Kenya's Song

February 1, 2013

K-Gr 3-Though Kenya comes from a musical family, she is having trouble with her homework assignment-choosing her favorite song. Her daddy, who plays jazz piano, takes her to the Caribbean Cultural Center, where she hears songs in several languages, dances the merengue, and makes maracas. Walking home through the park, their feet keep time, and they make up words to match the marching-band beat. She asks for her dad's help in writing an original song. The next Monday, the students in Mrs. Garcia's class share music and dances from their homelands. When her turn comes, with her daddy on the piano, her classmates sing along, and Kenya sings, "English, French, Spanish, too-/Music's how I speak to you!/Doesn't matter where you're from-/Just sing your song and play your drum!" The illustrations, done in colored pencils and watercolor, show talented young people proud of their heritage and willing to share it with others. The final illustration is a chalkboard map of the Caribbean islands, showing how much diversity exists in places so close together. Teachers and librarians will want to share recordings of the various types of music, and some lucky listeners may have hands-on experiences with maracas, bongos, and other rhythm instruments. Kenya's appreciation for the music around her and her loving relationship with her father make this an appealing story for most libraries.-Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

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