New York City's desegregated Palladium Ballroom springs to life with a diverse 1940s cast in this jazzy picture-book tribute to the history of mambo and Latin jazz.
Era la década de 1940 en la segregada cuidad de Nueva York. Ya sea que bailaras al sonido de las trompetas y los saxofones en un salón en el barrio italiano o en la calle al son de maracas y congas en el barrio puertorriqueño, generalmente bailabas en el lugar donde vivías y con gente de tu mismo origen. Pero antes de que terminara la década, una nueva sala de baile — el Palladium – acogió a personas de todos los vecindarios. Cuando Millie Donay y Pedro Aguilar se encontraron en la pista de baile del Palladium, brotaron chispas y se derribaron barreras.
Dean Robbins cuenta cómo el Palladium, un excitante nuevo sonido llamado jazz latino y un baile pegajoso de Cuba llamado mambo, impulsaron el inicio del movimiento de los derechos civiles. Y Eric Velasquez retrata los bailarines de todos los lugares de la ciudad, emparejados, moviéndose hacia delante y hacia atrás, de un lado a otro, dando vueltas y balanceándose al son del jazz latino de Machito y sus Afrocubanos.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Awards
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Release date
November 2, 2021 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781536225693
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Languages
- Spanish; Castilian
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Levels
- ATOS Level: 3.3
- Interest Level: 4-8(MG)
- Text Difficulty: 0-2
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Reviews
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Starred review from August 1, 2021
Grades 1-4 *Starred Review* Young readers will be pulled into 1940s New York, a time of segregation when it was frowned upon for people from different neighborhoods and cultures to mingle. But something exciting was happening in the city: a new music style blending Latin and jazz was being born, with lively, vibrant tunes that sent a thrill through listeners, encouraging them to dance. When Palladium, a local dance hall, opened as a desegregated space, people from different neighborhoods and backgrounds came together to dance. Latin jazz had people dancing and jumping, creating new moves and a new style of dance known as mambo, which drew in people from a variety of communities. The Spanish text is both conversational and informative, liberally using such words as "giraban," "vibraban," and "meneaba," which will allow readers to feel the electricity of this music and dance as they read. Realistic illustrations with historical details bring to life the many moves and twirls dance couples enjoyed, in close-up views. Additional back matter rounds out this eye-catching account of the cultural impact of Latin jazz and mambo.COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Starred review from October 1, 2021
Gr 2-5-Hips, feet, arms-everything swishes, sways, and shimmies with the mambo. The rhythm is irresistible. Whoever hears it has to move! It doesn't matter who the dancers are or where they're from-everyone loves the new Latin jazz sound of "Machito y sus Afrocubanos." However, this is the 1940s, and each race has to stick with its own kind. All groups have separate neighborhoods and separate dance halls. No one is allowed to mix-until 1948 when the New York Palladium bucks the system and opens its doors to everyone. For the first time, people of every color dance together to the electrifying beat of Machito's band. Soon Millie, an Italian American, and Pedro, a Puerto Rican, find themselves burning up the floor together with Harry and Rose, a Jewish couple, and African Americans Ernie and Dotty. The color barrier is broken! The movement toward civil rights has begun and there is no going back. Robbins's snappy language and smoking turn of phrase brings the mambo and all its followers to life. L�zaro's Spanish translation sizzles. "Las maracas repiqueteaban. Las congas retumbaban." Velasquez's illustrations send sparks flying off each full-bleed spread. There's nothing static in these dynamic, full-movement portrayals of humans expressing the unadulterated joy of popping music and uninhibited dancing. The author's note includes historical and biographical information. VERDICT Fiery and rhythmic storytelling surges to the beat of the conga-a must-have selection for all ages.-Mary Margaret Mercado, Pima County P.L., Tucson, AZ
Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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