BOOK DESCRIPTION
Story: It’s Halloween but Cristina is very sad and doesn’t feel like putting on a costume and going trick-or-treating because she’s lost her favorite stuffed animal, her blue bunny. During the celebration of the Day of the Dead, her parents teach her about a unique way to deal with the pain of the loss of a loved one.
Non-fiction: An overview of the history of Halloween and the Day of the Dead and activities on these days, with numerous informative photographs.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
I have inherited from my friends in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the custom of preparing altars for the Day of the Dead. I have visited many houses where an altar was prepared, and observed the special art each family puts forward to make this a day of remembrance.
I feel moved by the tin crosses that in New Mexico you can see everywhere, and little by little I have covered a whole section of a wall in my house with them. Underneath I prepared an altar of photographs and objects to honor the memory of my mother, and more recently also for my brother Diego. My altar stayed up for many months, and I will be renewing this young tradition in my heart, every first of November.
Many readers are intrigued about how two authors collaborate to write a book. If you share this curiosity you may enjoy reading how I explain this experience in the chapter entitled “Writing in Collaboration: One plus One is One or Two” in the book Alma Flor Ada and You, volume II published by Libraries Unlimited.