EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

PRAISE

“Filled with color, imagination, and music, this bilingual picture book is a captivating journey through Caribbean culture and pays tribute to some of its most influential artists. Bright and dazzling illustrations mimic the rhythms of both the story and its settings. Readers are introduced to metal art and other concepts with a comprehensive glossary at the end of the book. VERDICT This companion to Sofi and the Magic, Musical Mural is an homage to Caribbean culture and a great addition to any children’s collection.”—School Library Journal

“Vibrant art and vivid settings bolster the magical realism. The tale gains authenticity through racial diversity and a superb Spanish translation in this celebration of the wonderful cultural contributions of Caribbean residents.”—Booklist

“A little girl steps into a piece of art and connects to a musician and artist from Hispaniola in a second book about the young girl’s introduction to different cultures (Sofi and the Magic, Musical Mural / Sofi y el mágico mural musical, 2015). After Sofi is unable to create the color purple for art class, she leaves school frustrated. On her walk home, she finds a painter working in a nearby garden. Touching a painting, she finds herself meeting two important artists: Dominican Afro-Latin singer and composer Juan Luis Guerra and Haitian sculptor Guerlande Balan. Sofi helps Guerra finish the lyrics to a song and then makes a perfect purple to assist Balan with a statue. The book features blocks of text, English followed by Spanish, over mostly double-page spreads of Sofi’s adventure. The story serves as a primer on some Haitian and Dominican terms and cultural touchstones.”—Kirkus Reviews

PURCHASE

Purchase Sofi Paints Her Dreams from Arte Publico Press, Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

MEDIA

NPR Arte Público Press Author Interview: Dr. Raquel M. Ortiz, February 2020

Download the FREE Educational Guides by clicking on the images below:

Caregiver Guides (English and Spanish)