Module 11: Tito Puente Mambo King- Rey Del Mambo

Brown, M., López, R., & Dominguez, A. (2013). Tito Puente, Mambo King =: Tito Puente, Rey del Mambo. New York, N.Y: Rayo.

 

Summary: Tito Puente grows up in Spanish Harlem loving rhythm, dance and music and is encouraged by his mother and his neighbors to pursue it. He works hard and achieves his dream of being his own band leader as well as making more than 100 albums and working with several Latin American musical artists. Tito’s story is told in beautiful illustrations that convey movement and the text is in English and Spanish.

Response: I loved reading this book and did so multiple times. There was so much to take in from each picture, each so bright with color and energy. I thought that it did a wonderful job to convey the pursuit of rhythm and music that ruled Tito Puente’s life. I enjoyed reading the text in English and Spanish and thought that it was great to have the availability of this story in both languages.

Reviews:

Tito Puente: Mambo King/Rey del Mambo. By Monica Brown. Illus. by Rafael Lopez. Mar. 2013. 32p. Rayo, K-Gr. 3.

"!Tum Tica! !Tum Tica! The dancers twirled, the lights swirled, and the mambo went on and on." Like so many of Brown's biographies, such as Waiting for the Biblioburro (2011) and Side by Side/Lado a lado: The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez/ La historia de Dolores Huerta y Cesar Chavez (2009), Tito's story introduces readers to a vibrant Latino figure. As a baby, Puente made music with pots and pans, and he later grew up to fulfill his dreams as a musician and beloved bandleader. Award-winning illustrator Lopez brings Tito's story to life in vibrant acrylic salsa reds and oranges, which are splashed behind every shake of Tito's hips and wink of his eyes. The swirling, whirling compositions add to the text's rhythmic beat. To continue the rumba after Tito's story has ended, the last page of the book offers a simple melody to play on its own or alongside the book. An author's note (in both English and Spanish) sheds more light on Puente's life.--Angie Zapata

Zapata, A. (2013, March 1). Tito Puente: Mambo King/Rey del Mambo. Booklist, 109(13), 55.

Program: Have an event for Latin American drumming and music for kids where kids and parents are encouraged to participate and learn about the different rhythms that make up the popular music styles.