The Best Mariachi in the World/El Mejor Mariachi del Mundo (Paperback)

by J. D. Smith (Author), Dani Jones (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Gustavo wants to be in the family mariachi band, but he can't play the violin, trumpet or guitar. He feels left out and unskilled. Many young readers will relate to Gustavo's feelings and to his yearning for a unique talent. The vivid illustrations show the boy, accompanied by his canine buddy, visiting the desert near his home in the early mornings. Gustavo finds the cacti and the sky's "black bowl of stars" so beautiful that he just has to sing - and in so doing, recognizes what he can best contribute to the band. Washington Parent http://www.washingtonparent.com/articles/0809/books.php

Gustavo was born to a family of Mariachis who play great music at weddings and parties. He wishes he could be part of the family band, but he can't play any of their instruments and this makes him extremely sad. One night, he goes to the desert and sings a melancholy song to release his frustration. And it turns out, he has a beautiful voice! Ecstatic, he goes back to town and begins to sing at the top of his lungs. Little by little, the lights in all the houses go on and the whole neighborhood cheers him from balconies and windows. Finally, Gustavo is admitted into the family band and even told that he is "the best mariachi in the world." Beautifully illustrated with bright, vibrant colors, this is a charming tale about finding one's own talent, which also incorporates the cultural tradition of the mariachis. Available in Spanish, English, and bilingual (English text sprinkled with Spanish terms) editions, this is a great addition for public and school libraries, as well as bookstores. - Criticas

Gustavo wants to be in the family mariachi band, but he can't play the violin, trumpet or guitar. He feels left out and unskilled. Many young readers will relate to Gustavo's feelings and to his yearning for a unique talent. The vivid illustrations show the boy, accompanied byu his canine buddy, visiting the desert near his home in the early mornings. Gustavo finds the cacti and the sky's black bowl of stars so beautiful that he just has to sing - and in so doing, recognizes what he can best contribute to the band. - Washington Parent
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description
The Best Mariachi in the World / El mejor mariachi del mundo is bilingual (English/Spanish) embedded text picture book that incorporates cultural tradition, wishes, and the happiness that can be found when a person s talent is valued. Spunk and Everyone in Gustavo s family is in a mariachi band. Everyone except Gustavo, that is. They all play violíns, trompetas and guitarrones. They all make wonderful music in restaurants and at wedding parties. Gustavo would love to join the band, but he can t play any of the instruments. What s a wannabe mariachi to do? Illustrator Dani Jones uses bright, warm colors to show the hot desert landscape. She also incorporates the styles of art and patterns from the Southwestern area (the setting of The Best Mariachi in the World / El mejor mariachi del mundo) to help illustrate the story. Her bold, graphic style combined with comic interpretation portrays Gustavo s full range of emotions as he pursues his mariachi dream.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Raven Tree Press C/O Delta; Bilingual edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979446244
• ISBN-13: 978-0979446245
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,783,657 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #80 in

  Books > Children's Books > Educational > Explore the World > Fiction > Mexico

• This item is part of The The Best Mariachi in the World Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Move over, Dora the Explorer, October 19, 2008

By	Constant Reader (Virginia) - See all my reviews

My daughter, who's learning Spanish in preschool, is a big fan of this bilingual book. I am too. It's a fresh spin on a classic plot: kid despairs of fitting in, then finds an unexpected talent and acceptance. Lyrically and simply written, it sprinkles Spanish vocabulary throughout in a natural-sounding way. (Thanks to context, it's easy to tell what the Spanish words mean--a good thing for not-really-bilingual parents like me.) The illustrations are adorable and convey a true sense of place.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gustavo's heart goes on, June 15, 2009

By	John Sandrolini (palm springs, ca) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Best Mariachi in the World/El Mejor Mariachi del Mundo (Hardcover)

This is a classic children's story, beautifully illustrated. Smith should be proud of this empowering tale of a child finding his own voice, literally and figuratively.

We all know the issues Gustavo has to sort out at that difficult time of life. Smith's rendering of them in prose clear and compelling enough for children to buy into is the key to this book. I loved the message and I'm sure kids across the sweep of two languages will as well. Glad I had the opportunity to enjoy this short, sweet little story. Bravo, J.D. Smith.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun for "children" of all ages, June 9, 2009

By	L. Rocha (Aurora, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Best Mariachi in the World/El Mejor Mariachi del Mundo (Hardcover)

This is a very charming story that is beautifully illustrated. I love the Spanglish version of the book. It's fun to mix up the languages as you read it aloud. The glossary in the back helps with the definitions.

Kudos to Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones for a wonderful book that can be fun for all.