The Spirit of Tío Fernando

A Day of the Dead Story

Plot Summary

It's the Day of the Dead and Nando and his mother are going to honor Tío Fernando. Nando, named for Uncle Fernando, listens as his mother tells him that later, at the cemetary, they will meet with Tío Fernando's spirit. All day, as Nando enjoys the celebration, he also wonders just how he will recognize the spirit of Tío Fernando. Written in both Spanish and English.

Reviews

"Nando's heart is full, and he is sure that Tío Fernando knows that he is loved and not forgotten. Soft watercolor illustrations tenderly portray Nando's joyful experience. Including the traditional activities and imbued with an authentic sense of the Mexican holiday, the warm, well-told story, provided in a bilingual format, will be welcomed as a picture book featuring a child's celebration of the Day of the Dead." Booklist

"Six months ago, Fernando's uncle passed away. Now it is time to honor Tío Fernando during the Da of the Dead celebration. Because the child is named after his favorite uncle, he wishes to make this day an especially memorable one. Youngsters who are unfamiliar with this custom will get a feel for what 'Day of the Dead' means to many Hispanics of Mexican or Central American heritage as Nando tells of his and his mother's preparations. Illustrations are done in soft watercolors that complement the text nicely." School Library Journal

Associated Keywords
holidays, holiday, spanish, latino, latin-american, multicultural, mexico, mexican, uncles, death, bilingual