La Guitarrista

Description: "When Canta finds a guitar in the trash, she is one step closer to becoming a rock star. Even though the guitar is broken and she doesn't know how to play, nothing can stop Canta from going after her dreams!"--Provided by publisher.

Brief description:

Lucky Diaz is a Grammy Award-winning, multi-Latin Grammy-winning author, musician, and taco lover whose storytelling spans music, television, and literature. As a first-generation Mexican American, his work celebrates identity, joy, and community, bringing vibrant, bilingual narratives to young readers.

His debut picture book, Paletero Man, became an instant classic, earning starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and ALA Booklist. Recognized for its heartfelt storytelling and cultural richness, the book established Lucky as a dynamic voice in children's literature. All his picture books, including La Guitarrista and his most recent, Fix-It Familia, continue his mission of uplifting Latiné stories.

Before entering the literary world, Lucky redefined family entertainment as the frontman of Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. His trailblazing career in children's music earned historic Grammy and Latin Grammy wins and acclaim from Billboard, NPR, and the New York Times. His Emmy-winning PBS series, Lishy Lou and Lucky Too, showcased his creativity in children's television.

Lucky lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Alisha, their daughter, Indiana, and their dog, Django.

Review Quotes:

Told with unitalicized Spanish and English intertwined, the rhymes are appropriately melodic, and the art is vibrant, full of warm tones and round-faced characters full of expression. It's a combination that works: a heartfelt story of a neighborhood coming together to help a little girl's dream come true and engaging illustrations that deliver. An inspiring story of perseverance. - Kirkus Reviews

This upbeat story carries positive messages about believing in yourself, persevering when others doubt you, and achieving your dream through hard work. A fun read-aloud pick for a bilingual (or any!) storytime. - Booklist

A vibrant rhyming celebration of an L.A. neighborhood community and one Latinx-cued child's determination to find "the song in my heart." Diaz's text flows smoothly between English and Spanish as a refrain of "Strum! Strum! Strum!" propels Canta's journey from observer to performer. Emotions leap from Player's warm-palette digital illustrations, which utilize emanata and deep perspective to create a sense of movement and passionate energy around Canta's larger-than-life dreams. - Publishers Weekly

The rhyming of this story only enhances the rhythm of the guitar readers might imagine playing in the background as they read. The illustrations are vibrant and add to the feel of the story, showcasing diverse characters and the energy of the Los Angeles neighborhood where it is set. With English and Spanish text, this book could be used to foster social and emotional learning, as well as highlighting diversity. VERDICT A recommended purchase that will be fun to share as a read-aloud and inspire readers to follow the song in their hearts. - School Library Journal