2017 Towner Award Nominee
Author: Duncan Tonatiuh
Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher: Abrams
Copyright: 2015
# of pages: 40 pages
AR level: NA
Lexile: NA
Grade Level: 1-5
Curriculum Connections: Cultural awareness, Mexican history,
holiday celebrations around the world
Best lends itself to the instruction of: Close reading for the 45 grade level band
Common Core Standards
Funny Bones tells the story of
how the Calaveras— skeletons
performing various everyday or
festive activities—originated.
They are the creation of Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada. They have become synonymous with Mexico’s Día de
los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
festival. 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.
Text Features:
Author’s Note, Bibliography, Glossary, and
Index.
Towner Award Nominee—Funny Bones
Primary:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.2
Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.3
Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.2
Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
Intermediate:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3
Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including
what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.5
Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events,
ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1.c
Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information, and make comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of others.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1.d
Review the key ideas expressed and explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.
2017—pg 1
2017 Towner Award Nominee
Lesson Ideas
Text Set Options
Primary:
Teach students more about Day of the Dead by reading accompanying texts.
Have students create their own sugar skulls.
Discuss the cultural celebrations in the students’ lives that are similar to Dia de
los Muertos/Day of the Dead.
Watch Author/Illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh discuss his book Funny Bones and
his passion for the topics he writes about.
Discuss a relative or pet that has passed away that was special to them or to
their family. Have them write an acrostic poem about that relative or pet
On a map mark the locations where Day of the Dead is widely celebrated
(Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, California, Texas).
The Day of the Dead/El Dia de Los Muertos
Holiday House
2011
Bob Barner
Not AR
Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration
Peachtree Publishers
2008
Richard Keep
Not AR
Dia de Los Muertos
Albert Whitman & Company
2015
Roseanne Greenfield
Not AR
Mexican Sugar Skulls
http://mexicansugarskull.com/
Lunchtime Author Google Handout
http://latinas4latinolit.org/2015/07/lunchtime-author-google-hangout-withauthorillustrator-duncan-tonatiuh/
Intermediate:
Using a similar printmaking technique as Posada, students will create original
pieces depicting a skeleton doing daily activities. This is also a great opportunity to teach students about Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada.
Have students create a graphic organizer map to visually display the meaning
between words read in the text and related concepts.
Watch a video about the life of Jose Guadalupe Posada, put together by the
government of Aguascalientes, Posada’s hometown.
Have students make a time-line of Posada’s life and events in the book. Incorporate world events that were occurring at that time.
Information and mini-unit on Dia de los Muertos:
http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/Byrnes-celebrations/Day.html
Towner Award Nominee—Funny Bones
Day of the Dead Activity Book
Price Stern Sloan,
Karl Jones
Not AR
2013
The Artwork of Día de los Muertos: Jose Posada and his Calaveras.
https://dvhernan.wordpress.com/lessonplans/posa-calaveras/
Day of the Dead Prints inspired by Jose Posada.
http://www.teachkidsart.net/day-of-dead-prints-inspired-by-jose/
Lunchtime Author Google Handout http://latinas4latinolit.org/2015/07/
lunchtime-author-google-hangout-with-authorillustrator-duncan-tonatiuh/
Jose Guadalupe Posada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDYOpNnpraw
2017—pg 2