Parents' Guide to

Little Skeletons / Esqueletitos: Countdown to Midnight

By Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Fun, rhythmic, bilingual Day of the Dead romp.

Book Susie Jaramillo Picture Book 2018
Little Skeletons / Esqueletitos: Countdown to Midnight Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 3+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Katherine R.
Katherine R. Parent of 10, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
May 18, 2024
age 3+

magalimcd
magalimcd Adult
August 7, 2018
age 3+

Fun and beautiful!

The skeletons or skeletitos in this book come to life with beautiful illustrations and great rhymes both in engilsh and in spanish. As the clock strikes each hour, a skeleton joins in the different activities they do together, from eating to dancing and rocketing to heaven.It's clearly inspired by mexican day of the dead culture, but it could also work as a halloween story. The skeletitos are seizing each hour of the day to the max, teaching kids to enjoy life every day every hour. It also comes with a page that has a clock with movable hands, to teach kids to tell time. You can also learn numbers for younger ones by counting characters on each page. The song is very famous in spanish but if you have never heard it or just would like to see these skeletons literally come to life in a digital form, you can download the free app that it comes with.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

LITTLE SKELETONS/ESQUELETITOS: COUNTDOWN TO MIDNIGHT shows a skeleton coming out of his grave to join other skeletons -- human and animal --to eat, dance, and play in a graveyard between 1 a.m. and midnight. They find delicious food put out for them, as is the Day of the Dead custom, including rice, fruit, and cake. There's no actual mention of the holiday, but there are visual references, like the traditional cut-paper banner, papel picado.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (5 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This lively board book is a celebration of a religious/cultural holiday that pictures cheerful skeletons having fun together. It's clearly a Day of the Dead story, but the holiday isn't mentioned. It also works as a counting book, starting at 1 (in the morning) and ending at 12 (midnight). Kids will enjoy the rhythmic verse and cute illustrations, and they may learn to tell time by manipulating the movable hands of the clock. Not to mention words and phrases in Spanish and English!

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why skeletons come out of their graves in Little Skeletons/Esqueletitos: Countdown to Midnight. How much do you know about the Day of the Dead holiday? Do you celebrate it with your family?

  • Why is it important to know about your roots and celebrate the culture your family comes from? Name a special holiday that your family celebrates. Are there traditional songs you've learned from your family? What are your favorites?

  • Did you see Coco? What does that movie have to say about the Day of the Dead and skeletons?

Book Details

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