This children's book describes how a Mexican-American family celebrates the traditional Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos). The book centers on 10-year-old twins, Ximena and Azucena, who live in Sacramento, California, with their two brothers, older sister, and parents. The Day of the Dead takes place on the first and second day of November and honors relatives and friends who have died. The holiday celebrates their spiritual return to Earth to share a special feast with the living, and has roots in the ancient history of Mexico and in the beliefs of the Aztecs. In 1974, the twins' father helped to revive this traditional celebration in Sacramento. The celebration begins at home where the whole family works together to create an alter or "ofrenda" to honor the departed souls of relatives. The alter consists of Mexican food, flowers, clothing, holiday decorations, and photographs. The twins' father, who is also an artist, helps his family make skeleton masks to be worn on the second day during the procession to the cemetery. At the end of the procession, there is a large ofrenda, built by the people in the community to honor all the dead. Later, a priest from the Catholic church comes to perform a Mass in Spanish. Traditional dancing and music is also an important aspect of the celebration. The twins reflect on the meaning of their participation in the holiday and how it puts them in touch with the values of traditional Mexican culture and the religion of their ancestors. Contains photographs, a glossary, and an index. (LP)