Skeletina is an adorable skeleton girl who lives in the in-between world. Her stories are inspired by Mexican culture, and what time of year is better to introduce Skeletina than Hispanic Heritage Month – and with Halloween and Día de los Muertos on the horizon? Come meet Skeletina and her friends!
Skeletina and the In-Between World / Skeletina y el Entremundo, by Susie Jaramillo, (Sept. 2022, Roaring Brook Press), $18.99, ISBN: (Eng.) 9781945635465 (Spa.) 9781250851055
Ages 3-6
Skeletina’s first book is an introduction to the spunky young girl and her world. She lives in the in-between, “the one place where the dead and living come together”; the living can vist there in their dreams, and the dead can wrap up any unfinished business. Skeletina visits with some of her friends, accompanied by her skeleton dog, Pancho, and seems to be in charge of keeping the in-between happy for everyone: she catches bugs that turn fears into nightmares, soothes the noisy prankster Rattles, and plays music to calm the nervous Sombra. Graphite and color pencil artwork beautifully creates an otherworldly feel. Skeletina and her friends are inspired by calavera artwork and Mexican folk art touches brighten and enliven the spreads. Endpapers show all of Skeletina’s friends, whom we can expect to meet in future books, all inspired by Mexican culture, made child-friendly. La Llorona, pictured here as a weeping ghost, “always makes things worse”, while Rattles (Matraca, or Rattles, in Spanish), “shakes everything” and looks like a collection of clattering surfaces. Easily readable and enjoyable for all ages, this is a series to keep on your shelves and in your storytime collections.
Skeletina and the In-Between World / Skeletina y el Entremundo is available in both English and Spanish.
Skeletina and the Greedy Tooth Fairy / Skeletina y el Hada Marada, by Susie Jaramillo, (Sept. 2023, Roaring Brook Press), $18.99, ISBN: (Eng.) 9781250872012 (Spa.) 9781250872005
Ages 3-6
Skeletina helps a young girl get her teeth back from Hada Marada, the Tooth Fairy’s greedy sister, in this second Skeletina story. As Skeletina spends time with her dog, Pancho, on a rainy day in the in-between, she discovers a crying girl, distressed because her teeth are falling out! Skeletina immediately knows who’s behind things, and sets off, with Olivia – the crying girl – to fetch those missing teeth. But Olivia learns that Hada Malvada grows stronger with every lie a child tells, so she has to own up to her fibs in order to restore her pearly whites. Graphite and pencil artwork is vibrant, providing a dreamlike landscape with giant horseflies, colorful fairies, and giant chocolate statues. Jaramillo beautifully makes black and white live separately with full color illustration. Cultural details are present in the background spreads, laying a rich Mexican tapestry to the story. Skeletina gently delivers a message about honesty and being true to onesself within a playful story about a mischevious fairy. Endpapers feature Skeletina, Pancho, and Señor Tic Toc peeking out of openings in the in-between house. Available in both English and Spanish, this is a delightful story for readalouds. Find more books and animations on the Encantos app.
Mom Read It 