MAMIACHI & ME

A young Latine girl is thrilled to join her mother’s all-female mariachi band.

Today will be Rosa’s first time performing onstage with the group, and she’s nervous. But Mamiachi, as she sometimes calls her mother, gives her a pep talk about bravery and strength and reminds her of her namesake, Rosa Quirino, one of the first female mariachis. Donning matching pink trajes de charro, the musicians hit the stage. Rosa wonders if she’s really ready—will the audience like her? With Mami and the rest of the band, made up of a trio of loving madrinas (who vary in ethnicity), Rosa summons her courage and lets the music flow out for an emotional first performance. When the music ends, the audience enthusiastically applauds, and Rosa knows that she’s a true mariachi. Vibrant illustrations echo the lively mariachi tunes; the color pink, which figures prominently, pops against the darker backgrounds. The authors artfully convey Rosa’s journey from uncertainty (“My knees are knocking, weak and wobbly”) to triumph: “I feel like I am soaring through the melody, painting a picture with my hands and using my voice to tell our story.” Backmatter includes mini biographies of three influential female figures in mariachi and provides information on the formal suits that mariachi wear.

A heartfelt testament to the power of family and culture and the courage to find one’s voice.