Book Review: Drum Dream Girl

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music is by Newberry Honor Winner Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Lopez. This one gets my enthusiastic thumbs up!

Introduction

This book is part of a preschool music kit that I checked out of my local library, and I am so glad that I found it! Drum Dream Girl is the winner of the Pura Belpre Award, an award which honors a Latino or Latina author each year.  The honor goes to a book that promotes Latin American culture and experience to children through a picture book!  

History

Children can travel to the faraway island of Cuba and hear the true story of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl drummer! Through rhythmic poetry, the author weaves the story of a girl who keeps hearing the same message- drumming is not for girls! However, The Drum Dream Girl can’t be stopped, and she spends her days drum drum drumming! Read the book for yourself to see how she is able to change all of Cuba! In the back there is even a historical note that gives the details on Millo’s journey to become Cuba’s first woman drummer!

A Book for Girls AND Boys!

This story gives an amazing message to our girls! It is OK to question those who say that “Girls can’t” or “Girls Shouldn’t” and reach for your dreams!  Boys hear an amazing message as well: Girls can follow their passions and are valuable! When Millo’s dad decided to let her take drum lessons, I felt like cheering!!

Music in the Pages

Beyond the beautiful story, children are exposed to the rich pictures and word pictures of different types of hand drums.  The author describes timbales, conga, bongos, and even rattles! The reader is inspired by the Drum Dream Girl’s musical dreams, and her hard work is an inspiration too! The Drum Dream Girl was a girl who studied her craft and practiced hard! The bright bold colors of the illustrations transport the reader to 1930s Cuba.  The rhythm of the pictures and the poetry emulates the sounds of the drums which they describe!

If you are looking to bring a little music and fun into your day- this is the book for you!  You can watch the read aloud of this book below! 

Read Aloud with Becki

Purchase your copy of Drum Dream Girl Here!

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