Felipa and the Day of the Dead

by Birte Müller, Marianne Martens (Translator)

Felipa's beloved grandmother, Abuelita, has died. Felipa misses her terribly and is very sad. Her parents try to comfort Felipa. They tell her that the souls of the dead live on forever. So Felipa decides to find Abuelita's soul. But where is it? She asks her grandmother's donkey, her pig, and her llamas for help. She treks many miles to the highest mountain, but grandmother's soul is nowhere to be found. Then, months later, the entire village is bustling with preparations for the Day of the Dead. Felipa joins in the celebrations honoring loved ones who have died, and in the process finally finds Abuelita's soul.
Birte Muller's sweet story captures the essence of this special holiday, which is celebrated throughout Latin America and in parts of the United States. She celebrates the universal spirit of remembrance, where sorrow and loss are coupled with joy as people commemorate and commune with loved ones who have died.

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, Death, Childrens

36 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felipa misses her Abuelita, or grandmother, in this simple holiday tale from the Andes, searching everywhere for her departed soul - in the fields and the cemetery, on the mountains - until her father explains that souls cannot be visited in this way, that they live in their own world, except when they return to us, on the Day of the Dead. When the long awaited day finally comes, Felipa joins her family and neighbors in the celebration: enjoying the special dough cookies, helping to clean and decorate the graves, and feeling, for the first time since her death, close to her beloved Abuelita.

Felipa and the Day of the Dead is an outgrowth of German author Birte Müller's research into the observance of the Day of the Dead in Bolivia, and reference to the Andes makes it clear that the story is set in that part of the world. The narrative itself is quite simple, which makes it ideal for younger children, but also means that few culturally specific details and terms are used. It's a shame that Müller didn't give more details, in her brief afterword. What are the dough cookies, shaped like people, called? What other specifically Bolivian customs are practiced on this day? Given that many readers might be unaware that the Day of the Dead isn't just a Mexican holiday - I know I was - further information would have been very welcome.

Still, for what it is, this is an engaging holiday story, and is recommended to anyone looking for picture-books about the Day of the Dead, and its celebration in South America.

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holt-Delhi library PJ story time 10-26-2022

[CanadianReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felipa is a little Andean girl whose abuelita, grandmother, has recently died. She misses her terribly and has been reassured by her parents that when people die their souls live on forever. But where, Felipa wonders, is Abuelita’s soul and what might she be doing? The girl consults her grandmother’s animals: her donkey, pig, and llama. None has a thing to say. When her mother suggests that Abuelita is with the spirits in the snow-covered mountains, the determined girl walks for hours to get to them. Her father ends up having to retrieve her in the cold darkness.

The following day, Felipa is informed that though people cannot visit souls because they live in their own world, the spirits are able to make a long journey to visit every year. The living cook special treats to welcome them, and a celebration goes on for a whole day and a whole night. At first, all the wonderful food is laid on a large table, along with flowers and candles. Then, the following day, the festivities are taken to the cemetery, where the graves have been beautifully decorated.

This year Felipa experiences the festival. At Abuelita’s grave, Felipa feels her dear one’s presence. She talks to her grandmother and her parents share memories of her. Though the little girl is sad at the end of the day knowing that her grandmother cannot stay, she feels hopeful about reuniting with her on the next Day of the Dead.

An afterword tells us that German author-illustrator Birte Müller studied art in both Mexico and Bolivia and wrote the book to introduce European children to the tradition. I feel her narrative succeeds wonderfully, and I must say that I wish this tradition could be adopted elsewhere. Rituals to remember the loved ones who have left us are so valuable. Having said all this, I have to add that I was not at all keen on Müller’s primitive and pasty-looking paintings. In fact, I found the illustrations quite ugly, and I don’t think they would appeal to young children. (The lovely cover is a bit deceiving. I found it the only attractive image!)

I’d rate the simple, but well-told story a 4, but the art/illustrations only a 1 or 1.5. Overall, then: 2.5, which I have rounded up.

[Tyra Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felipa was on a search to find her Abuelita's soul. After her Abuelita died she wanted to know where her soul went, she asked many animals to help her find her grandmother's soul, the donkey, llamas and pigs, she searched far and wide; but, she could not find Abuelita's soul anywhere. Her father explained to Felipa that her grandmothers soul will find her on the day of the dead, Dia de los Muertos, which is a celebration of the dead once a year in some latin cultures where deceased family member's spirits return for the day. I like how this book explored the spirituality of a different culture and it can be used to help children understand death a little easier, which can be a complex thing for them. Also the mix of English and Spanish words throughout was a great touch and exposes children to different languages.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delicate introduction to the Day of the Dead.

If I could give this beautiful picture book 10 stars I would. The Author/Illustrator has caught and portrayed the spirit of the Andes and the local culture. Her artwork is out of this world! OUT OF THIS WORLD! I do not have the words to express how the illustrations in this book made me feel. But I was filled with warmth and delight as I turned page after beautiful page. The art is such that if I owned this book I’d frame each spread and hang them on my wall. Sadly the one I have is from the library and will have to be returned.

Highly recommend this gorgeous book for all ages. And, it also gets my super-huggable book award.

[Kelsey Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a young girl named Felipa who misses her deceased grandmother very much. Her parents comfort her and tell her that souls live on forever so she goes on a mission to find her soul. She asks her grandmothers donkey, pig, and llamas for help. She travels for miles up the highest mountain and can't find her soul. Once day of the dead rolls around everyone in her village is celebrating with food and family. She finds her grandmother's soul during this holiday of remembrance and celebration of life. This book is great to teach kids about the Spanish culture and this holiday.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felipa is a very confused little girl who goes around asking donkeys and llamas where the soul of her grandmother is. After nearly getting herself lost by trying to walk to a distant mountain, she learns instead to celebrate "Dia de los Muertos."

[Elsa 2000 · Rating 5 out of 5]

In italian

[Rosa Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little book that teaches that Day of the Dead isn't just a Mexican holiday and that other Latin American countries celebrate this as well. It also touches a bit about grief.

[zunggg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning illustrations. Would be great for young kids who've lost a grandparent, as long as you don't mind the insistence on an afterlife.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book about a girl living in the Andes who is mourning her abuelita (grandma). She tries to look in different places for Abuelita's soul, but cannot find it. Her parents explain to her that Abuelita's soul is in the ground and all living things, but that her soul will come back to visit on the Day of the Dead. When the village celebrates this holiday together, Felipa finds comfort in being able to "visit" with Abuelita. This book is fairly simple but, in addition to portraying el Dia de los Muertos, provides a lovely introduction to the idea of what happens to our loved ones after death.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a lovely translation which exploring the confusion that children can experience when it comes to death and loss within the family or with those they love and care about. When Felipa's grandmother dies, she is told that she lives high in the mountains by her parents and seeks her out. In her confusion, she becomes lost and scared and it is her father who explains that she is 'part' of the land now that she has left her body. Acknowledging her time on earth is celebrated through The Day of the Dead and Felipa gradually comes to realise that it is in celebrating her grandmother's life that she, in some form, still remains.

[Saskia Marijke Niehorster · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girl misses her grandma because she passed away. She is told that her grandma's soul is eternal and still around so the little Bolivian girl sets out to look for her and gets lost, then found. Finally on the day of the dead she meets her grandma's soul and celebrates her visit with the whole town in the cemetery, and is more at peace.

The paintings are lovely though I wish for more detail of the way the houses and cemetery look like in the Bolivian Andes.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the text is rather rambling, this is a lovely introduction to Day of the Dead celebrations and the larger, weightier concepts of death and the eternal nature of the soul. The soul of Felipa's grandmother is honored and welcomed home in a way that modern pagans celebrating Samhain will understand and appreciate.

[Sam Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! This is one of very very few good children's picture books set in the Andes, where my husband's family is from. I loved the inclusion of the guaguas de pan and the ways that she felt connected to her abuelita on dia de los muertos. I'm planning on buying it.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brings day of the dead into new perspective. Day of the dead is when the Spanish culture visits their loved ones that have past and eat a picnic meal with their family on the grave. It presents culture to the class and explains diversity in a new way.

[Lisa Shaughnessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

very beautiful book

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice to see a change of place with a setting other than Mexico and a conflict other than a gift for the alter. Large size book has large font and lovely illustrations.

[Kallie Larson]

This book is about a little girl learning about souls and the day of the dead after her grandmother passes away. It is told from a child's perspective, so the little girl Felipa, asks different animals about where her grandmother's soul is, she searches different places, and then her father tells her that her soul is everywhere. The end of the book is about their family celebrating the day of the dead and visiting with Felipa's grandmother. I would use this book in my classroom around the time of the day of the dead to read to my students. I would also keep this as a free read book in my classroom.

[Delila Orlowski]

This book is a little girl, Felipa, who misses her dead grandmother. She tries to find her spirit but she can't find it. Her father says that she has to wait until November because there is a day when all spirits come to visit their families. Finally the day came and the family had a lot of food, decorated the grave, and talked about their grandma.

I would use this book for 3rd or 5th grade. I would read this book to talk about cultures. A lesson idea that I have for this book is for my students to create sugar skulls.