Funny Bones: Posada and his Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh

Bibliography:

Tonatiuh, Duncan. Funny Bones: Posada and his Day of the Dead Calaveras. Lebanon, IN: Harry N Abrams Inc, 2015. ISBN 978-1419716478

Plot Summary:

A little know Mexican artist (Jose Guadalupe Posada) discovered he loved printing. He started working at a printing shop for Don Trinidad Pedrosa where he found his love of lithography. He learned engraving for different types of products. After work, he helped by drawing cartoons for a local newspaper poking fun at politicians. This began his cartoon making career. He moved away to Leon because he upset politicians in the area. He opened up his own business and taught lithography at a local school in Leon. A flood destroyed his print shop forcing him to relocate to Mexico City. He opened another print shop where he started printing his infamous "broadsides" (intriguing stories with an illustration on a sheet of paper). Jose Guadalupe Posada printed "literary calaveras" which were short poems with a skeleton to make fun of people he came across. He printed these on " Dia de los Muertos" or The Day of the Dead.

Critical Analysis:

This picture biography is covered in colorful pages with extremely detailed illustrations by Duncan Tonatiuh, Jose Guadalupe Posada, and Manuel Manilla. The illustrations are hand drawn and digitally put together on these heavy, thick and wax like sheets. There are illustrations within illustrations. Step by step instructions with illustrations teach the reader how to use lithography, engraving, and etching in printing. Lupe's "literary calaveras" are enlarged on a whole page for readers to clearly see the illustration and the short poem that made people laugh. Each illustration keeps the reader engaged with the variety of vivid colors used. You can tell the author/illustrator is passionate about drawing by looking at the detail he put into his illustrations and the detail of his research for this biography. He cited eighteen sources in his bibliography. He gave credit to Lupe and Manuel for every single image that was not his own. Duncan Tonatiuh also included information for the reader to find places that display the work of Jose Guadalupe Posada in the U.S.A. The book has a glossary to help with any Spanish words that may not be known to everyone. The index is available to find printing type, people mentioned, and other words. The Author's note gives you a brief history lesson on events, people, and beliefs in Mexico. This biography is accurate and well organized. The events are in sequential order to tell the story in the best possible way for children to understand the events that occurred. The text is bold and big enough to see on the colorful pages. The font on the "literary calaveras" is much bigger and looks like it was printed off the machine. My favorite calavera poem is, "Was Don Lupe saying that...no matter how fancy your clothes are on the outside, on the inside we are all the same? That we are all calaveras?" He speaks the truth whether it hurts or not. Many people never knew Jose Guadalupe Posada was the man behind the amazing art. I would never have know either until I read this book.


Review Excerpts:

Robert Sibert Informational Book Medal- 2016; Pura Belpre Award (illustration)- 2016; Orbis Pictus Honor Book-2016; Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award-2016; Kirkus Best Books

Best Illustrated Children's Book- New York Times Book Review

From Publishers Weekly: "a valuable introduction to Posada that will leave readers thinking about the process of creating art and the social impact it can have."

From School Library Journal: "VERDICT A stunning work, with great possibilities for lesson plans or tie-ins with Day of the Dead."

From Kirkus Reviews: "Tonatiuh further marks himself as a major nonfiction talent with this artistically beautiful and factually accessible offering that effectively blends artistic and political content for young readers."

Connections:

Gather other books from Duncan Tonatiuh to read such as:

• Tonatiuh, Duncan. The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes. ISBN: 978-1419721304
• Tonatiuh, Duncan. Soldier for Equality: Jose de la Luz Saenz and the Great War. ISBN: 978-1419736827
• Tonatiuh, Duncan. Undocumented: A Worker's Fight. ISBN:978-1419728549
• Tonatiuh, Duncan. Separate is never equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregation. ISBN: 978-1419710544

Gather other books about Mexican artist to read such as:

• Tonatiuh, Duncan. Danza!: Amelia Hernandez and Mexico's Folkloric Ballet. ISBN: 978-1419725326
• Morales, Yuyi. Viva Frida. ISBN: 978-1596436039

Use these books to compare cultures, especially Mexican culture.
Use these books to feature Author/Illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh.
Use these books to discuss Mexican art.