A Bailar!/Let's Dance - Tapa dura

"You can't help but tap your feet as you read this book The illustrations are as lively as the rhythm that urges you to move and the Spanish is so well woven into the story that bilingual readers don't even notice the shift from one language to the other." -- Mandy Cruz "Children's Literature"

"Cofer has crafted a delightful story, capturing the heart of the Latino community as it interweaves dance and life." -- Cristi Jenkins "School Library Journal"

A bailer! There's music in the park today—let's dance!" Marita and her mother are finishing their Saturday chores and anticipating Papi's salsa concert in the park that night, so Mami makes the broom her dance partner to show her daughter how to dance to the music.

That afternoon, they put on their best dresses and dancing shoes, and old Don José says they look like "dos lindas flores." He follows them slowly, “his cane tapping out a salsa beat on the sidewalk.” The music floats in and out of the barrio's alleys, calling listeners to move, move, move. Soon Marita and her mother are leading a parade of neighbors and friends dancing and singing their way to the concert.

Judith Ortiz Cofer's lyrical text combining English and Spanish is complemented by Christina Ann Rodriguez's vibrant images of the neighborhood's unique characters reveling in the beat of the music. Families will delight in reading together this warm, energetic look at one community's enjoyment of the sights and sounds of salsa music.