Skeletown: Hola. ¡Adiós!

PreS-Gr 3–Skully is inspired to fly a kite when he sees Skelly flying her own on a windy day in Skeletown. The boy skeleton is determined not only to make but also fly a kite and gets into mischief along the way. He runs around town trying to get his kite to fly, interrupting weddings, bumping into soccer teams, and getting his feet wet with cement, among other things. At the end of the day, Skully still hasn’t fulfilled his wish, but his dad helps make his dream come true. The clever narrative features only two words throughout—hola and adiós—with the intricate scenes pulling most of the weight, and readers will lean on the images to follow the character’s high jinks. As in the previous series entries, the art is done with a limited palette, this time neon green, white, and black. It’s also rendered in the style of the calaveras art, popularized by Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada in celebration of Día de los Muertos. With its detailed illustrations and childlike humor, the latest in Montijo’s “Skeletown” series will engage readers and have them coming back for more. This book can be enjoyed with a range of readers, from early childhood to older elementary, and used in classrooms and story times.