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??

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

• Paleta-Themed Educational Resources
  
  
• 15 Homemade Paletas to Try this Summer
  
  
• Choose Your Snacks Wisely & Get Creative
  
  
• Airfryer Strawberry Chimichangas
  

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!

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)

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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Buenos Diaz: The Lucky Band's New Album

Happy Taco Tuesday!

Just wanted to let you know that the Lucky Band (Lucky Diaz) will release a new album called Buenos Diaz on April 5th. Are you a fan of his? If so (and even if this is your first time learning about him), you'll love the new album! There are 11 new songs that will get your kids up and dancing. I already watched his first video for the new song "Pan Dulce" and it is so fun.

And today, in honor of Taco Tuesday, they have released this video of their song with the same name. Learn how to do the Taco Dance!


It's already available for pre-order on iTunes and on Amazon (aff link).

Enjoy!