¡Canta Conmigo!

Book excerpt: "Sing, play, move, create, and experience joy with living musical traditions from Guatemala and Nicaragua. Suitable for use in families, schools, or community centers, this resource contains a playful collection of 90 songs, singing games, chants, and games the author learned from teachers, children, and families while living in several communities in both countries. While the majority of the songs are in Spanish, a few in a Mayan language, Kaqchikel, are included. Field video, audio recordings, and select song histories are available on the companion website to witness the music in authentic contexts, guide in pronunciation, and trace musical origins. Ethnographic descriptions of locations where songs were learned and personal biographies of a few singers written in Kaqchikel or Spanish and translated to English allow the reader to develop a connection to the land and the musicians. Culturally responsive and sustaining teaching pedagogies are discussed alongside strategies to responsibly include the music into school curriculums. A brief history of Central America and an overview of music genres in the region are included to frame this song collection within historic, cultural, and musical contexts. ¡Ven a cantar y jugar! Come sing and play! The song pages are playfully and thoughtfully illustrated by Sucely Puluc from Guatemala. children's songs, folk music, traditional music, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Central America, Culturally Responsive Teaching, music education, Spanish, Maya, Kaqchikel"--