Our Day of the Dead Celebration

A family honors their living and dead relatives as they celebrate this holiday with shared food and stories.

The Day of the Dead is a happy day when Mar’s family gathers together. There are favorite dishes to enjoy, games to be played, and most importantly, stories to tell. No one in the family is forgotten because this is the day of the year when the dead come to visit the living—and for this holiday it is almost as if they’re alive again, as the family takes great joy in celebrating the things that made them special. Mar realizes she is just like her Grandpa Ramón, who kept a journal. And her sister, Paz, plays accordian, just like their great-grandfather. There are so many things that connect them all—and at dinner, Abuelita spins even more stories that make them feel close to the ones they will love forever. Ana Aranda’s tender text and vibrant art make the joy felt on this sweet day totally palpable.

Ana Aranda (anaranda.com) also illustrated Moth & Butterfly: Ta-da! (by Dev Petty) and The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra (by Marc Tyler Nobleman). She was born and raised in Mexico City, and completed her undergraduate studies in illustration in France. In San Francisco, she painted murals in the Mission District, for the Consulate General of Mexico, and for the prestigious de Young Museum. Her biggest inspirations are her childhood memories, the vibrant colors of Mexico, and music. She currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Aranda shares a story inspired by her own family. . . . Aranda’s warm artwork incorporates bright and cheerful visual metaphors, such as swirling monarch butterflies, which represent the distance guests travel to return home for the party. The family tree in the opening pages and emphasis on family stories underscores the connection to ancestry the holiday celebrates, and the upbeat and happy tone reminds readers that remembering loved ones, even those we miss terribly, can be a source of joy.” —Booklist