Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz

The following is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Hey, friends! Do you follow Lucky Diaz? From The Lucky Band? I first wrote about him and his band just over two years ago when I discovered his fantastic music video for his single Pan Dulce! 

I'm a big fan simply because I LOVE his bilingual music and I think it's engaging for kids, too. (Check out his YouTube channel here.)

Well, tomorrow, Lucky is launching his first children's book, Paletero Man (aff link), and I was lucky to get my hands on an advanced copy! Y'all. It is so colorful and fun to read. I've read it (more than once) to my 3yo and he (being a paleta junkie) adores it.

The story is based on Lucky’s Los Angeles diverse neighborhood and Latinx culture. But, honestly? It reminded me of the Dallas neighborhood and community where I grew up. And I suspect that Hispanic families across the country may recognize the neighborhood in this book.

In this story, a young boy is melting on the hottest day of the year and goes in search of relief by looking for Paletero José and his cart of many flavors (and colors!). But once he finds el paletero, he discovers he has lost all his money along the way! What's a boy to do??

The books is written in English with Spanish sprinkled in here and there. 

What I love best about the book is how colorful it is. The illustrations by Micah Player are fabulous and capture the story line perfectly.

An Exclusive Song

Of course, Lucky couldn't resist composing a new song to celebrate the release of his children's book. Like all of his music, it makes you want to get up and dance. (It's irresistible to kids!)

You can listen to it here on the HarperCollins website.

Free Reading Comprehension Questions

And because I find it impossible to resist, I put together these reading comprehension questions for you to use with this sweet book. Just click below to get your free copy.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

In addition to the new book, The Lucky Band will release an album of original songs on June 25th called Crayon Kids. I can tell you that it's just as big a toe-tapper as his other albums. Your little one's body can't help but move to the lively beats!

Thanks for all the great resources, Lucky!

Paletero Man in Spanish!

PSST! Did you know this book is now available in a bilingual version??

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New Music Video from Whistlefritz

Hey, Friends! Have you heard that there's a new video available on Whistlefritz's website? Whistlefritz is a MommyMaestra sponsor and that gives me an opportunity to find out first about new products to share with you!

La Música is a Spanish sing-along adventure video is made up of segments of kids dancing, singing, or acting out the lyrics to Spanish-learning songs. The songs cover a wide range of topics from Se habla español (teaches all the places where people speak Spanish), Sonidos del flamenco (teaches vocabulary from flamenco), Cuando sea grande and En el puente D'Avinon (different jobs), Buenos días (greetings and weather), Días de la semana (days of the week, action verbs, and parts of the body), Uno, dos y tres (numbers and parts of the body), Al supermercado (foods), and Sabes tu sembrar la col (parts of the body).

All of the songs except one feature live people to engage your children - Al supermercado is the only one that's animated.

Music is such a great way to facilitate language learning. Kids just learn concepts and vocabulary so much more easily when they are set to music. So if you are looking for a way to nurture your child's language learning and are wanting to incorporate music, check out Whistlefritz!

Online Preschool Music Class

The following post is in collaboration with Clap for Classics! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I was a little kid, I spent a LOT of time watching cartoons - Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, to be exact. In fact, I would say that watching them was my first exposure to Classical music. I imagine many of you can relate.

My love of classical music never really went away. I still have a radio button in my car programed to our only classical station. Part of this is because of my love for it, but another great part of it is my desire to expose my children to it. Especially my 3-year-old. So you can only imagine my delight when I learned about Clap for Classics!

Quick Overview

Program: Clap for Classics!
Religious Perspective: Secular
Format: (Self-Paced) Recorded & Live online classes
Ages: 0 - 5
Price: $27 - $270 (see description below)

Making egg shakers

Classical Music Benefits Toddlers 

So does classical music actually make babies smarter? There's apparently no evidence that just listening to it does. Though studies do show that listening to classical music sometimes helps calm and soothe cranky babies and infants.

What we do know is that INTERACTIVE music lessons are extremely beneficial to young children. Learning through music is easier and so much more fun. Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers love a good song. They love moving their bodies to music. This observation has obviously been noted around the world throughout much of history. The proof is in the frequency of songs, fingerplays, and even rhymes that have been passed down from one generation to the next.

After birth, a child's neurons and synapses develop quickly. And music is just one way to stimulate them into creating connections. Songs teach language and other basic concepts, such as rhythm, rhyme, and more. 

To learn more, check out the article that PBS published on the benefits of music education. 

Self-Paced Online Music Classes

When my older kids were little, they took music classes. But that was a long time ago. However, they loved it so much that now that I have a 3-year-old again, I've been on the lookout for music classes once more. But it's been very challenging given the pandemic. Enter Clap for Classics! 

Oh my gosh! These online classes are just fabulous! Created by two sisters, Clap for Classics! is a series of music courses for young children. The focus here is the joy of music-making. Children not only learn by listening to classical masterpieces (for example, Peter and the Wolf), but they also learn by interacting with you. My 3yo absolutely loves these interactive classes that are full of movement and singing. We improvise by finding and using items we already have around the house to make music or to do the musical activities that we're shown in each video lesson. 

Kathryn and Elizabeth are both classically trained musicians and it is obvious from their beautiful singing. They take turns leading the different courses. But they are equally talented and engaging with children. Your kids will sing, march, stomp, and crawl their way through each lesson

We've watched many of the courses and loved every one. Each course comes with:

• short video clips that introduce music and a lot of singing, 
• various activities and printables, 
• audio tracks, 
• and some even have Spotify playlists. 

If you're worried about screen time, the short clips are more like sitting in front of a teacher leading the class. They often have one of their children participating in the video, which really helped my son to participate in the activities because he wanted to do what the other kid(s) were doing.

The things I like best about this course is that it allows us to watch the lessons at ANY time of the day. And if we sit down and my 3yo starts melting down, I just stop it and we can come back to it later when he's in a better mood and able to pay attention. I also like that we can replay a lesson over and over as many times as we want to listen to the music and engage in the activity. We can watch just one session a day - or ALL of them! Doing it on our time schedule makes this a golden opportunity.

The Music Courses

At the time that I write this, there are 10 courses in all for a variety of ages. The Nursery Rhyme Baby Time course is for infants ages 0 to 2. SO MUCH FUN! In each video, Kathryn sings a different nursery rhyme and shows parents engaging activities to do with their babies, such as using a (silk) scarf as a sensory experience and to develop spatial awareness or using brightly colored shakers to develop their fine and gross motor skills. I love that most of the videos are around 2 minutes because little babies just don't stay focused for longer than that! There are 16 video clips total in this course. And you can watch them over and over or skip around. I like the versatility and the ability to choose whichever video fits our mood at the moment. And if you prefer to go in order, you can also mark each video as viewed in case you forget where you left off. 

My only regret is not having found this program about two years ago! But even though my youngest is 3½, he still really enjoyed this class. 

We also have started watching Carnival of the Animals course bundle. This is a three-month course that teaches SO MANY concepts, such as musical concepts, fine motor skills, and even languages! Everything is taught using animals as the subject. And imagine my delight when I found that they even have a whole lesson dedicated to Los Pollitos teaching children the Spanish version! 💓💓💓🐤🐥🐣

But hands down, my absolute favorite is the Peter and the Wolf bundle. It's a two-month course that introduces children to the instruments in the orchestra, musical concepts, and more. It is, of course, terribly fun for children who almost always love the story line of Peter, his grandfather, and all the animals. There are a lot of activities and best of all, a printable puppet set for your kids to use in the lessons or on their own while listening to the music and narrator.

The Price

You have the option of buying the courses directly from the site - they range in price from $27 to $75. OR you can purchase a monthly subscription for $27/month. If you prepay for a year, you get two months free! Check out their products page to see a complete list of courses.

***NOTE! Clap for Classics! is offering MommyMaestra readers a 20% discount off any course purchased between now and May 31st, 2021. Just enter the coupon code HOMESCHOOL at checkout.

Free Mini Course

If you are interested but want to try a class out first, Clap for Classics! is offering a free mini course titled, Bumblebees, Birds, & Beethoven. It's for children ages 0 to 5. Really, the teachers are just so clever! I love the creative way they introduce Beethoven's 5th Symphony to children using a story to capture little imaginations. I think once you try this course, you'll be hooked and want more for your children. 

Don't wait! Go sign up for this fabulous freebie.

Or if you're already convinced and want to sign up for their monthly subscription service, you can sign up here.

Want to find this post again? Pin it!

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• Little Creatures: An Introduction to Classical Music
  
  
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Premiere! Vamos a jugar, Let's Go Play

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with The Bright Siders. 

Today, I'm happy to share a new song from a new group called The Bright Siders!

The Bright Siders is a unique musical collaboration between Nashville-based Americana songwriter Kristin Andreassen and Brooklyn-based child psychiatrist Kari Groff, MD. Together, they create music to help children connect to their emotions. 

Ten years in the making, their carefully crafted, star-studded debut album A Mind of Your Own arrives just when the world needs it most as the importance of mental health resurfaces in the public consciousness. Releasing on January 21, 2021 via Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the album invites listeners to think deeply about empathy and self-compassion as they navigate the beauty and complexity of their emotional lives.

With an inclusive cast of inspiring vocalists – including Ed Helms, The War & Treaty, Gaby Moreno, Punch Brothers, Joey Ryan (The Milk Carton Kids), Oh Pep!, Kaia Kater, and more – Andreassen, Dr. Groff, and their co-producer, Chris Eldridge, offer a profoundly empowering collection of songs and skits for elementary-age children and the grownups who love them. 

Vamos a Jugar/ Let's Go Play

Today, Mommy Maestra is the first to share the album's bilingual song, "Vamos a Jugar/ Let's Go Play"! It's performed by Latin Grammy-nominated artist Gaby Moreno, who is Guatamelan-American and lives in Los Angeles. Moreno performs in Spanish as a counterpoint to the English vocals of Joey Ryan, from the popular indie band Milk Carton Kids. (Incidentally, Moreno will be singing at the inauguration tomorrow!!)

Y'all, this is just the cutest song. I love it so much. Not just the cumbia beat, but the easy bilingual conversation-style of the song. You'll think you're listening to two friends at the playground. I love Joey's receptive attitude to learning new words in Spanish, and Gaby's obviously fluent responses.

The song was recorded during Andreassen's 2019 trip to Los Angeles. She was with The Punch Brothers in Los Angeles when they received their GRAMMY Award, and she met up with Moreno at a playground where they recorded “Vamos a Jugar.” The bilingual song was inspired by conversations around immigration and the experience of being a newcomer to this country. The cumbia beat reflects the experience of a Guatemalan immigrant who is the “new kid” at school. Joey Ryan (Milk Carton Kids) plays the other kid, learning Spanish names for the playground equipment.

Be one of the first to listen to the new song here:

Smithsonian Folkways · The Bright Siders - Vamos a jugar, Let's Go Play(feat. Gaby Moreno & Joey Ryan)

Free Online Piano Lessons: Encore Music Studio

Are you looking for a way to start or maintain your child's piano lessons from home during the pandemic? Or maybe you're looking for lessons that fit your budget? Check out the free online piano lessons from Izzie Chea! Ms. Chea teaches voice, piano, and flute out of her home in Texas. Her Facebook page is Encore Music Studio.

Free Piano Lessons via YouTube 

Oh, my gosh, friends. She is the nicest and so much fun. Ms. Chea is a virtual piano teacher giving FREE fun piano lessons on YouTube and Facebook live. She gives full, 30 minute piano lessons to kids, teens and adults. She gives LIVE lessons on Facebook every Friday at 1:00pm CST!

Watch her introductory lesson below. It is the first lesson in her children's series. She tells you which books to purchase for the lessons, explains how a piano works, how to hold your hands/fingers, where the different keys are, and more.  If you love it, you can join her private Facebook group Encore Music Makers.

Now, guys here's the thing. Ms. Chea is SO NICE to offer these lessons for free. She's made this a donation-based studio. So if you decide to participate in these lessons, after you buy your books, PLEASE consider donating whatever you can on a weekly or monthly basis via Patreon.com/izziechea. 

We're here to help each other and $5/mo or even $10/mo if you can spare it for piano lessons is a deal you won't find anywhere!

The Piano Lesson Books You'll Need

Here are the books that you'll need for these lessons. I've included links to them using Ms. Chea's affiliate links so when you purchase them, she'll get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. It's one way to support her in exchange for her free lessons. ♥

Piano Lesson Book: Complete Level 1, for the Later Beginner

Alfred's Basic Piano Library Theory Complete, Bk 1: For the Later Beginner

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• Great Spanish Songs for Your Classroom!

Back-to-School with 123 Andrés

Learn Spanish with your Kids -- a fun Back-To-School Giveaway with 123 Andrés

For a few years now, we've been highlighting the amazing albums and videos by 123 Andrés. The musical duo, Andrés and Christina, are well-known among bilingual and Spanish-speaking families. In fact, they won a Latin Grammy for Best Children’s Album in 2016 for their album, Arriba Abajo.

I love 123 Andrés because of the educational component that comes with ALL of their songs. And it is no surprise because Christina has a Masters in Education and was once a public school teacher. 

I'm so delighted to be able to offer a great giveaway for a MommyMaestra reader!

Win this bundle of musical learning fun:

• Hola Amigo: Songs of Friendship  album
• Hola Amigo/Hello Friends picture book from Scholastic
• Una Idea Tengo Yo album
• Canta las Letras (2019 Latin Grammy-nominated album!)

123 Andrés is releasing a surprise digital album – Hola, Amigo: Songs of Friendship. The album, due out Aug 21, contains remastered versions of Hola, Amigo in Spanish and English, and eight more songs that explore the theme of friendship, in two languages. The album and the picture book with Scholastic both celebrate 10 years of  123 Andrés music for kids. The bundle also includes two recent and acclaimed albums by 123 Andrés.

For more information and the latest live stream concert schedule, please visit www.123andres.com.

The Giveaway

One MommyMaestra reader will win this great package!

To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter below.

¡Buena suerte!

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Bilingual Children's Albums by Nathalia

Friends, I love today's giveaway.

We frequently talk about how important music in education is. In fact, it's critical in early education. Children instinctively love music and they learn concepts and skills much faster when music is involved. That's why I love it when artists use their music not just to entertain, but to educate.

And Nathalia does just that!

A native of Colombia, Nathalia moved to the US to attend the Berklee College of Music and later began her career as a music therapist and early childhood music educator. Since 2012, she has recorded and released four children’s albums, which were all co-produced and performed by Grammy award-winners. In her albums, Nathalia demonstrates how her unique style of bilingual songwriting, undefined by genre, can sound both mainstream and family-friendly. She has been a featured guest on Univision's Despierta America, CBS's The Talk, and her music has been played on a number of parenting blogs and online radio stations. Nathalia’s South American heritage and passion for bilingual education serve as major influences in the music she creates.

Nathalia has recently launched 'Un Momento con Nathalia' a bilingual children's web series that explores and introduces different themes and concepts based on Nathalia's original songs. Follow her at https://www.youtube.com/nathaliamusica

Nathalia is just a natural educator and I love her bilingual web series. Here's one of my favorite episodes:



She also hosts virtual preschool music classes via ZOOM for ages 1-5 in both English and Spanish. For more information visit www.firststartmusic.com

Website: www.nathaliamusic.com

Instagram: @nathaliamusica

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathaliamusica

The Giveaway

Nathalia has graciously offered a copy of her two albums - When I was Your Age and En la radio - to one lucky MommyMaestra reader.

To enter to win, just use the Rafflecopter below. 

Good luck!

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GIVEAWAY: José-Luis Orozco's ¡Muévete!

Friends, I have a special treat for you today! The talented musician, José-Luis Orozco has a new album out. ¡Muévete!: Songs for a Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body (aff link) is energetic, fun, and the perfect way to get your little ones moving at home!

José-Luis created this album with your child's fitness in mind. With each and every song, children are encouraged to get up and move. They clap, stomp, dance their way through each melody. There are nine songs sung twice; once in English and once in Spanish. You'll recognize a couple of traditional ones such as Los Pollitos. But I'll admit it, my favorite is Monica!

José-Luis is just so energetic and his humor is infectious. You can tell that he truly loves and enjoys singing and dancing with the children. And they love him, too, as you can see from the video below.

What I like best, I think, is that he has been true to children's education from the very beginning. His songs teach children so many important skills. From numbers to colors to science and more, his songs are a valuable addition to a child's elementary education. I'm not the only one to say so, either.

Did you know that three times in his life, he's been invited to sing at the White House? And he has sung for several Central and South American presidents!

Today, he's released the first music video to go with his new album. It's fun to watch AND sing along! Check it out and share it with your children...

The Giveaway

José-Luis has kindly offered to send a copy of his new CD to two (2!) MommyMaestra readers.

To enter the giveaway, please use the rafflecopter below.

¡Buena suerte!

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Little Creatures: An Introduction to Classical Music

The Secret Mountain does it again! Another excellent book for children has been released this month and it's as classic and beautiful as its subject matter.

Little Creatures: An Introduction to Classical Music (aff link) is a remarkable musical picture book with an accompanying CD. It features the work of 17 composers covering five centuries of music history. From Josquin des Prez to Silvestre Revueltas, your children will discover composers who composed music during the last 600 years.

What is most unique about this book, I think, is the way in which children are introduced to these musicians and their work. Visually, the focus is on little creatures; insects, arachnids, small mammals, and amphibians fill the pages of this book in unusual ways. They may sport little boots on their feet. They may be playing the violin or cello. They may be pounding away at the piano or blowing on a clarinet. It really is the craziest thing you ever saw.

But I love that it is a little avant-garde because that's how you capture a child's attention and keep them engaged. (It certainly caught my attention.)

And each illustration comes with writing that shares the title, the composition, the composer, and a short story that talks about the animal and its influence on the composer. Each composition has a sound bite on the CD. So, for example, the 8th track on the CD has a sound clip to go with the 8th story in the book. The musical snippets are about 1 to 2 minutes in length.

One of the other things I love is that the author, Ana Gerhard, was born in Mexico. She studied as a concert pianist at the Mexican National Conservatory. Little Creatures is actually the fourth book in a series of Introduction to Classical Music. The others are:



In addition, the illustrator, Mauricio Gómez Morin, is also of Mexican heritage. His art is exquisite, as you can see from the images shown. It suits each piece perfectly and conveys what Gerhard is trying to present to her young readers.



Included in the back of the book are sections with:

• a listening guide, 
• short bios of the 17 composers, 
• a timeline of composers and periods, 
• a glossary of musical terms, 
• and the accompanying CD.

Truly, this book can be used with children of all ages thanks to the information found within. Younger children will enjoy the illustrations in the front of the book and the music. And older kids can go more in-depth by studying the composer bios in the back of the book and reading the listening guide before (or while) they listen to the CD.

This is such a gem of a book that both families and schools alike will love it.

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• Great Spanish Songs for Your Classroom!

Great Spanish Songs for Your Classroom!

The following is a guest post by Risas y Sonrisas founder, Leticia Smith.

What do you want to achieve with music in your classroom? Some songs are designed to teach specific vocabulary lessons while others can teach cultural lessons or simply be fun to sing. To effectively use music to accelerate learning, it is important to pair the song with movement, pictures, or lyrics so students understand what they’re singing. After students learn the song, continue to activate the vocabulary with visual aids, games, acting, writing, and drawing. Here are four options for great Spanish songs for your classroom!

¡Qué disfruten!

Sing-Alongs for Younger Kids

Sing-along songs are simple and easy to learn. Some of the songs have the same tune in English and Spanish, which helps students learn to hear and repeat Spanish words. These songs are best used with pre-K and Kindergarten classrooms but can also work with elementary-level students. They tend to tell fun and silly stories rather than teaching specific vocabulary. Here are a few YouTube channels with colorful and cute bouncing-ball videos.

• Gallina Pintadita
• Plim Plim
• ToyCantando

Cri-Cri: El Grillito Cantor (Cri-Cri, the Little Singing Cricket)

Cri-Cri’s songs are full of fun storytelling, cute characters, and a variety of musical styles. They work with a variety of elementary ages, but are best used with students who already have some Spanish vocabulary. Cri-Cri has been popular with children in Mexico for generations, so your students can gain some cultural knowledge along with the music! Their YouTube channel is full of songs with which children can sing along.

• Cri-Cri - Caminito de la Escuela

Miss Rosi

Miss Rosi is an educator and singer based in Peru. Her gentle, folksy songs for children are easy to sing and tend to have a moral, natural, or cultural lesson. Again, these songs are presented only in Spanish. Her YouTube channel videos include lyrics.

• El invierno

Risas y Sonrisas

If you’re looking for songs to teach vocabulary by theme, Risas y Sonrisas Spanish for Kids is your best bet! The fun and catchy songs present vocabulary with fun visuals and the option of using American Sign Language to make the connection with its meaning. Then, the vocabulary learned through the songs is reinforced with a complete set of immersion-based printed and digital games and activities. The program also includes songs that tell fun stories or teach about Hispanic culture. The curriculum contains over 40 original songs, many of which are available on their YouTube channel. 

• Los Colores – The Colors
• Cuaderno de Colorear (Tu Mundo) – Coloring Book (Your World)
• Los Números 1-10

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• Little Creatures: An Introduction to Classical Music
  

------------------------------------------------------

Leticia Smith is originally from Mexico City and has lived in Austin, TX since 1986. She received a BBA with a Minor in Marketing from Texas State University and an Accelerated Learning certificate from the University of Houston. Not knowing then the impact it was going to have in her future, she worked four consecutive years in the university's Spanish department where she acquired invaluable experience teaching college students twice a week and offering tutoring services. Later, when she had the opportunity to teach children, she discovered that her true vocation was to teach and inspire others to put joy into learning. Her years of experience as a Spanish instructor teaching children in all grades at elementary schools eventually led to the development of her award-winning program, Risas y Sonrisas.

Ravel's Boléro Lesson Plans

© Can Stock Photo  miceking

Maurice Ravel's most famous musical composition turns out to be (ironically) one that he considered to be his least important work. I am, of course, talking about Maurice Ravel's Boléro.

Ravel's Bolero

The French composer wrote this Spanish-themed, one-movement orchestral piece for his friend the Russian dancer and actress, Ida Rubinstein. The story gets messy, though. You can read about what happened here on Classic fm.

The music composition itself is a simple, yet a fascinating piece that is very rhythmic and concentrates on repetition. It maintains a constant rhythm that is set by the snare drums and repeats the melody 19 times. The simple melody is first played by the flute, but each time it is repeated by a different orchestral instrument (clarinet, bassoon, oboe, saxophone, and so on) until the finale, when it is played by nearly all of the instruments of the orchestra. (See video below.)

Ravel was very close to his mother, Marie, who was Basque but had grown up in Madrid. It is said that her Spanish/Basque heritage was a strong influence on his life and music. And perhaps that was reflected (whether he realized it or not) in his composition, Boléro, which he supposedly based on the musical form and the actual Spanish dance called bolero.

Lesson Plans for Ravel & Boléro

And here are a few fun lesson plans designed around Ravel and Boléro:

• Boléro: Rhythms, Obsession, and Art - Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO)
• Bolero to Bachata - LPO
• DSO Kids: Maurice Ravel
• Use Ravel's Bolero to help teach KS2 music

Check out this video:

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Learn Spanish with Super Stolie

This is a sponsored post.

I'm always happy to discover new artists who are sharing their love of Spanish with children in fun and educational ways. Music is such a great way to help children learn and retain information and new languages. So today, I'm pleased to introduce you to Super Stolie!

Rebecca Stoelinga, performing under the name Super Stolie, is a musician and performer. For the last 11 years, she's been writing and performing for children. The great thing is that she recently began to offer bilingual shows - ¡Super Stolie Guacamole! - to encourage children to learn more about the Hispanic culture. Her bilingual shows intertwine nursery rhymes to entertain her younger audience with movement activities for the energetic ones. Older kids get to participate through volunteer opportunities.

Her website says that Stolie took "Honors Spanish in high school and revived her Spanish learning in 2015 with an immersion program in Guadalajara, México. She then visited Pacific coastal town, Puerto Vallarta, where she now spends all of the winter months — practicing Spanish, playing music for tourists, booking her summer shows, and avoiding the cold."

Honestly? I'm always a skeptic when I read things like this until I actually hear a person speak Spanish to see if there's any kind of accent.

But after I saw this video, I was sold. How fun is it? You can find it on her Super Stolie 10 album, which also has the "Boca, Boca, Boca" song. You can listen to it using the link above.

Since starting out, Super Stolie has released four albums of original music. This year, Super Stolie will release a bilingual album with more songs like those I mention above, so be on the lookout!

She'll also be offering her original songs as sheet music for young piano and guitar learners, as well as translate her songs into readable book form — in both English and Spanish! 

I love her rhythm and energy. And I like how much time and effort she's put into her music. She performs more than 100 shows each summer across the country, but mostly in Chicago. To find out if she'll be somewhere near you or to print out her show schedule, click here to view her 2018 Tour dates.


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Super Stolie. All opinions are my own.

New from 123 Andrés: La Luna

For my 123 Andrés fans and those with little ones at home, this post is for you!

One of our favorite bilingual artists has released a new album and this one is just perfect for putting your nenes to sleep.

La luna: canciones para soñar (aff link) from 123 Andrés is lovely collection of lullabies, mostly in Spanish. From the opening song, De 1 a 10, your children will be captivated by both the tune and the child singers. (I, of course, love it because even as you put your babies to sleep, you'll be teaching them how to count!) In fact, there are a number of U.S. and Latin American artists who have contributed to this album, including Latin Grammy nominees Mariana Baraj and Sophia.

ALL of the songs are soothing and great for calming down our hyper balls of energy. :) And Andrés does with such creativity! He's has incorporated Latin American rhythms into his songs, including loncomeo (a form of Patagonia Folk Music), candomble (Afro-Brazilian music), huayno (Andean music), and merengue (the genre from Venezuela), to name a few.

There are also original songs mixed with traditional tunes that you probably recognize, such as Un elefante. Take a look...



How sweet is that?

What I might love best about the album, though, is the fact that Andrés and Christina, his partner, took the time prior to creating the songs to poll their followers and find out what words they use to send their little ones to sleep with love. AND THEN they incorporated those messages throughout the album!

I love it. And I think you will, too.

New Spanish Album for Kids: Primavera {GIVEAWAY}

Where are my parents who are raising bilingual kids? Those of you who have toddlers and elementary-age children should check out this lovely new album from the talented Mariana Iranzi. (I wrote about her here four years ago!)

Her latest album, Primavera (aff), is a collection of 17 original songs that will teach your toddlers and preschoolers about the world around them. From animals to anatomy to the alphabet, Mariana has selected topics that are an important part of a child's education. Take a look at the song titles:

1. La Primavera Llegó
2. Voy a Pintar un Cuadro
3. Todas las Flores del Jardín
4. Florcitas
5. Caracol
6. Cosquillitas
7. Llueve
8. Riega, riega
9. Corazón
10. Animalitos Sonoros
11. Mariposa
12. Salta Conejito
13. Mariquita
14. Las Vocales
15. Rueda, rueda
16. El Abecedario
17. Planeta Tierra

The music is fun and joyful - perfect for little ears. Your children will sing and dance their way through the album as they learn about las vocales, caracoles, and la planeta Tierra! But you can judge for yourself. Go and listen to snippets of the songs on her website.

And because Mariana understands that parents and educators want to extend the learning experience, she has created an activity booklet to accompany the album. It includes a picture sheet, a suggested activity page for pre-readers/writers and readers/readers plus music/movement and the lyrics for every song on the album.

The Giveaway

Mariana has graciously offered a digital copy of her new album with the activity booklet to three (3!) MommyMaestra readers.

To enter to win, simply use the Rafflecopter below.

¡Buena suerte!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cántale a tu bebé - Sing to Your Baby

For those of you who follow me on Facebook and Instagram, you know that I recently had a baby. That's why posting here on MommyMaestra has been super sporadic lately. My baby has been demanding ALL of my attention - as he should these first few months. We're busy bonding, talking, smiling, nursing, and singing our days (and nights!) away.

This is also why I'm super excited to share with you this resource for new (bilingual!) parents! A few years ago, the picture book Sing to Your Baby (aff) was published by award-winning musicians Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer. Their intention was to help parents get over the idea that they need to have a beautiful voice to sing to their children. (Wha-what?!?) I guess lots of parents are too self-conscious to sing aloud to their babies.

But do you know what? Your baby doesn't care if you sound like Linda Rondstadt or Placido Domingo. Your baby DOES, however, need to be spoken to on a daily basis as much as possible. AND studies show that from their first day of life, babies can discriminate rhythmic patterns. Their young brains are primed for music. In fact, we know that singing to your baby can improve both their communication skills and their pre-literacy skills.

When my first child was born, I instinctively sang to her. I think most moms do? I didn't worry about what I sounded like (let's face it - she had nothing to compare me to anyway!). I chose to sing the songs of my own childhood. From "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" and Ernie's "Rubber Ducky" to "Duérmete mi niña" and "Naranja dulce limón partido" to nonsensical little ditties I just made up myself on the fly. I sang away to my first two children born over a decade ago, and my new baby is no exception. But I'm not the only one. Seeing my example, my older son now sings to our new baby, too. :)

Back to the book! Sing to Your Baby is a collection of 11 original songs. They are simple and sweet and will develop your baby's vocabulary. The cool thing is that if you purchase the book, you'll have access to the music download site. There are 22 tracks - two for each song. Why two? Because the authors recognize that women and men sing in different keys, so they've recorded each song in different keys (each with a female and a male singer). Just listen and sing along. Before you know it, you'll be singing the songs on your own anywhere and everywhere!

The picture book itself begins with a note to parents, then has a few of pages with words of encouragement, and then pages with the actual lyrics to each song. At the back of the book is a Parent Guide written by psychologist and educator, Laura G. Brown, Ph.D. She shares tips for developing your baby's learning skills and ways that you can nurture their developmental transitions.

Now for the BEST PART: This month, the authors released a Spanish version of the book! Cántale a tu bebé (aff) is a lovely translation of the original book. The songs are sung by bilingual musicians and native Spanish speakers, Sonia de los Santos and Jorge Anaya.

What I found to be especially touching is that both of these books have been adopted by the Celtino Foundation, who uses the books in schools in Honduras with families who are learning English or simply want to sing to their babies in Spanish.

So if you are the parent of a new baby or if you are expecting or know someone who is, consider investing in this beautiful book!

Mozartistic CD {GIVEAWAY}

I love it when people take educational concepts and transform them in order present the information to kids in a way that makes learning fun. I have to give the creators a slow clap of appreciation.

And today's giveaway falls into this category.

Mozartistic is a new CD from 2017 Grammy winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, who recorded with the highly respected pianist Orion Weiss, DJ Marley Carroll, and the entire cast of Asheville Symphony.

This CD is so unique! It breaks new ground in blending symphonic music with hip hop technique, combining the rich and deep strains of classical with the boom bap drums of classic hip hop. Says 23 Skidoo “By combining Mozart’s music and the story of his youth with hip hop we hope to reach new ears with the timeless message that talent can be awakened and its gifts of beauty and love shared with the world.”

The title track is a lush and funky take on the story of young Wolfgang. As a child prodigy, Mozart toured across Europe with his sister and father, not only performing for the locals but often besting them in improvisational competitions as well. This became the creative window into this unique song. A high energy, raucous reframing of Mozart’s most famous works in hip hop format provides the backbeat for rhymes telling his story, relating it to an audience of kids who may themselves be dormant prodigies. You and/or your children may recognize some of Mozart's most famous pieces embedded in the music and merged with the hip hop beats.

The Mozartistic EP debuted as part of the Asheville Amadeus Festival, an Asheville community-wide music event celebrating the music and life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Asheville Symphony’s Executive Director, David Whitehill said “The Mozartistic album provided us each with the opportunity to create something really unique and dive into each other’s worlds of classical music, hip-hop and children’s music. The album is also an opportunity to tell Mozart’s story and share this wonderful message for kids that everyone has their own inner prodigy and we all have something special inside of us.”

Check out this behind-the-scenes peek of the making of Mozartistic:

MOZARTISTIC is available on both iTunes and Amazon (aff).

The Giveaway

I'm happy to have the opportunity to giveaway a copy of the CD to two MommyMaestra readers!

To enter to win, simply use the Rafflecopter below.

¡Buena suerte!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Laurie Berkner's Superhero Album for Preschoolers

When my kids were little, we'd often go over to my mom's house to visit. 'Buelita would sweep them up caring for them like a mother hen. I would sleep or slip out for a few moments to myself, only to come back and find them all sitting on the couch watching and singing to Laurie Berkner on TV.

We eventually bought Berkner's album at Target so that we could rock out whenever we wanted. While that seems like only yesterday, the reality is that it was at least eight or nine years ago. And it is almost impossible to think about those days without thinking about the music my children sang and danced to almost daily.

I think the children's network that used to air Berkner's music videos has long since changed, but luckily the artist is still going strong. Last month, The Laurie Berkner Band released a new album - Superhero. And today's toddlers (and their mommies) will be just as enchanted with her music as mine were almost 10 years ago.

From reggae to Latin to '60's pop, Superhero takes your child on a musical ride. They'll hear songs that make them jump up and move their bodies, as well as ballads to help calm them down...and each one has something important to teach your young preschooler.

Berkner says that the goal of this album is self-empowerment. It's about "being ourselves and discovering the superhero in all of us."

My favorite song is My My Marisol, which is just fun and full of imagery. Actually, all of the songs on this album are about subjects to which preschoolers can relate: being the center of attention, bath times, bed times, magical fireworks, body parts, and more. There's even a fun song - Pool Safely - all about being safe in and around water.

She also has joined forces with a number of guests to create these songs. Musical talents such as Ziggy Marley, Kira Willey, and bandmates Brady Rymer, Susie Lampert, and Bobby Golden all combine their talents to bring you this collection of 21 songs, plus two bonus tracks!

To hear samples of the songs on Superhero, see the lyrics, or to purchase/download your copy, visit this page on LaurieBerkner.com.

And don't forget that many of her songs have music videos that you can find on YouTube, like this one...



Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this album for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

10 Musical Crafts to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage from Daria Music

Hispanic Heritage Month starts this month! And I'm delighted to share with you this wonderful resource from Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou. You may remember my review of her wonderful app World Music for Kids with Daria Music earlier this year. And if you've never visited her website, you must do so today! It's perfect for exploring world music as a family or classroom.

She also has TONS of excellent products available on TpT, like this one.

If you've already learned about famous Hispanics and you're looking for a unique way to explore Hispanic heritage, 10 Musical Crafts to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage has 25 pages of activities for your child/student to enjoy. From Spain to Peru, your child will learn about instruments like the quijada and el cajón. Your child might read about the history of a particular instrument, or she may create her own similar instrument out of household items. Daria has even included beautiful coloring pages.

I love that Daria includes not just the history of the instrument, but also simple instructions on how to play it. I found these reading passages fascinating. My kids and I really enjoyed learning about instruments that we've never seen - or heard of - before. 

The activities are great for developing a child's imagination and creativity. And the fact that a student can actually play their instrument when they finish is, of course, rewarding.

Overall, this is a really high-quality resource that reflects Daria's extensive knowledge of world music.

If you'd like to purchase this excellent eBook for your child, homeschool, or classroom, visit Daria's TpT shop, Daria Music. While you're there, explore the dozens of other excellent downloads she's carefully and knowledgeably created - you have more than 100 from which to choose!