International festivals and celebrations are highlighted in each title. Each volume opens with a table of contents and uses colorful borders and large photos with a paragraph of text to describe the topic. A short quiz, glossary, and index are included in the back matter. Vocabulary words are underlined; labeled pictures and info-graphics are used to further understanding, explaining, for example, that Eid-al Firtr means a festival of breaking fast. Diverse people, places, and foods are pictured. Titles validate that many people who celebrate may do so differently, offering wider worldview understanding, such as for Hanukkah “In Cuba, people celebrate with fried plantain, which is a type of fruit.” Although titles are short, each topic touches on multiple aspects of each observance being discussed. VERDICT A great introduction to festivals and celebrations around the world for beginning readers.

Día de los Muertos is a celebration that is becoming more widely known in the U.S., and this colorful title describes the two-day celebration by tracing its ancient roots (originating with Mexico’s Nahua people) to modern festivities and highlighting traditional elements and practices—creating ofrendas (altars), wearing bright colors, painting faces, decorating graves with Mexican marigolds, playing mariachi music, lighting candles, and preparing foods like mole negro and sugar skulls. The book is arranged into topical two-page spreads and every page features a large photo or illustration to support the easy-to-read sentences. Periodically, a cartoon celebrant pops in with trivia or a clarification, and readers will be left in no doubt of the holiday’s happy nature. A quiz and standard back matter bring this illuminating volume in the Festivals and Celebrations series (6 titles) to a close