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“Don't be afraid to dream.“

I would use this book with elementary students. Drum Dream Girl can be used to explore music, culture, and perseverance. Students can discuss Rosa‘s dreams, identify instruments, learn about Afro-Cuban rhythms, and connect art to storytelling. Activities include creating rhythm patterns, drawing dream-inspired scenes, and talking about breaking barriers, encouraging creativity, empathy, and cultural awareness.

Picture book (2015) The illustrations are a vibrant celebration of rhythm, culture, and defiance. His acrylic-on-wood art bursts with saturated colors and dynamic compositions, capturing the energy of 1930s Cuba and the inner world of a young girl dreaming of drumming. López blends realism with surrealism, using dreamlike sequences—such as floating instruments and a dragon-shaped rhythm—to symbolize the protagonist‘s aspirations and challenges.

“So the drum dream girl had to keep dreaming and drumming alone.“

Drum Dream Girl can be used in elementary classrooms to explore music, culture, and breaking gender barriers. Teachers can discuss the illustrations and text to highlight rhythm, expression, and storytelling. Students can create their own art inspired by music and learn about diverse musicians.

Picturebook (2015): Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael López, features vibrant, energetic illustrations that capture the rhythm and spirit of music. Bold colors, dynamic compositions, and expressive characters bring the story of a girl breaking barriers in drumming to life. The illustrations reflect movement, culture, and emotion, enhancing the story‘s celebration of perseverance and creativity.

“But everyone on the island of music, in the city of drumbeats, believed that only boys should play drums.”

This book is great for ages 5–9 (Kindergarten through 4th grade) The story celebrates following your dreams and challenging unfair rules, teaching children about persistence and self-confidence.

“Her big sisters were so excited that they invited her to join their new all-girl dance band.“

Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle (2015)Pura Belpre Award-Vibrant, colorful palette: López uses bold, bright colors — reds, yellows, blues, and greens — to reflect the energy and rhythm of Afro-Cuban music. Many spreads show movement and flow, capturing the beat of the drums and the excitement of parades and music. Illustrations combine painting, collage, and textured patterns, giving depth and a tactile sense to the artwork.

This book is great for the classroom because it celebrates following your dreams and breaking barriers. The vibrant illustrations show rhythm and movement, sparking discussions about music, culture and self-expression.

In Drum Dream girl, published in 2015, the illustrator uses bright colors, bold lines, and swirling patterns to show the energy and rhythm of music. They use space, movement, and layered textures to guide the eye, highlight key moments and make the story lively.

Drum Dream Girl is great for the classroom because it celebrates following your dreams and breaking barriers. The vibrant illustrations show rhythm and movement, sparking discussions about music, culture, and self-expression, while inspiring creativity and confidence in students.

“Her big sisters were so excited that they invited her to join their new all-girl dance band“

In Drum Dream Girl, published in 2015, Rafael López uses bright colors, bold lines, and swirling patterns to show the energy and rhythm of music. The illustrations use space, movement, and layered textures to guide the eye, highlight key moments, and make the story lively, engaging, and full of emotion for young readers.

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music was written by Margarita Engle. This book shares the story of one little girl who loved music. However, music was banned for girls on the island that she lived on. But, one day, she decided to follow her heart and do what she loves.

so the drum dream girl
had to keep dreaming
quiet
secret
drumbeat
dreams.

Beautiful book about a girl who chose to never give up and chase her dreams of drumming.

2016 Pura Belpre award winner. This book is about a girl who dared to dream. She lived in a village where only boys and men were allowed to play the drums. She dreamt nigh and day about playing the drum and all kinds of them. Until one day her dreams became a reality.

This book tells a beautiful story of a little girl. In her culture girls are not allowed to use drums, only boys. Though, girls are expected to help make music on the music island. This idea can be applied to other aspects or issues in the real world!

“And both girls and boys should feel free to dream.”

Love love this book! 11/10 review. Takes readers into a magical world. Also, it encourages femininism as the underlying / deeper meaning.

So the drum dream girl had to keep dreaming and drumming alone until finally her father offered to find a music teacher who could decide if her drums deserved to be heard.

Recipient of the Pura Belpre Award this fictional story is full of music and rhythm. A young girl‘s drumming dream becomes her reality as she continues to chase her dream (even when people told her no). The story reminds us that life always has challenges but no matter we can conquer them and let our light shine

This book won the Belpre award and The Newberry award. It was published in 2015. This book was such a good women‘s rights and power book! It would bring about a good lesson for children.

I love how peaceful and not caring what others think she looks in that photo!

“Her big sisters were so excited that they invited her to join their new all-girl dance band”

“Both girls and boys should feel free to dream”

Overcoming societal norms and following your dreams. Girls can do anything boys can do!

This book was published in 2015 and received the Pura Belpre Award. This was a beautiful story about a girl who persevered despite being told no because she was a girl. This is an inspiring story about never giving up on dreams and pushing past societal norms. This book is about girl power!

“The brave drum dream girl dared to play tall conga drums small bongó drums and big, round, silvery moon-bright timbales”

Inspiring story of a young girl breaking cultural norms and chasing after her dream.

Drum Dream Girl won the Pura Belpré award and author Margarita Engle was awarded the Newbery Honor. This book was about a girl who dreamed of breaking the cultural norm that only boys could play drums. Throughout the book the girl kept dreaming and dreaming and how she kept playing the drums even when she was told it was only for boys.

Favorite quote: “where everyone who heard her dream-bright music sand and danced and decided that girls should always be allowed to play drums and both girls and boys should feel free to dream.”

This is a great book to use when teaching about cultural differences for young children!

Pura Belpré Award, published in 2015. This book did a great job of portraying the music, customs, social norma, etc. of the culture of Cuba. I liked how some of the pages had words that were printed sideways instead of the standard upright like most books. Illustrations were very colorful and helped to explain the story of the drum girl.

This book was outstanding! I would love to read this in a future classroom. Even today, some girls feel like they can‘t do certain things boys can do. I don‘t want any of my future students to feel that way, and I think this would be a great book to read to show ALL my students that they have the freedom to do what they want.

The book Drum Dream Girl, winner of the Pura Belpré Award, is an amazing book. The book follows a girl who dreams of drumming, but can‘t play the drums in her town due to the fact she‘s a girl. One day, she has her dad and a music teacher take a chance on her and she is finally able to play drums like all the boys in her town! After that, she decides that all girls AND boy should be free to drum and to dream.

“So the drum dream girl had to keep dreaming and drumming alone”

….the brave drum dream girl dared to play tall conga drums small bongó drums and big, round, silvery moon-bright timbales.

This book is the perfect read for students struggling with what is accepted with their gender. This shows that no matter what your gender is you‘re likes and interest are accepted no matter what. I believe reading this book would make your students feel comfortable in the classroom.

The Newbery Honor book, Drum Dream Girl was by far one of my favorite reads so far. This book takes the reader through the main little girls story and dreams. This story goes through the process of dreams turning into real life. The illustrations help portray the girls feelings and wants too.

“And even though everyone kept reminding her that girls on the island of music had never played drums the brave drum dream girl dared to play…”

Persistence is key for this young girl who really wants to drum. With her courage and dreams she was able to achieve all she could ever want!

Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle and Rafael López is the story of a girl who‘s dream is to drum. Unfortunately, the little girl knows that drumming is for boys only but that does not stop her from dreaming about drumming. Her persistence and practice drives her to be a great drummer. This book is a Pura Belpre Award winner and the bright illustrations keep the reader wanting more. I must also add this book is a poem turned picture book!

“The brave drum dream girl dared to play tall conga drums small bongò drums and big, round, silvery moon-bright timbales.”