THE HUMMINGBIRD SINGS AND DANCES

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.