Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the dead Calaveras

Written by Duncan Tonatiuh

Narrated by Armando Duran

Funny Bones tells the story of how the amusing calaveras-skeletons performing various everyday or festive activities came to be. They are the creation of Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe (Lupe) Posada (1852-1913). In a country that was not known for freedom of speech, he first drew political cartoons, much to the amusement of the local population, but not the politicians. He continued to draw cartoons throughout much of his life, but he is best known today for his calavera drawings. They have become synonymous with Mexico's Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival. Juxtaposing his own art with that of Lupe's, author Duncan Tonatiuh brings to light the remarkable life and work of a man whose art is beloved by many, but whose name has remained in obscurity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media Audio
• Release date: Apr 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781520011417

Duncan Tonatiuh

Duncan Tonatiuh is an award-winning Mexican-American author and illustrator. His books include the Pura Belpre Honor Award winners Dear Primo, Diego Rivera, and Pancho Rabbit and the Sibert Honor Award winners Separate Is Never Equal and Funny Bones. Born in Mexico, he graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York City. He is inspired by Pre-Columbian art, and his aim is to create images and stories that honor the past in a way that is relevant today.

Reviews for Funny Bones

[catiebarber · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I very much enjoyed learning about Posada and his life, I had actually never heard of him. I had thought that the calaveras (skeletons) were just a part of Day of the Dead, but I never realized that they were highly stylized by Posada and his art. This book is beautifully illustrated and contains many of Posada's prints. My favorite part of the book is nearing the end when every other page is a question about who we are and what did Posada mean by his art. Quite a few awards on this book!

[dipodomy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story of the life of Don Lupe, known by his artists name Posada for his calavera (skeleton) style of art. An all around great book. The art is vibrant, a mix of indigenous mexican inspired illustrations mixed with pictures of work by the subject. The text is simple but engaging, it gives a good amount of detail without becoming slow or overly complicated. The book delves into deep topics such as life and death, class and equality, art and fame, but all at a level that is appropriate for younger readers.

[ewyatt_16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book is beautifully designed and a quick, easy read. It explores the life of Don Lupe Posada and his work as a printer and artist. It explores lithography, engraving, and etching. Cartoons and Posada's drawings pepper the work, particularly his calaveras. There is an exploration of the meaning of various pieces of his artwork. Thorough end notes and research notes wrap up the short text. Spanish language is peppered throughout the work as is cultural information on Dia de Muertos and the calaveras.

[canderson15-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a book about Jose Guadalupe Posado

[salsabrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This little-known artist of very popular works gets his due in Tonatiuh's book for children. Readers not only learn about Posada's life but also about different printing techniques, how to interpret art, and a little Mexican history. Posada's work is incorporated into the illustrations and layouts, recalling the broadsides he printed. A terrific work to enhance resources about art, artists and Day of the Dead. Extensive back matter provides more material to jump off from.

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating short biography, exploration of the origins of Day of the Dead imagery and printmaking. It's a pretty heady combination, and the extremely cool illustrations add a lot to the experience. I do think it's an over simplification to attribute all printed calavera-like imagery to Posada, given both Holbein and Duhrer's dance of death woodcuts, but it's very interesting that the popularity of them can be dated to him.

[maowangvater · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada was a political cartoonist who used lithography, engraving, and etching, to publish his work in newspapers and as broadsides. It is his broadsides of calaveras—humorous graphics of skeletons acting as if they were living and playing, singing, wearing clothes, riding bicycles, and sweeping the streets—that have been widely reproduced for Día de los Muertos celebrations. His calaveras also influenced artists Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco. Tonatiuh’s pictorial biography mixes Posada’s distinctive calaveras with Tonatiuh’s own distinctive flat drawings of people whose faces are always shown in profile. There are also two calaveras of Posada’s predecessor Manuel Manilla included in an illustration. Tonatiuh has colored these collages of his own and the earlier artists’ work to produce a vibrant humorously bright picture book that’s appended with an informative author’s note, bibliography, glossary and index. Throughout the book the author challenges his young readers to reflect on the meaning of the art. Is it social commentary, memento mori, or perhaps a bit of both?