Tony Johnston

Books by This Author

Day of the Dead

Illustrated by: Jeanette Winter
Age Level: 6-9

"Above a small town in Mexico, the sun rises like a great marigold." So begins one family's preparation for El día de los muertos. The children are eager to try just a taste of this and that, but everyone says they must wait until the family is ready to take their offerings to the cemetery for a night of celebration and remembrance. The warmth of this story about one of Mexico's most important traditions shines through the text and illustrations.

Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea: A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants

Illustrated by: Stacey Innerst
Age Level: 3-6
Early miners' pants couldn't hold up as they dug for gold when the California gold rush started — until a man named Levi Strauss headed west with a "DANG!" good idea! This tall tale version of how Levis (jeans) came into existence is told with verve and humor in both textured illustration and lighthearted text, ideal for reading aloud. It fills in what little is known about the real man.

My Abuelita

grandma with grandson
Illustrated by: Yuyi Morales
Age Level: 3-6
Language: Spanish vocabulary featured

"Abuelita's hair is the color of salt. Her face is as crinkled as a dried chile. She booms out words as wild as blossoms blooming. She stuffs her carcacha — her jalopy — with all the things she needs: a plumed snake, a castle, a skeleton, and more. Her grandson knows he has the most amazing grandmother ever — with a very important job. What does Abuelita do? Readers will enjoying guessing in this story sprinkled with Spanish and infused with love." — Amazon Review

P is for Piñata: A Mexico Alphabet

Illustrations of children playing with a piñata
Illustrated by: John Parra
Age Level: 6-9

An A-Z tour of our neighbor to the south in P is for Piñata: A Mexico Alphabet. Visit the tomb of a Mayan king, experience the life of the vaquero (Mexican cowboy), attend the world-famous Ballet Folklórico de Mèxico, and sample the everyday treat that was once known as the "food of the gods." From folk art to famous people to the original "hot dog," the treasures of Mexico are revealed in P is for Piñata.