¡Esto es rock!

November 1, 2023

K-Gr 2-A Spanish-language picture book about the power of music to translate what is difficult to put into words. Manu comes from a family filled with musical talent. From the moment he sits in front of a piano, Manu can't stop playing and creating music in his head. The boy plays countless classical numbers but has never been able to fully share his emotions through music-because what he truly longs to play is rock. In preparation for a school talent show, Manu composes many rock songs, but since he's never been good with words, thinks his parents will be disappointed that it's not classical music, and fears being laughed at by the school bully, he has decided not to play. However, the musician is interrupted while playing rock music at school by the school bully, Joel, who confesses that he picks on people to hide that when he's emotional, he speaks in rhyme. They fix their issues by performing as a duo, with Manu playing the music, and Joel creating matching lyrics. While the resolution is a bit simplistic and rushed, the message that music is a medium that can help people come to a common ground is valuable. The vivid illustrations feature bright oranges, pinks, and purples, and the cartoonish faces are expressive, making this a great read-aloud or story time pick. The fonts and page design are dynamic adding to the big emotions depicted. A QR code for the song they create is included. VERDICT A fun tale about accepting who you are and not being afraid to show it to the world, this is great choice for Spanish-language collections.-Shelley M. Diaz

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