Abuelita's Gift: A Día de Muertos Story

by Mariana Ríos Ramírez, Sara Palacios (Illustrator)

Overview

Julieta is eager to honor her Abuelita's spirit on Día de Muertos, but struggles to find the perfect gift. A touching story that celebrates ancestors and teaches that the most meaningful tributes come from the heart illustrated by award-winning Sara Palacios.

Julieta is excited for Abuelita's spirit to visit on Día de los Muertos. She is determined to find the perfect gift to honor Abuelita and to show how much she misses her. However, her ideas fail one by one and Julieta grows worried.
    It is only when Julieta embraces the memories she once shared with her abuelita, that she realizes the perfect gift comes from the heart. An uplifting story about both life and death, family, and the threads that connect us, long after we are gone.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593568385
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	09/10/2024
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Mariana Ríos Ramírez is a Mexican author living in Anderson, South Carolina. She worked as a high school teacher and co-owned an online business before discovering her passion for writing. Mariana is a member of SCBWI, Storyteller Academy, Rate your Story, and Las Musas.

Sara Palacios was the recipient of the 2012 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Award for her work on Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match. A native of Mexico, Sara graduated from the National Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico City and went on to earn BFA and MFA degrees in illustration from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She illustrates for companies in both the United States and Mexico.

Editorial Reviews

★ "A heartwarming story for Día de Muertos celebrations and displays." —School Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher

★ 06/01/2024

PreS-Gr 3—A heartwarming story of a little girl honoring her family heritage. Día de Muertos is right around the corner for Julieta and her family. During this time, her family sets up an ofrenda to honor and remember their ancestors. Julieta is a vivacious little girl eager to celebrate her abuela. She begins to work on making a memento for her abuelita, but as she comes up with ideas, Julieta feels lost. With time running out, Julieta finally finds the perfect gift she can give to celebrate Abuelita. Ramírez does a wonderful job sharing the culture, vocabulary, and symbolism behind the holiday. A glossary is included in the back, as well as an illustrated drawing of an ofrenda. On the page next to the ofrenda illustration, close-ups of each element displayed on it are presented, each with an explanation as to why it's included. This makes this story all the more personal and is also a smart addition for those less familiar with Día de Muertos. The book is great to share with families of any culture to celebrate and learn. Illustrations are fun and vibrant, adding a pop of color to each page. The story teaches many lessons, especially that even though family members may be lost, we can still celebrate them in different ways. VERDICT A heartwarming story for Día de Muertos celebrations and displays.—Maeve Dodds

School Library Journal