Why We Celebrate Día de los Muertos: Everything to Know about Your Favorite Holiday

by Melanie Stuart-Campbell, Javiera Mac-lean Alvarez

Overview

Celebrate Día de los Muertos with this festive introduction for kids ages 6 to 9!

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday where people celebrate and remember their loved ones who have passed on. The festivities happen over two days every year and are full of color and joy! Learn all about the history, traditions, food, and more with this book of facts and activities that encourage you to join in on the celebration.

So many ways to get festive—Discover how Día de los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico and around the world by building ofrendas, or altars, for loved ones, decorating with flowers and skulls, and playing music.

Celebrate at home—Explore Día de los Muertos customs with included activities like making your own pan de muerto and paper marigolds!

Fascinating facts and pictures—Vibrant illustrations and kid-friendly language help bring Día de los Muertos to life.

Discover Why We Celebrate Día de los Muertos!

Have you ever wondered why we wear green on St. Patrick's Day? Or why we hang stockings for Christmas? Get the rest of the Why We Celebrate series and learn about holidays from around the world!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798886084290
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	08/12/2025
Series:	Why We Celebrate
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	56
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

MELANIE STUART-CAMPBELL is also the author of Alba, the South American Street Dog, Learn Spanish with Pictures, and A Spanish Workbook for Kids. She is an instructional specialist and advocate for the Kansas Migrant Education Program, working with many people who celebrate Día de los Muertos. She also teaches online Spanish classes to kids on the website Outschool.

Editorial Reviews

"Now, more than ever, we need to learn about and celebrate the rich diversity of our communities. Understanding cultural traditions from around the world is a fun and important way to help connect children to friends, neighbors, and their community. Every family, every classroom should have a copy of this beautifully written and illustrated book!" — Michelle Murphy LCSW, PPS, school-based mental health counselor

"This beautifully written and illustrated hands-on book is an excellent resource for parents, educators, and service providers interested in expanding the multicultural and multilingual experiences of children. Melanie Campbell does a great job explaining the significance and history of Día de los Muertos, and how it’s celebrated in an easy-to-understand format. After reading this book, I learned much more about this special holiday than I thought I knew." — Veronica Fierro, PhD, CCC-SLP, assistant professor and bilingual speech-language pathologist

"Why We Celebrate Día de los Muertos is a fun but comprehensive book explaining the significance of the holiday. The heart of the Mexican diaspora is in full display on every page. As a child growing up in Mexico, I celebrated Día de los Muertos. This book allows parents, educators, and caregivers to teach children all about this important Mexican holiday" — Nidia Lopez, communications specialist

From the Publisher