Days of the Dead

by Kathryn Lasky, Christopher G. Knight (Illustrator)

Describes the origin and meaning of the Mexican festival of the Days of the Dead, and shows how it is observed by one peasant family

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1900

About the author

Kathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I have found Kathryn Lasky's Days of the Dead to be more than a bit misleading with regard to the wording of her book title. For yes, aside from the Mexican Dia de los Muertos, celebrations and remembrances of ancestors, of family members, friends etc. who are deceased are a common occurrence in the fall in much of Europe and indeed globally for All Souls Night (and even Halloween has as its origin an originally Celtic autumn festival that paid homage to the dead, to the spirits of those no longer with us). And thus, when I encountered Days of the Dead on Open Library, the fact that Kathryn Lasky uses the plural form of Day in the title, well it certainly and naturally made me expect that Days of the Dead would focus not primarily on Mexico and its Dia de los Muertos, and that this is most definitely not the case with Days of the Dead, that Kathryn Lasky's text concentrates almost entirely on the latter, well, I most certainly have been both disappointed and have also felt rather cheated.

And thus, even though the detailed textual information Kathryn Lasky provides on both the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico and also on Mexican culture and life in general are certainly interesting and engagingly penned (although a bit too verbose for me to consider Days of the Dead as suitable for younger readers, that Days of the Dead is definitely a book for older children above the age of at least eight or nine) and that Christopher G. Knight's accompanying photographs are a visually delightful mirror of and for Lasky's printed words, the misleading book title is definitely hugely annoying and frustrating (and no, a few words about Samhain and Egypt really do not textually cut it for me so to speak), and the lack of a bibliography with suggestions for further reading equally and actually even more so (and indeed, to the point that I really cannot and will not consider more than a very low three star rating for Days of the Dead and to also point out that my three stars is actually quite generous in my opinion, for a combination of a misleading title and no sources being acknowledged is definitely rather a turn of for me both personally and academically, but I do realise that Kathryn Lasky has provided a nice introduction to Dia de los Muertos and want to acknowledge this).

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have resolved to read every book in my house, and I am so glad! I received this book as a gift because I am fascinated with the Day of the Dead celebration. I loved this so much. It is a children's book written about a very real Mexican family. The pictures complement the story of how they celebrate. Love, love, love.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool book of the celebration day, but there were just aspects of this book that was sad. Told through photos with text.