Come November 1-2, Mexicans and other Latino communities around the world will be observing Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), a traditional fiesta to honor and remember deceased loved ones.

Celebrations will include using marigolds and calaveras (skeletons), decorating family gravesites, constructing altars with photos, memorabilia and offerings of the departed’s favorite foods and beverages; as well as holding community gatherings with music, dancing, feasting, and masquerading as death.

Rather than being a somber, mournful occasion, this much anticipated holiday is a time to welcome the spirits of departed ancestors to a joyful reunion with the living on Earth.

In This Moment is Special: A Día de Muertos Story (Paula Wiseman/S&S, 2025) by award-winning author-illustrator John Parra, a young boy practices mindfulness as he prepares for the fiesta throughout the day. He treasures each moment with family and friends — moments time will turn into the precious memories of a life well lived.

We first meet him early in the morning as he anticipates what’s ahead with hope and excitement:

Today holds a special promise. Una promesa especial.

Oh, the possibilities! He first shares “a tamale, avocado and egg breakfast” with his family, who, like him, have donned calaveras paint. Next, he and his sister take the bus to school, where he pushes his mind “to discover and learn” subjects like history, language, geography and science.

The boy especially likes art class, where he paints a portrait of his abuela. The rest of his day is filled with more singular experiences: splashing through rain puddles, biking with friends who “like me for me,” and later, reading a favorite story alongside his sister before playing music with his band.

He also shares tender moments with his visiting abuela. They tend the vegetable garden, where he appreciates the joy of growing things (tomatoes, cilantro, frijoles, maíz). Later, they search for a new recipe. He is sad when it’s time for her to leave, but grateful for their time together.

As night falls, the awestruck boy gazes at constellations in the sky, then joins family and friends for a jubilant celebration, where photos of missed loved ones are freely shared. He rejoices at being present “for all of life’s special moments.”

I carry love in my heart, and I remember. Yo recuerdo.

Each special moment in the story is featured in a double page spread containing spare lyrical text (just two or three short lines in English + a line in Spanish) illuminated by Parra’s rich and vibrant folkloric art.

Traditional Día de Muertos decorations grace the pages, setting a festive mood (marigold garlands, papel picado banners, sugar skulls). Parra’s chosen color palette adds another layer of meaning: pink symbolizes happiness and the joy of reunion; orange represents the sun and marigolds (its bright color and strong scent guide the spirits of the dead home to Earth), while red symbolizes blood and life.

The boy himself wears an orange shirt, cap and socks, and in the opening spread, he’s sitting in his room with sunlight streaming through the window. Framed pictures of family and friends set the stage for this special day, with everyone he later encounters wearing calaveras paint. After the big community fiesta at the end we see him sharing a quiet moment with his mother, who’s wiping the paint from his face.

This Moment is Special is a beautiful reminder that death is not an end, but a natural part of the life cycle. Each new day is a gift: an opportunity to be fully present no matter what we are doing, for even small, seemingly insignificant things may become the memories we cherish most in the future. Following the boy as he prepares for Día de Muertos, we can feel his gratitude for loved ones past and present, a thought provoking blend of enthusiastic revelry and reverence.

An Author’s Note asks the reader about his/her special moments and memories, inspiring all with powerful affirmations:

We are all here to live, to dream, to feel young.
To use our imagination, brains, and hearts.
Tomorrow arrives fast with many journeys to come.

What better way to honor our loved ones than by living a good life with conscious intention, moment by moment, each and every day? Don’t miss this gentle, heartfelt story — a comforting read not only for Día de Muertos, but for any time of quiet reflection.

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THIS MOMENT IS SPECIAL: A Día de Muertos Story
written and illustrated by John Parra
published by Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster BFYR, July 2025
Picture Book for ages 4-8, 40pp.
**Starred Reviews** from Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal (Spanish edition)

♥️ Enjoy this video of John reading the story (with Spanish subtitles):

♥️ John’s Día de Muertos art is available on T-shirts at TeePublic and Redbubble.

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*Interior spreads text and illustrations copyright © 2025 John Parra, published by Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster BFYR. All rights reserved.

**Copyright © 2025 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.