ALA Booklist (Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

Winter's continuing fascination with Mexican culture is evident in this alphabet book featuring el Dia de los Muer tos--the Day of the Dead. The book opens as Don Pedro and his sons make papier-mache skeletons, calaveras, on a rooftop in Mexico City. When the calaveras are ready, each one acts out a word in Spanish that begins with a letter of the alphabet: E for enfermera (nurse); H for huevera (egg seller); V for vaquero (cowboy). The Spanish language has no W, so that page depicts a skeleton pushing the letter off the edge of the picture. A glossary concludes, and an author's note pays tribute to a famous cala vera maker, Don Pedro Linares. Borders in sun-soaked colors contrast with black backgrounds that dramatically set off the white skeletons. Although readers looking for specific information about the fiesta won't find it here (for that they'll need to turn to Winter's 1997 book with author Tony Johnston, Day of the Dead ) this striking celebration of an intriguing tradition will be welcomed by teachers, librarians, and Mexican American families, as well as by kids everywhere.

Horn Book (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2005)

Every year, Don Pedro and his sons create papier-mâché skeletons (calaveras) for el Día de los Muertos. On festival day, an alphabetical procession of skeletons marches across the pages, from ángel to zapatero. The effective illustrations' black backgrounds accentuate the colorfully clothed white skeletons. An alphabet glossary translates the Spanish words; an author's note provides more background on the Mexican festival and the real Don Pedro.

Kirkus Reviews

This visually exciting alphabet book makes a fine companion to Winter's Day of the Dead (1997). Boldly colored borders frame the brilliant-hued folk-like images and vivid white text superimposed on a black background. First she tells of a Mexico City family preparing the papier-mache skeletons ( calaveras) for annual Day of the Dead celebrations as they have for several generations. The alphabet portion includes an array of charming skeletons in various poses, including an angel, a witch ( bruja ), bride and bridegroom ( novia and novio), mariachi, and zapatero (shoemaker). The letter K is represented by Frida Kahlo, Y by a yucca, and W , which doesn't exist in Spanish, is pushed off the page. An alphabet glossary notes differences between the Spanish and English alphabets and provides English translations of the Spanish words. An author's note discusses Mexican fiestas and Don Pedro Linares, whose life inspired the story. (glossary) (Picture book. 3-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Jeanette Winter (illustrator of Tony Johnston's Day of the Dead) offers another visual extravaganza set against the Mexican festival in Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book. The neon bordered artwork begins with Don Pedro, his sons and grandsons constructing the calaveras (skeletons) for the town's celebration. When they take them to market, the calaveras come alive, assuming such roles as """"candelera"""" (candlemaker) and """"vaquero"""" (cowboy). (Sept.) .

School Library Journal

K-Gr 4-A title that features jaunty illustrations inspired by Mexican folk art and a short story about preparations for the Day of the Dead that includes within it an alphabet book based on the Spanish alphabet. The heart of the book is the artwork: vivid pastel clothing and scenery set against shiny black backgrounds and complemented by the bright white of the skeletons that form an integral part of the Mexican and Mexican-American celebrations. Skeletal characters in the alphabet portion of the book include ngel (angel) and bruja (witch), Kahlo (as in Frida, about whom Winter has written), and zapatero (shoemaker). While the glossary is helpful, the illustrations offer plenty of clues as to what each word means. The story that surrounds the alphabet concerns the family of Don Pedro, three generations of which join in the yearlong making of the papier-mache skeletons for the fiestas in early November. An author's note includes information about the real Don Pedro, whose life inspired her book. This is a lovely book that approaches the Day of the Dead from an unusual angle, reflecting not only the close family ties common to Mexican life but also the non-"devilish" nature of the celebrations.-Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TX Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.