Book: Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle, Illustrated by Rafael Lopez

Published March 2015 by HMH Books For Young Readers|48 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: None

Genre: Children’s- Picture Books

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.

This picture book was amazing!  Seriously, it was.  I didn’t realize it was a picture book when I got the e-book from the library, but the description is what got my interest.

It would have been nice to go with the print version for this one, mostly because the illustrations are absolutely beautiful.  I apparently don’t love picture books in e-book form, because it just wasn’t the same reading it on my phone.

It didn’t stop me from loving this book, and the story it tells.  It’s about how a young girl became a drummer- after practicing in secret and dreaming of the day she can become a drummer, she has the chance to drum in public.  And because of her, all children are able to drum.  It really is a great story, and I’m going to have to read more about Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, who inspired this story.

5 stars.  This book was so cute, with great illustrations and a great story.