Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle audiobook

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

By Margarita Engle
Read by Adriana Sananes

Dreamscape
0.18 Hours • Unabridged
Format : Digital Download (In Stock)
  • 1 Format: Digital Download
  • $9.99
    or 1 Credit

    ISBN: 9781520018201

Girls cannot be drummers. Long ago on an island filled with music, no one questioned that rule—until the drum dream girl. In her city of drumbeats, she dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. She had to keep quiet. She had to practice in secret. But when at last her dream-bright music was heard, everyone sang and danced and decided that both girls and boys should be free to drum and dream. Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba’s traditional taboo against female drummers, Drum Dream Girl tells an inspiring true story for dreamers everywhere.

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Summary

Summary

Girls cannot be drummers.

Long ago on an island filled with music, no one questioned that rule—until the drum dream girl. In her city of drumbeats, she dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. She had to keep quiet. She had to practice in secret. But when at last her dream-bright music was heard, everyone sang and danced and decided that both girls and boys should be free to drum and dream.

Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba’s traditional taboo against female drummers, Drum Dream Girl tells an inspiring true story for dreamers everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

Editorial Reviews

“Engle’s poetic narrative…evoke[s] a nighttime tropical dreamscape.” —New York Times Book Review
“Engle’s spare, rhythmic text gets at the heart of the struggle to achieve a dream…Details of Cuba’s and the protagonist’s Chinese, African, Taíno, and Spanish roots are seamlessly interwoven into the lyrical narrative…The heroine’s tenacity in the face of naysayers will inspire all dreamers.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
“The rhythmic text tells Millo’s story and its significance in minimal words, with a lyricism that is sure to engage both young children and older readers…A beautiful account of a young girl’s bravery and her important contribution toward gender equality in the creative arts.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A valuable addition to the growing library of stories about strong Latina women.” —Publishers Weekly
“This book is a beautiful and thoughtful addition to any library.” —Children’s Literature
“A story that will imbue readers with inspiration and a yearning to make music of their own.” —Booklist
“Sananes portrays the spirited sounds of Zaldarriaga’s brave quest to play the drums. Listeners will feel they’re privy to the girl’s playing in secret until her father relents and hires a tutor. Sananes’s lively pronunciation of adjectives adds to the richly descriptive story. Marvelous sound effects of pounding on tall congas and tapping on small bongos as well as the clucking of chickens who make up Zaldarriaga’s audience provide authenticity. Most gratifying is hearing the historical notes, which reveal that she gained critical acclaim as a drummer, even playing for President Franklin Roosevelt’s birthday.” —AudioFile

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Author

Author Bio: Margarita Engle

Author Bio: Margarita Engle

Margarita Engle is a Cuban-American poet, novelist, and journalist whose work has been published in many countries. Her books include the critically acclaimed The Poet Slave of Cuba, which was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Bank Street College of Education Best Book, and a Bulletin Blue Ribbon book, among other honors.

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Details

Details

Available Formats : Digital Download
Category: Nonfiction/History
Runtime: 0.18
Audience: Children (8–12)
Language: English

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