💀 Mexican and Latin American (Catholic)

Day of the Dead books for kids: what it is and how to celebrate

When is Day of the Dead? Sunday 1 November 2026 to Monday 2 November 2026; then Monday 1 November 2027 to Tuesday 2 November 2027.

What is Day of the Dead?

Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican celebration on 1 and 2 November when families remember and honour loved ones who have died. It is joyful rather than sad: families build an ofrenda (an altar) with photos, marigolds, candles and the person's favourite foods, believing their spirits come back to visit.

Who celebrates Day of the Dead, and books for each

Mexican and Latin American (Catholic)

It falls on All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Families decorate graves, make an ofrenda at home, eat pan de muerto (sweet bread) and sugar skulls (calaveras), and share stories about the people they remember.

📖 Free guide
Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras
Duncan Tonatiuh
the true story of the artist behind the famous dancing skeletons
Questions to ask → View on Amazon ↗
📖 Free guide
The Ofrenda That We Built
Jolene Gutiérrez
a family builds an altar for a grandparent
Questions to ask → View on Amazon ↗
📖 Free guide
Day of the Dead
Tony Johnston
a family prepares for the celebration, with a glossary
Questions to ask → View on Amazon ↗
📖 Free guide
Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration
Richard Keep
a lively, rhyming skeleton party
Questions to ask → View on Amazon ↗
📖 Free guide
Gustavo, the Shy Ghost
Flavia Z. Drago
a shy ghost finds friends; lovely for anxious children
Questions to ask → View on Amazon ↗

Questions to ask while you read

Use these with any of the Day of the Dead books on this page. Pick two or three, and there are no wrong answers.

Who does the family in the story remember, and what do they do to remember them?
What would you put on an ofrenda for someone you love, and why?
Why do you think the skeletons in Day of the Dead pictures are smiling and dancing?
How can remembering someone feel happy and sad at the same time?
What is a favourite story your family tells about someone?

Ways to celebrate Day of the Dead with children

Make a small table of photos and favourite things of someone your family misses.
Make paper marigolds (cempasúchil) from orange tissue paper.
Decorate a skull shape with bright patterns, like a sugar skull.
Share a happy memory of a grandparent or pet who has died.

Day of the Dead picture books at a glance

All the Day of the Dead books on this page: Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras (Duncan Tonatiuh), The Ofrenda That We Built (Jolene Gutiérrez), Day of the Dead (Tony Johnston), Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration (Richard Keep), Gustavo, the Shy Ghost (Flavia Z. Drago).

Questions parents ask about Day of the Dead

Is Day of the Dead scary or sad?

Neither, really. It's a colourful celebration of love and memory, which can help children talk about death in a gentle way.

Is it Mexican Halloween?

No. It comes straight after Halloween but has different roots and meaning: remembering loved ones, not frights.

Related festivals: Halloween · Remembrance Day

All festivals, by month and by faith →

Traditions vary between families, places and communities; ask your child's friends and their families how they celebrate. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.