Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle

“On an island of music
in a city of drumbeats
the drum dream girl dreamed”

She dreamed of making music with the drums but…
"everyone
on the island of music
in the city of drumbeats
believed that only boys
should play drums."

This is the true story of a girl who did not bail on her dreams. She played alone, the drum dream girl, to the music that was in her. She played to the rhythm, the beats, the music of the island. Drummed on chair backs. Riffed in her dreams. Played alone.

The pictures are ripe with the colors of the island—oranges, yellows, greens and blues. A mermaid in a dream-bubble. A young boy with his drawing pad. The illustrations a perfect vehicle for the words. Colorful and dreamy at the same time, they carry you along.

Carry you through her journey from aloneness to a teacher who believes in her. To the day when her music and message burst upon the world.

‘…everyone who heard
her dream-bright music
sang
and danced
and decided that girls should always
be allowed to play
drums
and both girls and boys
should feel free
to dream.

A book that I'd recommend unhesitatingly to children and adults alike.