TL;DR: The Quick Hits
- The Book: Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh.
- The Vibe: A visually stunning, slightly edgy biography of the man who gave us those iconic grinning skeletons. It’s part art history, part social justice primer, and 100% better than the generic "holiday" books you find in the Target dollar bin.
- Best For: Ages 6–12. Perfect for kids who like "spooky" stuff but are ready for deeper conversations about fairness and history.
- Screen-Free Connection: If your kids loved Coco or The Book of Life, this is the "director’s cut" backstory they need.
We’ve all been there: it’s late October, the kids are vibrating with a sugar high, and you’re staring at a stack of library books about pumpkins and friendly ghosts that feel... a bit thin. You want something with more substance, but you also don't want to deliver a dry lecture on Mexican history at bedtime.
Enter Funny Bones by Duncan Tonatiuh.
If you aren't familiar with Duncan Tonatiuh yet, consider this your formal introduction to one of the most intentional creators in the kids' book space. He doesn't do "fluff." His work—like Separate Is Never Equal or Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote—is known for taking complex, heavy topics (segregation, migration, social class) and making them accessible through a very specific, Mixtec-inspired art style.
In Funny Bones, he tackles the life of José Guadalupe Posada, the artist behind the calaveras (skeletons) that have become the universal symbol of Día de los Muertos. But this isn't just a book about skeletons; it’s a masterclass in how media—even a simple drawing—can be used to speak truth to power.
The book follows the life of "Lupe" Posada, a printmaker in Mexico during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Back then, most people couldn't read, so Posada used his art to tell the news of the day. He worked with "broadsides"—cheaply printed sheets that were the 1900s equivalent of a viral TikTok or a spicy political meme.
Posada realized that if he drew people as skeletons, it leveled the playing field. Whether you were a wealthy socialite in a fancy hat (the famous La Catrina) or a poor laborer, underneath it all, we’re all just "funny bones." He used these skeletons to mock the corrupt government and the "fancy" people who forgot their roots.
You might be wondering why a book about a 100-year-old printmaker is on a digital wellness site. Here’s the "pickup line" truth: Our kids are consumers of massive amounts of visual media, but they aren't always taught how to decode it.
When your kid sees a satirical video on YouTube or a weird "Ohio" meme that mocks a social trend, they are participating in the same tradition Posada started. Funny Bones teaches kids that art isn't just something that sits in a museum; it’s a tool for social commentary.
It helps them ask:
- Who is this art for?
- Who is it making fun of?
- What is the message behind the image?
Check out our guide on teaching media literacy to elementary students
Let’s be real: kids love skeletons. There’s a reason Roblox is full of "scary" avatars and why Five Nights at Freddy's is a middle-school obsession. They like the "edge."
Tonatiuh leans into that. The book features Posada’s actual engravings alongside Tonatiuh’s digital illustrations. It’s a bit macabre, but in a way that feels celebratory rather than horrific. It provides a healthy, cultural framework for talking about mortality and history without the "brain rot" often found in low-effort spooky content online.
Ages 6–8: At this age, focus on the art. Tonatiuh’s style is unique—everyone is drawn in profile, inspired by ancient Mexican codices. You can talk about how different this looks compared to Bluey or Minecraft. It’s a great way to show them that "good art" doesn't have to look like a Disney movie.
Ages 9–12: This is the sweet spot for the social justice and history themes. You can talk about the Mexican Revolution, the concept of satire, and why people might use skeletons to talk about serious issues. It’s also a perfect time to discuss how Posada’s work was "open source" before that was a thing—his images were copied and shared by everyone, which is why they are so iconic today.
If you’re looking for a "happy-clappy" book about a holiday, this isn't it. It mentions the Mexican Revolution, poverty, and the fact that everyone—rich or poor—eventually dies.
However, it handles these topics with incredible respect. It doesn't pull punches about the fact that Posada died poor and largely unrecognized in his time. It’s a bit of a bittersweet ending, which is a great departure from the forced "happily ever afters" we see in most media.
If your kid is particularly sensitive to the idea of death, you might want to read it together first. But for most kids, the "skeleton" aspect is just cool, and the history is fascinating.
Funny Bones vs. Other Media
If your family is into this vibe, here are some other intentional media picks to round out the experience:
- Maya and the Three (Netflix): A visually stunning limited series that dives deep into Mesoamerican mythology. It’s high-action and perfect for kids who find books a bit "slow."
- The Book of Life: Produced by Guillermo del Toro, this movie has an incredible folk-art aesthetic that mirrors the spirit of Posada’s work.
- Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh: If your kids like the art style in Funny Bones, this book about a landmark school desegregation case in California is essential reading.
- Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio: For older kids (10+), this movie explores themes of mortality and war through a lens that feels very "Posada-esque."
Ask our chatbot for more book recommendations by Duncan Tonatiuh
When you finish the book, don't just put it on the shelf. Use it as a bridge to talk about their digital world. You might ask:
- "Posada used skeletons to make fun of people who thought they were better than everyone else. If you were going to draw a 'skeleton' version of something today—like a person obsessed with their phone or a politician—what would that look like?"
- "Why do you think Posada’s art is still everywhere today, even in movies like Coco?"
- "Do you think it’s fair that Posada wasn't famous until after he died? How is that different from how people get famous on YouTube today?"
Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras is exactly the kind of "intentional" media we love at Screenwise. It’s culturally rich, visually unique, and respects a child’s ability to handle big ideas.
In a world of "brain rot" content and algorithm-driven entertainment, sitting down with a book that explains the why behind a cultural icon is a massive win for your family's digital (and analog) wellness.
Next Steps:
- Check out Funny Bones from your local library or pick it up at an indie bookstore.
- After reading, look up "Posada broadsides" on Google Images to see the original historical prints.
- Compare the book to the movie Coco with our guide