Dole, Mayra L.
Drum, Chavi, Drum! (Toca, Chavi, Toca)
Children's Book Press, California (August 2003).
A contemporary realistic fiction tale written by a Cuban-born writer and Senegalese djembe drum player; djembes are often traditionally played by males throughout West African and Caribbean cultures. Dole's work sends a rhythmically empowering message to young girls everywhere to challenge that reality!
Foley, Erin.
Festivals of the World: Puerto Rico
. Gareth Stevens Publishing Company (1997). Examines several facets of cultural celebrations embraced in Puerto Rico.
Da Coll, Ivar.
Azucar! La Vida de Celia Cruz
. Lectorum Publications, New York (2005). Autobiography of renowned Cuban songstress, Celia Cruz, written in Spanish.
Dworsky, Alan.
Conga Drumming: A Beginner's Guide to Playing with Time
(Book & CD Edition), Mel Bay Publishers (1996). Provides background info on Conga drums, along with practice guide on how to play the percussion instrument.
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How To Play Djembe: West African Rhythms for the Beginner
. Dancing Hands Music - Book & CD Edition (July 2000). Provides background info on Djembe drums, along with practice guide on how to play the percussion instrument
Feelings, Tom.
Middle Passage - Introduction by Dr. John Henrik Clarke
. Dial Books, New York (1995). A pictorial essay of the Middle Passage beginning from European shores to the Americas. A handy visual resource to highlight the African holocaust.
Lester, Julius.
From Slaveship To Freedom.
Puffin Books, New York (December 1999). Another artistic portrayal of the black man's journey to Western shores during the middle passage.
Medaris, Angela Shelf.
The Singing Man
.
Holiday House, New York (1994). This Nigerian folkoric tale explains the trek of the griot (African storyteller who passes the history of his people from one generation to the next) and how music and storytelling came to be in Nigerian culture.
Souhami, Jessica.
The Leopard's Drum: An Asante Tale from West Africa
. Little, Brown & Company, New York (1995) A fun-filled Ghanaian that explains how--by what of a drum--the turtle got its shell.
Yolen, Jane.
Encounter.
Voyager Books, New York (1996). An intriguing historic fictional work retelling Columbus' voyage from a Taíno child's perspective