelito who recently died. Together with her mother, they visit the mercado, buy pan de muerto, make calaveras de azucar, build an altar, and reminisce about days long past with abuelito. He eventually returns in the form of a monarch butterfly. This book is near and dear to my heart because every year my altar is dedicated to my father, and I always want Amado to remember his abuelito.

kid books day of the dead

Rostia y Conchita 

Eric Gonzalez and Erich Haeger

Rosita y Conchita is a bilingual story book that is adorably sweet and heart wrenching at the same time. Conchita prepares to celebrate the life of her dearly departed twin sister, Rosita, by setting up a memorial altar for her on Day of the Dead. She prepares her sister’s favorite food (chocolate chip enchiladas), plays her favorite song, and even sets out Rosita’s favorite doll in the hopes of luring her back, if only for one evening. I absolutely love the illustrations in this book and the way it rhymes perfectly in English and Spanish!

rosita y Conchita book

Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book 

Yuyi Morales

This colorful tribute to the rich traditions of Mexican culture uses both Spanish and English words to introduce the concept of counting as well as death. Señor Calavera arrives unexpectedly at Grandma Beetle’s door and requests that she leave with him right away. Grandma Beetle has too much to do – she has one house to sweep, two pots of tea to boil, three pounds of corn to make into tortillas – and that’s just the beginning! This book is perfect even for non-Spanish speakers as it is primarily in English.

day of the dead books for kids

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Originally Published October 20, 2016

Lola Wiarco Dweck

Lola is a Mexican-American recipe developer, writer, and cooking instructor who loves sharing her culture with the world. Growing up in California and spending summers in Mexico, Lola celebrates her family’s Mexican recipes and vibrant culture through Lola’s Cocina.

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2 Comments

  1. That’s so fantastic that you read to Amado all the time! I really need to get a copy of Rosita y Conchita. It sounds so cute. One of my favorite books is Maria Molina and the Days of Dead. It’s a simple story about a little girl who is remembering her brother Pablo and her abuelita. It’s in English, but it references things like pan de muertos and calaveras de azúcar.