A really wonderful way to introduce children to music from many Latin American cultures and to get the whole family dancing.
A colorful collection of 19 classic children’s songs from across Central and South America and the Caribbean.
This musical picture book jumps off with the song “Canciones del colibrí” (“Songs of the Hummingbird”) from Argentina; with lyrics by compiler and illustrator Ruiz Johnson, it’s the only entry that is not in the public domain. Readers get one stanza from the song in Spanish, with its English translation below and a bright full-spread illustration on the facing page in a vibrant folk-art style. The naïve, cheery illustrations are delightful and complement the music and songs well. Every song has its own two-page spread that follows the same formula as the first song. Other selections include “El gallito,” from Guatemala; “La familia Cucharón,” from Peru; and “Zapatico de charol,” from the Dominican Republic. Following the 19 songs are a labeled map of where all of the songs are from and the complete lyrics for every song, sans illustration, in English and Spanish. Performed by Grupo Cántaro, the musical CD included with the book really rounds out the collection with catchy rhythms and lovely singing, allowing children to listen, dance, read, and examine artwork, making it a well-rounded title for little music enthusiasts.
A really wonderful way to introduce children to music from many Latin American cultures and to get the whole family dancing. (Picture book/poetry. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-2-924774-20-5
Page Count: 64
Publisher: The Secret Mountain
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A heartwarming testament to music’s emotional power.
Music moves a nonverbal child to speak.
The narrator explains that Ronan was “born quiet. Some days he hardly says a word.” Today, when Father and Mother suggest outings to the beach or park, he’s quiet. But he looks up when Grandfather bursts in and proposes attending a concert. With refreshing optimism, Grandfather proclaims it “an adventure,” though Ronan’s parents worry about the “challenge” and “risk” of taking him to a performance. And when Ronan, his dog, and Grandfather reach Symphony Hall, an adventure it is. When the music starts, Ronan is swept away in a whirl of notes. Collectively, the instruments sound like “a sky full of stars,” sending him and his cheerful pup into a space-themed reverie. Boss notes that “the darker instruments sound cool and frightening” and the lighter ones sound “warm and friendly” but does not name the instruments, a missed opportunity to deepen readers’ understanding of the music enthralling Ronan. Audience and orchestra members alike are moved to laughter and applause when the music stops, and an awed Ronan utters his first “WOW!” Kheiriyeh’s endearing, pastel-hued cartoon illustrations convey Ronan’s astonishment and joy. Though an author’s note explains that the story is based on an actual nonverbal child’s experience of a Mozart piece in 2019, details such as Mother’s pearls and housedress and Grandfather’s finned car evoke a bucolic 1950s setting. Ronan and his family present white; background characters are racially diverse.
A heartwarming testament to music’s emotional power. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781534499713
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2024
The pieces are certain to end up scattered far and wide, but in the meantime, they do offer practice matching flora, fauna,...
Forty-five magnetized items stored in a sturdy pocket can be used to fill up six nautical scenes.
The spreads—introducing the shore, beaches, coral reefs, the open ocean, and harbors—are lightly populated already but have been left with plenty of space to add any of the cartoon sea life, boats, water toys, and human workers or vacationers (all generally diverse of age and skin hue) that may fit or seem appropriate. The “Choking Hazard” warning should be taken seriously, particularly as some pieces are barely the size of a fingertip. These pieces will stay in place (absent sudden jars or rough treatment) as pages are raised or turned, and they can also be used to decorate any flat magnetized surface, although even the sailboats and other larger bits are not strong enough to use separately as fridge magnets. A final “Around the Ocean” spread acts as a key of sorts, identifying such nouns as “parrot fish,” “trawler,” and “snack” as well as such activities as “catch crabs” and “float.” It is so scattershot that readers and users may find themselves wondering how they were chosen for identification and not, for instance, “sea gull,” “buoy,” or “jellyfish.”
The pieces are certain to end up scattered far and wide, but in the meantime, they do offer practice matching flora, fauna, and general sights to various oceanic settings and shores. (Novelty. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 7, 2018
ISBN: 979-1-02760-429-6
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Twirl/Chronicle
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2018
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