Illustrated by John Picacio
4 stars
While her family prepares for Dia de Muertos, Cala does not feel like celebrating. She misses her grandfather and can’t stop thinking of him. At the cemetery, Cala is separated from her family and encounters some mysterious horsemen that give her some valuable insight.
A fascinating representation of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse paired with the celebration of Dia de Muertos.
The artwork is wonderful. Beautiful spreads that really capture the emotions of the moment, from grief to fear to acceptance. I really enjoyed the character designs of the riders and their horses.
I do think there were some clunky moments along the way. Using the interaction with an unhoused person as a reminder to be grateful for what you have felt insensitive. While the message of gratefulness is an important one, reducing an unhoused person to a learning moment just did not work.
Includes nice messages about caring for others and fighting for what you believe in. A nice representation of grief, fear, loss, and remembering loved ones.
While it is a picture book format, this works best for older children who are already familiar with Dia de Muertos as it is quite wordy.
A beautiful story overall with gorgeous artwork and sweet messages of remembering loved ones.