PICTURE BOOK: The Invisible Parade by Leigh Bardugo & John Picacio
ABOUT THE BOOK
Everyone in the neighborhood was getting ready for the party.
Everyone knew somebody on the guest list. . . .
This was the day the dead returned.
There's a party tonight, but Cala doesn't want to go. While her family prepares for the celebration, Cala grieves her grandfather and tries to pretend she's not afraid.
But when she is separated from her family at the cemetery, Cala encounters four mysterious riders who will show her she is actually quite brave after all.
Brimming with magic and humor, The Invisible Parade is the first picture-book collaboration between award-winner John Picacio and New York Times bestselling Leigh Bardugo. Set on the night of Día de Muertos, Cala's story is one of love, loss, and the courage that can be found in unexpected places.
REVIEW
While The Invisible Parade won't suit every reader, there's no doubt it's a stunning work of art in both text and art. Cala grieves the loss of her beloved grandfather. She's not at all eager to celebrate Dia de Muertos with her family. She wears her skeleton costume throughout the preparations for the visit to the cemetery, her grief almost palpable. Her reluctance is obvious as she hangs back as her family enters the cemetery. After getting separated from her family, Cala is left to face four unusual riders, skeletons in various forms. One is sick, one is hungry, one is grumpy, and the last represents death. As Cala speaks to each skeleton, she is reminded of experiences she's had that day that help her realize that good can come from difficult experiences--sickness leads to loving care from family, hunger can inspire gratitude, and fights can lead to forgiveness. The fourth rider reminds her that death does not need to be feared as lost loved ones remain in one's heart and mind. As the riders deliver Cala to her family, she finds herself ready to join the party honoring her ancestors. Beautifully illustrated and written, The Invisible Parade highlights grief, and fear, and loss, and yet by the end what one remembers is the love and the memories that remain, the beauty that can come from ashes. While I wouldn't share this picture book with young readers (those skeletons are likely to be frightening for some children), the message about facing fear and grief and the celebration that is Dia de Muertos is an important one. Highly recommended for the right audience.
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