Gift for Abuelita / Un Regalo Para Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead/En Celebracion del Dia de Los Muertos

First-time illustrator Chapman's inventive full-page collagelike tableaux distinguish this otherwise flat bilingual story. Luenn's (Squish! A Wetland Walk) narrative conveys only a glimmer of the relationship between young Rosita and her grandmother, Abuelita, before the woman dies; she relies on the metaphor of braiding to carry readers through the explanation of customs for the Mexican celebration of the dead. The story opens with Abuelita teaching Rosita that ""one strand alone can be broken, but when they are woven together, they make a cord that is strong. Like my love for you and your love for me."" The tale suffers from a number of awkward transitions and clumsy sentences (e.g., one page begins with ""Abuelita scolded the day she discovered Rosita pulling up plants in the garden"" and ends with Abuelita's death). The illustrations create the warmth between characters absent from the text; Chapman casts wet paper pulp in molds then glues numerous layers into a wooden frame, giving the compositions the feel of embroidered quilts. Beads, twine and wooden figurines complete these intriguing, complex creations, apt for a story of handcrafted gifts. A brief author's note explains some of the particulars of the Day of the Dead, yet a few phrases will remain a mystery to children (as when Rosita's family buys ""bread of the dead"" at market). The artwork is the real gift here. Ages 5-8. (Nov.)