Culture 3: Hispanic/Latinx Literature

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music 

Written by: Margarita Engle

Illustrated by: Rafael Lopez 

Bibliography: Engle, M., & Lopez, R. (2015). Drum dream girl how one girl’s courage changed music. Clarion Books. 

ISBN: 978-0544102293 

Plot Summary: Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music is an expressively powerful picture book about a young girl who dreams of playing the drums and adding to her island home’s beautiful musical culture, breaking the cultural norms at the time of only boys playing the drums. While she is not named in the story, the picture book is based on real-life musician Millo Castro Zaldrriaga, and the story follows her life journey as she grows up in Cuba hearing the thrilling drum beats around the island, from the outdoor cafes to the park, and more. While she listens to the men playing the music, she can also feel the music in her soul, imagining her own drum beats that she would make. She is even invited to join an all-girl dance band, but she is still dissuaded from playing the drums, as those are only for boys. Finally, her father finds her a music teacher willing to teach her to play the drums, and soon she finds herself playing the bongo drums at an outdoor café for the first time. As explained in the historical note at the end of the text, the poem tells the true tale of Millo Castro Zaldrriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl in the 1930’s, who broke gender norms and made drumming possible for girls in Cuba. 

Critical Analysis: This moving poem is a lyrical telling of the true story of Millo Castro Zaldrriaga, as it is explained in the historical note at the end of the text. The author uses various literary elements to portray the pure joy that drumming brings Millo and the longing she has to be free to make the music that is in her heart. Author Margarita Engle uses repetition in multiple parts of the poem to describe the “pounding of tall congo drums, tapping small bongo drums and boom boom booming with long, loud sticks on big, round, silvery moon-bright timbales” as well as onomatopoeia with her descriptions of the way Millo hears music in ordinary sounds of “the whir of parrot wings, the clack of woodpecker beaks, the dancing tap of her own footsteps and the comforting pat of her own heartbeat.” Engle’s purposeful use of these literary elements, along with vivid word choice, makes the words themselves feel like a melody that Millo might create with her drums. Along with the exceptional writing choices made by the author, the colorful illustrations by Rafael Lopez enhance the moving lyricism of the poem while also highlighting the bright cultural elements from Millo’s home country of Cuba. While the illustrations are drawn in a cartoon style, Lopez still captures the essence of the 1930’s time period in the characters’ clothes. The bright colors used on each page reference the vivid Cuban culture throughout, and the expressions on Millo’s, her fathers, and her music teacher’s faces all further tell the story of a young musician determined to forge a way. 

Awards and Recognition: 

Pura Belpre Illustrator Award Winner, 2016 

Charlotte Zolotow Award, 2016 

Andrew Carnegie Medal, 2017 

Review Excerpts: 

From Horn Book Magazine: "Engle’s poetic text takes its cues from Zaldarriaga’s chosen instrument, its rhythm at times steadily assured and at others loose and improvisational...[E]very spread is full of motion, with some of the illustrations requiring a ninety-degree turn, as if the book itself has got to dance." 

From School Library Journal: "The heroine’s tenacity in the face of naysayers will inspire all dreamers, and the illustrator’s smile-inducing cameo on the last page emphasizes the universality of Millo’s story...For those looking for more nonfiction titles about female musical powerhouses." 

Connections: Readers who enjoyed this book may also enjoy exploring various instruments and learning about the histories of each, with notable books to go along with each instrument. Some additional books involving musical instruments or music include Tito Puente, Mambo King/Rey del Mambo by Monica Brown, Around the World in 80 Musical Instruments by Nancy Dickmann, or The Birth of the Cool: How Miles Davis Found His Sound by Kathleen Cornell Berman. Margarita Engle has written many additional books about notable Hispanic people, including Bravo! Poems About Amazing Hispanics, Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreno Played Piano for President Lincoln, and her memoir titled Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings. 

Yum! Mmm! Que Rico! Americas’ Sproutings 

Written by: Pat Mora 

Illustrated by: Rafael Lopez 

Bibliography: Mora, P., & López, R. (2007). Yum! ¡mmmm! ¡Qué Rico!: Americas’ Sproutings. Lee & Low Books Inc. 

ISBN: 978-1584302711 

Plot Summary: Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico! Americas’ Sproutings is a collection of haikus by Pat Mora about various fruits and vegetables native to different parts of the Americas, with each haiku describing a different food and then an informative nonfiction paragraph about the origins of the fruit or vegetable and interesting facts. Some of the foods include blueberries, cranberries, chocolate, prickly pear cactus, and chiles, among many more. 

Critical Analysis: This collection of haikus is extremely descriptive and rich with figurative and descriptive language throughout. Mora is an expert at finding the most enticing imagery to perfectly describe each food, such as the chocolate that is “brown magic on your tongue. Happy, your eyes dance.” While haikus are traditionally short and to the point, with only three lines and seventeen total syllables, each haiku has been carefully curated to bring wondrous images to the reader’s mind. In addition to the descriptions of the foods, Mora also provides informative paragraphs that teach the reader the origins and history behind each one. For example, Mora includes information about how potatoes are from Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, and “the Aymara Indians of Bolivia developed more than two hundred varieties of potatoes, and the Indians of Peru have more than two hundred names for their varieties.” With this nonfiction information as well, readers learn the North, South, and Central American origins of many of the foods we commonly eat today. Mora’s text is infused with many elements that all work seamlessly together and build off one another, with the haikus, nonfiction paragraphs, and illustrator Rafael Lopez’s pictures. Each haiku and accompanying illustrations are spread across two pages, and Lopez uses every inch of the space with purposeful intention in his drawings. The colors are bright and vibrant, with oranges, greens, yellows, and purples taking the majority of the space. There is variety in the scenes depicted, with some pages showing family members of all ages spending time together, while others, such as the pineapple pages, showing a more silly, fantastical picture of an anthropomorphic fruit dancing around the jungle. Even with the variety of illustrations shown throughout the book, there is still an undercurrent of Hispanic culture that threads it all together, with elements of the alebrijes from Mexican folk art and the Brazilian atabaque drums. This book is a thoughtful and fun collection of the many elements that bring us all together. 

Awards and Recognition: 

Américas Award Commended Title, 2008 

ALA Notable Children’s Book List Selection, 2008 

Review Excerpts: 

From Kirkus Reviews: “Each spread includes an informative paragraph explaining the probable origin, history and some trivia for the plant described in the poem. (López’s vibrant, folklorish illustrations make the book a visual feast, but the haikus are uneven. More interesting as social science than as poetry, but visually gorgeous."

From School Library Journal: “Using English and a smattering of Spanish words, Mora crafts a playful introduction to each one…The sense of whimsy is further underscored in López's colorful acrylic on wood-panel illustrations. Artful compositions and brilliant complementary colors bear out the book's multicultural themes…Teachers will find this a welcome addition to their social-studies units, but it should also win a broad general audience for its inventive, fun-filled approach to an ever-popular topic: food.” 

Connections: Readers may enjoy exploring recipes that involve the ingredients mentioned in these haikus, such as blueberries, chocolate, pineapple, papaya, and chiles. Some of these recipes could be found in cookbooks such as Colorful Cooking: Healthy and Fun Recipes That Kids Can Make by Jacque Wick, Gaby’s Latin American Kitchen by Gaby Melian, and A Taste of the World: Celebrating Global Flavors by Rowena Scherer. Other connection activities include learning more about elements of Hispanic culture by reading books about different types of Hispanic foods. Some of these books include Salsa by Jorge Argueta and Let’s Eat!/A Comer! by Pat Mora. Finally, readers may enjoy creating their own haikus after learning about the three line, 5-7-5 syllable format. Some other collections of haikus include Animal Ark: Celebrating Out Wild World in Poetry and Pictures by Kwame Alexander and Joel Sartore, H is for Haiku by Sydell Rosenberg, and Spi-Ku: A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs by Leslie Bulion. 

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs 

Written by: Pam Munoz Ryan 

Bibliography: Ryan, P. M. (2023). Solimar: The sword of the monarchs. Hyperion Books. 

 

ISBN: 978-1484728352 

Plot Summary: Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs is a Mexican-inspired adventurous story following Solimar, a young teenager determined to save her kingdom. Solimar is almost fifteen years old, getting ready for her quinceanera, after which she will become princess of her kingdom, San Gregorio. The story begins with Solimar in the oyamel forest, where she is visited by a majestic swarm of monarch butterflies, which her kingdom is known for as the butterflies pass through on their migration journey. Suddenly, she is given a rebozo, or shawl, and can see the near future when someone asks her a question in the sunlight. She soon learns, with the help of Abuela and the curandera Dona Ana Espinoza, that the butterflies have chosen her as the protector of the monarch butterflies, and she must carefully protect the magical rebozo, as it contains the butterflies that are currently too weak to join the migration. She needs to keep the rebozo in the sunlight, although she must be careful to not use the power of prophecy that the rebozo gives her too much, as this will drain the butterflies’ strength. Solimar is determined to help the butterflies, when suddenly her family is taken hostage by a neighboring king, Aveno, who wants to take their land for his own greedy purposes. King Aveno knows of Solimar’s new powers and wants to use this to his advantage. With her father and brother off on an expedition to the Gran Mercado, it is up to Solimar to save her family, kingdom, and monarch butterflies, and she sets off with her bird Lazaro, magical talking doll Zarita, and new friend Berto to navigate her way across the kingdom. Along the way, Solimar learns the true meaning of bravery, friendship, and loyalty, and she and her friends are able to trick King Aveno out of his cunning plan. Solimar saves both her kingdom and the monarch butterflies, and ultimately embraces the role of future king of San Gregorio so she can give everyone a fair and equal voice. 

Critical Analysis: This action-filled, heartfelt novel maintains a balance of fast-paced action and homage to cultural traditions, with important themes of protecting nature at its core. Author Pam Munoz Ryan is able to create a setting that infuses Mexican culture and traditions within each detail, including Solimar’s upcoming quinceanera, a tradition that signifies becoming a young woman in Mexican culture. Even within the fast paced action that weaves throughout the story, Ryan embeds important cultural details and explains their significance, such as the shoe ceremony in a quinceanera in which “part of the quinceanera tradition was for Solimar to enter the festivities wearing the flat shoes of a young girl …her father would step forward, holding an open shoe box with a pair of more elegant, high-heeled shoes. He would remove the flat shoes from Solimar’s feet and slip on the others, signifying her passage from childhood to womanhood.” While including traditional elements like this, Ryan also makes Solimar an independent young woman who is not completely tied to tradition, such as when she ultimately is named the “prince regent of San Gregorio” in her brother’s absence as he fulfills his own dreams and travels the world, with the potential for to become King Solimar eventually. Ryan expertly crafts a narrative that both pays homage to Mexican traditions and also creates an individualistic and strong female character that paves her own way in the world. 

Additional themes explored in the text include friendship and courage. Solimar is surrounded by vibrant, loyal friends in Lazaro, Zarita, and Berto. Each character is quite different (a bird, a doll, and a boy) and yet they all come together in friendship to help Solimar in her journey. Each character contributes to the success of this at-times perilous journey in their own unique way; without each one of them offering their own unique abilities, Solimar’s journey would be incomplete. For example, when Solimar panics at the thought of the dangerous river journey ahead of them, Zarita gives an encouraging pep talk in which she reminds Solimar that “that life vest you’re wearing that keeps you afloat and makes you unsinkable…well, it’s…it’s a metaphor...It means that you can’t be kept down. It means you keep trying, no matter what. And that you’re un-cowardly and unwavering and unstoppable!” In moments like this, Ryan creates a portrait of not only the power of friendship and encouragement, but also that courage does not mean being invincible or unafraid all the time but rather recognizing one’s own strengths and trusting yourself. Overall, the adventurous story of Solimar is an engaging and fun story that embeds powerful lessons for readers of all ages. 

Awards and Recognition: 

Florida Sunshine State Book Master List Selection, 2023 

Green Earth Book Award, 2023 

Review Excerpts: 

From Kirkus Reviews: "The text gives a nod to the colonialism that has impacted Mexico, mentioning the original borders of the country as well as Solimar’s Spanish and Indigenous heritage…Though the story is written about a teen, the engaging plotline and whimsical elements will appeal to a younger audience. An energetic romp with a conservation motif."

From School Library Journal: “Solimar’s relationship with her abuela is touching, and the characters are all well developed. The story is rich with vibrant imagery, suspense, and humor. Muñoz Ryan has given readers a strong and appealing Latinx heroine, while weaving in beautiful elements of culture, ancestry, family values, and gender equality.” 

Connections: The story ends with an overview of monarch butterflies, their importance to nature, and what we can do to protect them; readers may also enjoy reading additional nonfiction texts to learn more about monarch butterflies, including Home is Calling: The Journey of the Monarch Butterfly by Katherine Pryor, Monarch Butterflies: Explore the Life Journey of One of the Winged Wonders of the World by Ann Hobbie, or Monarch Butterflies and Their Incredible Migration: Everything You Need to Know About Monarch Butterflies: From Caterpillar to Sky-Traveler, Including Their Life Cycle, Feeding, Long-Distance Journey, and Role in Nature by Lena O. Carter. Other connections that can be made after reading this book include reading more about traditions such as quinceaneras, including the books The Fiesta Dress: A Quinceanera Tale by Caren McNelly McCormack, My Cousin, the Quinceanera by Julissa Mora, or Amigas: Lights, Camera, Quince! By Veronica Chambers. 

The Skirt 

Written by: Gary Soto

Illustrated by: Eric Velasquez 

Bibliography: Soto, G., & Velasquez, E. (1997). The skirt. Yearling. 

ISBN: 978-0440409243 

Plot Summary: The Skirt by Gary Soto tells a simple story of a young girl name Miata as she scrambles to rescue her lost folklorico before her performance on Sunday. Miata is known to lose many things, as even her best friend Ana can attest to. On Friday, Miata and Ana are being bothered by Rodolfo and some other classmates on the school bus and Miata ends up forgetting her folklorico skirt on the bus as it drives away for the weekend. Frantic, Miata is determined to get her skirt from the school bus before her parents find out; the skirt belonged to her mom as a child and Miata does not want to disappoint her by losing it. Miata and Ana sneak on three different school buses before finally spotting the skirt, and although they retrieve it, they narrowly avoid detection by Miata’s father, who has come to work on the school bus. Then, the girls, now joined by Rodolfo, escape detection by Miata’s mother as she leaves the library. Upon arriving home, Miata is given a brand new folklorico skirt. Torn between honoring her mother’s old skirt and embracing this brand-new skirt, Miata attends her performance with both skirts on, showing how the old and new can come together to honor traditions. 

Critical Analysis: The Skirt is a sweet, light-hearted story about a young girl trying her best to honor cultural traditions despite her habit of forgetfulness as she and her friend attempt to rescue her folklorico skirt so she can perform on Sunday. The overall premise is fairly simple: Miata is a forgetful young girl who accidentally left her folklorico skirt (formerly her mother’s) on the school bus, and she must get it back before the big performance on Sunday that everyone is looking forward to! While the dialogue, action, and setting are all straightforward and simple, author Gary Soto masterfully includes elements of Mexican culture throughout the story, specifically through the significance of Miata’s skirt and the cultural tradition of folklorico, which involves elaborate dresses and costumes in the dances. Miata is described as always forgetting things, scraping her knees while running around and playing, and she worries that her mother will be disappointed in her. This drives her determination to retrieve the skirt from the school bus, and she is ultimately successful with doing so. The reader may think that Miata’s parents will find out and confront her about sneaking into the school bus yard, but ultimately the story culminates with Miata performing with not just her new skirt from her mother, but also her old skirt underneath. As seen in many folklorico dances, the elaborately ruffled skirts spin around with her, revealing a symbolically beautiful representation of melding new and old together within one’s own culture. With this simple story, Soto symbolizes how culture is always being added to while still remaining true to the past traditions. To add to the story, illustrator Eric Velasque’s intermittent drawings depict Miata, her family members, and her friend Ana throughout the story. The drawings are in black and white, and are filled with specific details that depict key moments in the story, ending with Miata dancing in her two skirts. Even smaller details are included, such as how Miata dances in the traditional folklorico attire but also wears her more modern sneakers, again mirroring Soto’s themes of cultural elements of past and present. 

Awards and Recognition: 

CCBC Choice Selection, 1992 

Texas Bluebonnet Master List, 1994 

Review Excerpts: 

From School Library Journal: "A light, engaging narrative that successfully combines information on Hispanic culture with familiar and recognizable childhood themes....A fine read-aloud and discussion starter, this story blends cultural differences with human similarities to create both interest and understanding." 

From Publishers Weekly: "Soto's light tale offers a pleasant blend of family ties, friendship and ethnic pride...[and Miata is] a spunky and imaginative heroine." 

Connections: Readers will enjoy fun activities surrounding folklorico that can connect with this book, including learning about Mexican traditional dances, costumes, and music. Some books that they might enjoy include Danza! Amalia Hernandez and El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico by Duncan Tonatiuh, Lupita’s First Dance/El Primer Baile de Lupita by Lupe Ruiz-Flores, and Jose! Born to Dance: The Story of Jose Limon by Susanna Reich.