Dia de los Muertos Books

This was an action-packed, intense read. Tiffany is a woman on a quest to find the cure for breast cancer in memory of her mother! Who wouldn't love her? She gives Antonio a run for his money, and tries his patience at times, but this pair had so much heat it was hard to put the book down. The added supernatural twist was a plus to the already hot story. Recommended read.

This is a supernatural romantic thriller, filled with action, jungle excursions, jaguars, drug lords, kidnappings, shootouts and even ghosts. It has a pulse pounding storyline that makes it easy to devour the entire book in one sitting. Aleka creates very vivid imagery. One almost feels like they are actually trekking through the exotic locals she describes in the book.

Eyes of the Dead will suck you into an adventure so intense, you nearly forget that it is actually a romance novel. Well, at least until you get to the romantic scenes. Aleka can produce gripping suspense, but have no doubt her love scenes will have your temperature rising.

I highly recommend you pick up a copy of this book.

Like Romancing the Stone in the Mayan jungle, EYES OF THE DEAD finds botanist Tiffany Jensen searching for a rare plant more valuable than an emerald. When she's abduced by white slavers, her sexy tour guide rushes to the rescue. She doesn't count on his threat to her heart posing greater danger than the terrors of the rainforest.

Government agent Antonio Fernandez curses the female who's disrupted his operation to catch a drug kingpin. Can he curb his lust enough to get her safely away?

Set in the tropics, this fast-paced story will carry you off to a romantic adventure you won't want to miss

This story captivated me from page one. Tiffany's quest to find the cure for Breast Cancer makes this book especially meaningful, not only for those who have suffered with the disease, but for women everywhere.

Can't wait to receive Aleka's next book - The Greek Rule. This author is going places.

Yvonne Kennedy - Romance Writer

I don't know what else to say about Aleka Nakis except that she is AWESOME! Not only was I lucky enough to get to read and review The Greek Rule, but after reading Eyes of the Dead, she is definitely on my list of authors to keep an eye on. Her books are filled with such beautiful imagery, you have no problem imagining the exotic locations she uses as her settings.

Tiffany Jensen is determined to continue the research her late professor started before he was murdered. Not just to honor her mentor, but because the research holds possibilities that could help eradicate breast cancer, the disease that killed her mother. Unfortunately, the key to this research is a plant only found in a certain part of the jungle- in South America. The unfortunate part is that after the professor's murder, she has been denied permission to collect the plant specimens that never made it to the United States. So Tiffany is taking a "vacation" and posing as a tourist interested in exploring the Mayan Jungle. She doesn't even know if she will be able to find the plants, or even smuggle them back into her country- but she can't give up on the cure when she is so close.

Agent Antonio Francisco Fernandez knows all about Tiffany Jensen and what she has come to South America in search of. In fact, it's his job to get her to return home before she even sets foot in the jungle. But he soon finds that she will do anything to get what she came for, including putting herself into a danger she can't even conceive of. It's up to him to either to get her to go home now, or get her in and out of the jungle- preferably alive.

Eyes of the Dead is a suspense-filled romance with a touch of the supernatural, perfect to satisfy all your romantic cravings. Aleka Nakis will stun you with her unbelievable talent of pulling you into the story and painting the setting with perfect detail. In Eyes of the Dead, venture into the jungle with exotic plant-life, mysterious and deadly creatures, and beautiful landmarks you can picture with ease. The characters are extremely well-developed, and pack a big punch in a small number of pages. Tiffany is a sweet, determined woman who will sacrifice everything, even her life, in order to help cure a terrible disease. Antonio is a gorgeous, strong hero, and from the very beginning, you will be cheering for a happily ever after between he and Tiffany. Eyes of the Dead is a romantic adventure that will have you wanting more of Aleka Nakis!

-Mandy Briggs for
RoguesandRomance.com

This book is a beautiful bilingual book that is ideal for young students. It serves as a nice introduction to Day of The Dead, which is celebrated in Mexico, on November 2. The author fails to mention this in the book but instead makes a note of it in the authors notes. Therefore,for clarity, the adult might want to incorporate this fact into the storyline. Use of another book, like The Day of the Dead / Dia De Los Muertos or Mexican Day of the Dead as a supplement will enrich the students learning about Day of the Dead. The story is rather flat, as noted in one of the editorial reviews here but the salvation of the book are the rich illustrations. The artist when to great lengths to create dimension in the art, resulting in exquisite drawings that will captivate the young audience. The story evolves around young Rosita's loss of her mentor and grandmother to an undisclosed sickness. After she dies Rosita longs for abuelita(grandmother) and her grandfather(abuelito) and family teach Rosita how to honor the dead. They teach her about making abuelita's favorite goodies and making an offering to her spirit at home and at the graveyard. Rosita questions whether she will "encounter" abuelita or not but is eventually touched by her spirit. This is a very cool book that explains how grief for the departed is handled in Mexican culture. As stated the illustrations are magnificent and worth the price of the book alone. Bilingual students , or those learning a language, whose first language is either English or Spanish, will benefit from the text, if read to in both languages. Recommended for community and K-8 school libraries.

This book blends beautiful illustrations of artistic collages, with a touching story told from a young girl's perspective of losing her grandmother, and trying to find the perfect way to honor her beloved 'abuelita' on the Day of the Dead.
Teaching at middle school in a community of growing numbers of hispanics this story has helped teach cultural traditions to my students in a unique way. In reading this story along with videos and personal sharing from our Mexican students and teachers, ALL our students celebrated the Day of the Dead this school year with their own artwork and special foods and breads. Having this story told in both English and Spanish was truly an added bonus for our English Language Learners to enjoy.

This book is great for readers learning spanish or english. It has beautiful illustrations, and a great story that is based on an event that most children will have to face. The celebration of the day of the dead brings people closer to those who have passed away, and is a great idea to give to children.
Este libro es muy bueno para lectores más jovenes para aprender inglés o español. Tiene dibujos bonitas, y un gran cuento que es sobre un evento que muchos niños tendrán. La celebración del Dia de los Muertos traiga los personas muy cercas a los personas que son muertos, y es una buena idea dar los niños.

I purchased this book because of the outstanding, noteworthy illustrations and fell in love with the sensitivity of the text. I live in a community where the Day of the Dead is celebrated locally. I own several fiction and non-fiction books on the topic, which I use in my primary grade classroom. While other non-fiction children's books on the Day of the Dead do a better job of explaining what happens during this celebration, this is the only book I have found that explains on an emotional level why one would want to celebrate one's dead relatives.

Although the relationship between Rosalita and her grandmother is established too quickly to cause the reader any distress when she dies on the third page of the text, Rosalita's dilemma is made clear. She works through the process of remembering and grieving her "abuelita" (grandmother). She thinks about what she can place on the family altar to symbolize her relationship with her deceased grandmother. She wonders what it will feel like when her grandmother's spirit returns on the Day of the Dead. How she resolves these questions will beautifully explain to anyone outside of the culture why those who celebrate this holiday take the time to remember.

This coming together of a writer's story & the visions of an illustrator is perfect. A simple tale of sorrow, change, love & healing. There are skills & ideas tucked away inside this gift: of a child's grief over the death of her grandmother & of the everyday things they did together & how her people celebrate their loved ones memories with gifts & prayers.

A Gift for Abuelita/Un regalo para Abuelita is a treasure to be read again & again not just for the story. It is rich in detailed illustrations & the marriage of two languages telling the same story is a fine addition. For my full review do check out: [my website]

I already own this book and its so cool I bought a copy for my sister. The projects in this book range from the traditional (typical skeleton calavera) to the unique (Day of the Dead Jewelry). The book is colorful, and interesting with easy to follow step-by-step photos of the projects. As an artist I find this book a terrific resource and very inspiring...love it!

I'm excited about making the projects in this book! Because they are true
folk art, I'll be able to display them in my house all year round,not just in the fall. I'm working on my first calavera (skeleton guy) and
plan to make as many of the jewelry projects as I can and give them to
friends as gifts. I'm no great crafter. Why hasn't anybody published a book on Day of the Dead crafts before this? I can't imagine!

I was very pleased with this book, these are easy crafts that will be fun to do and fun for my granddaughter.

The spirit of Tio Fernando by Janice Levy is a book about the Day of the Dead.
Fernando wakes up and today is the Day of the Dead and they are going to see the spirit of Tio Fernando. Fernando`s mother set all Tio Fernando `s favorite foods on the table. She also put out some pictures of Tio Fernando. After Fernando`s mother gave him some pesos to go buy things that Tio Fernando liked also to remember him. Fernando went to the market and saw Senor Romero and then Senor Romero gave Fernando a skull with his name on it. Fernando saw Senora Magdalia and Senora Magdlia gave him a little ghost and Senor Magdalia tells Fernando how he will meet Tio Fernando's spirit and how he will feel good inside. After Fernando went home they went to the cemetery to Tio Fernando's cross and put marigolds there. Fernando's mother sang Tio Fernando's favorite songs. Fernando heard a heart beating but maybe it was only Fernando. Fernando feels something in his body. Then they stayed at the cemetery for the Day of the Dead.

The lesson I learned from the book was that your loved ones will always be beside you. In one part of the book I found they tell Tio Fernando's spirit to join them. Even if Tio Fernando is dead he knows he isn't forgotten. Fernando feels his uncle in his body and by the sounds too. Fernando remembers Tio Fernando by the pictures and by the second toe of his right foot. I like the way this book tells you about the Day of the Dead and that your loved ones will always be beside you.

By Graciela

El Espiritu de Tio Fernando is an excellent book describing the mexican celebration of Days of the Dead. The book follows a young boy and his mother as they remember his uncle who has died within the last year. The book is simple yet includes many aspects of the celebration. The illustrations are wonderfully detailed so as to show the emotions of each part of the celebration. The text is in both English and Spanish allowing all children to enjoy it equally.

This book features beautiful colorful illustrations and a very cute story, full of accurate cultural details. To be enjoyed by children and adults alike, it also is a great way to "teach" your kids about death, or to help them deal with mourning, whether or not you are hispanic.

This book achieves to horrify and fascinating in many different ways. Whereas much of popular horror today seems devoted to novels, Hopkin's novella is an accomplishment of style, depth and tension. This is more than a book about the reawakenings of old Aztec gods (wolves perhaps best left sleeping) but also a book about despair and heartbreak, and what individuals are willing to do in light of their sorrow. In that sense, it works as a novella.

If you believe that good horror is not just about chills, thrills and the occassional gross out, but also in capturing a sense existential angst in an uncertain world, you'll enjoy this. This is what horror should strive for. It protrays a darker more complex world that man is perhaps best left being ignorant of.

It also appeals to the issus of the relationship of Man and God, turning back to a more primitive Gods and religions where the divine is less beneficient and religion less narcisstic, a harsher sense of faith. I enjoy notion of horror and the weird in dealing with man's faith and existential fear, as in Harlan Ellisons Deathbird Stories. I highly recommend this to those interested in the relationship between man and the divine.

My only major criticism- It's a bit too expensive although that's understandable with limited printing. I would have preferred to see this in a collected work of short fiction by this author. That said, collectors of good horror should not miss this one.

Please note that this book is NOT written in Spanish (the listing here is wrong). Winner of the Bram Stoker Award in 2002. Good stuff if I do say so myself. Info on the author and the book can be found at http://bahwolf.com

Just so you know, my sister wrote this article. And I don't know why anyone is selling it. Does she get a cut of the profits? I mean, since she wrote the damn thing, she should get something from it. Am I right? Yes. I am. So my sister will be expecting some of the profit now. Thank you.

Alex D. Martinez

BEAUTIFUL pictures!!! A photographer who captures the very HEART and SOUL of the people, and with a sensitivity to their culture and beliefs that merits the utmost applause!!! If you can't go to Michoacan on November 1st, this has got to be the next best thing to being there!!

Presenta el día festivo con explicaciones de su historia y cómo se celebra hoy. Las manualidades del final muestran al lector cómo crear un símbolo importante del día. El texto es en Español y contiene muchas fotos a color para ilustrar el tema.

This is a wonderful book.
But it is not about the Mexican holiday.

This bilingual picturebook, with its full text presented to young readers in both English and Spanish, uses narration, photographs, and illustrations to teach children about the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead, an annual holiday to honor and remember all those who have passed. Vibrant colors and emphatic traditions pepper this book, which makes for a brilliant multicultural reading experience. The Vigil Of The Angels is perfect for a child who is learning to speak both English and Spanish, regardless of which language he or she learned first. The text and photos are by Mary J. Andrade. The illustrations are by Jose J. Murguia.