La Divina Catrina: Oh, Divine Catrina (Bilingual English/Spanish)

by Aracely De Alvarado (Author) Claudia Navarro (Illustrator)

La Divina Catrina: Oh, Divine Catrina (Bilingual English/Spanish)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

This bilingual picture book told in verse familiarizes children with the Mexican Catrina, an iconic figure representing death known to many through Day of the Dead celebrations. 

The Mexican skeleton Catrina has been invited to a Day of the Dead dance, and she's searching for just the right outfit to wear. She pulls her Aunt María's dress from a dusty chest, but it has a stain! There's a skirt made of fine cloth, but it looks like a dusty old drape. Purple shoes that don't fit, a pair of pants that are too short and a blouse missing a button what will she wear? Finally, she finds a dress that's perfect; in fact, it's divine! With fancy necklaces, lavish earrings, rusty rings and bracelets galore, Catrina will be the envy of all at the ball! Dare we say, she'll be dressed to kill!


Este libro ilustrado bilingüe contado en verso familiariza a los niños con la Catrina mexicana, una figura icónica que representa la muerte conocida por muchos a través de las celebraciones del Día de Muertos.

La esquelética mexicana Catrina ha sido invitada a un baile del Día de los Muertos y está buscando el atuendo perfecto para ponerse. Saca el vestido de su tía María de un arcón polvoriento, ¡pero tiene una mancha! Hay una falda hecha de tela fina, pero parece una cortina vieja y polvorienta. Zapatos morados que no le quedan bien, unos pantalones demasiado cortos y una blusa a la que le falta un botón, ¿qué se pondrá? Finalmente, encuentra un vestido que es perfecto; de hecho, ¡es divino! Con collares elegantes, aretes lujosos, anillos oxidados y brazaletes en abundancia, ¡Catrina será la envidia de todos en el baile! ¡Nos atrevemos a decir que estará vestida para matar!


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$18.95

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2--Artist and illustrator José Guadalupe Posada's famous Catrina takes center stage in this lovely bilingual picture book about Día de los Muertos. The Calavera Catrina is getting ready for the Day of the Dead festivities and searches for an outfit to wear. After trying out a stained dress, a skirt that may be a curtain, shoes that fit a little too tightly, and several other not-quite-right ensembles, Catrina finally finds a dazzling wine-colored dress that pairs perfectly with several unique pieces of jewelry and a lovely hat covered with cempasúchil flowers. Catrina illuminates the ball as she walks in the room. The cleverly rhyming text is sure to make readers smile. The English version isn't always a direct translation in order to maintain the rhyming effect, but it keeps the spirit of the original Spanish. The illustrations include richly colored backgrounds and a wide range of facial expressions as Catrina decides on each outfit, and the incorporation of important aspects of the holiday--such as marigold flowers--will pave the way for discussions about these important celebrations. VERDICT An excellent addition to Spanish and bilingual picture book collections, as well as a wonderful tribute to the work of José Guadalupe Posada.--Selenia Paz, Harris County P.L., Houston

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781558859104
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Pinata Books
Publication date
October 20, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV017000 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | General
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Spanish language materials
Bilingual
Stories in rhyme
Clothing and dress
All Souls' Day
Skeleton
Cuentos en rima
Esqueletos
Prendas de vestir
All Souls Day
Skeletons

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