Drum, Chavi, Drum! / ¡Toca, Chavi, Toca! (English and Spanish Edition) Paperback – Picture Book, June 19, 2013

Drum, Chavi, Drum (Toca, Chavi, Toca) is a marvelously written and illustrated story young children will enjoy. A child would not only find this book entertaining, but it is also useful for any child's learning on several levels. It is bilingual, exposes readers to Miami Cuban-American culture, and shows that girls need not be held back from persuing their dreams. I recommend it to all parents of young children.

Mayra Dole's character, Chavi, is a touching, vibrant, young female character you will want to introduce to your children. In fact, Chavi is so "touching" that she can't keep her hands from tap-tap-tapping everything that she comes in contact with. Chavi is a drummer in a culture where girls are not supposed to drum. Despite the strong forces trying to stop her, Chavi perseveres and lives out her dream. This book will give you a taste of Miami and its unique blends of cultures. Beautifully illustrated and written in both Spanish and English, this is a story that will most certainly...touch you.

Wow, This is just a delightful book. I never get tired of reading it for my Grandchildren & I have had to buy several copies so each Grandchild can have their own. This is their favorite book now & they want to drum on everything just like Chavi. My Granddaughter wants a drum for her birthday. They can relate so well with the character & it teaches & inspires them as they are entertained. I love the fresh effervescent expression of the culture & storyline & messages it gives to them. The illustrations are bright & colorful & show the culture of Cuban Miami so wonderfully. I hope every library will get this book so that many children will be able to enjoy it.

Chavi loves to play the drums and she is determined to represent her school in the most popular celebration of her barrio, "el carnaval de la Calle Ocho". She is the best drummer in her school, and wants to be rightfully recognized for her talent. Author and illustrator make a perfect match in bringing to live the colors, sounds, and flavors of Miami's Little Havana. Coupled with colorful and very amusing illustrations, the lively text maintains the roughness and authenticity of a Cuban-American child growing up in Miami. The Spanish language translation, filled with colloquialisms, is even more enjoyable than the English. Drum, Chavi, Drum is another example of Children's Book Press' dedication to depicting the reality of growing up Latino in the United States.

As a Drummer I found this to be a story showing the power & magic of culture & music & drumming to inspire all young readers & especially girls to reach for their goals. Bilingual & wonderfully illustrated to teach about other cultures. The writing is original & honest in expressing the young Chavi's world in an enchanting way. This book will beat a rhythm into your heart & all of the children who read it.

Drum, Chavi, Drum isn’t only for young kids, but adults will also love it. It delves you into the Miami Cuban culture when a funny, tender, strong-willed drummer girl isn’t allowed to play drums for Calle Ocho’s festival and does something radical about it. All moms should read this book. The lively, well-written relationship between daughter and mom will pull at your heart-strings. One big plus is that it’s bilingual and will teach kids lots of exciting Spanish words. The writing is exuberant and I highly recommend the picture book.