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:	9780593568361
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	09/10/2024
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	347,522
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD620L (what's this?)
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

★ 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

★ 2024-07-19
A young Latine girl and her family prepare for a Día de los Muertos celebration.

Julieta had a special bond with Abuelita, who has recently died. Día de los Muertos is approaching, and Julieta and her family will add mementos to the ofrenda, an altar with offerings for ancestors. Julieta wants to find a special gift for Abuelita that will let her spirit know that she is dearly missed. But her attempts at weaving a flower crown and folding an origami bird just don’t work. Julieta becomes nervous: What if she doesn’t have anything to place on the ofrenda in time for the holiday? Then she thinks about the times when she and Abuelita were happiest and remembers that they shared their biggest smiles when they were dancing together. She brings out her dancing shoes, dress, lace fan, and hair combs—shelved since Abuelita’s passing—and dances for the family. Julieta feels her grandmother’s presence and knows that she and Abuelita will always stay connected. Ríos Ramírez speaks to the complex emotions surrounding loss, while Palacios’ earth-toned illustrations, made with gouache, cut paper, and Photoshop, have a quietly intimate feeling. Her textured backgrounds are immersive, while the characters are wonderfully expressive. Young readers experiencing their own grief will see themselves in Julieta and her desire to remember Abuelita.

A touching tribute to the pain of losing a loved one—and the joys of honoring them. (author’s note, glossary, ofrenda guide)(Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews

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

★ "A touching tribute to the pain of losing a loved one—and the joys of honoring them." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A moving tale of loss, family, and tradition." —Booklist

From the Publisher