Joselito knew he wanted to be a mariachi the first time he heard a group perform the traditional Mexican folk music. He and his sister Lupita wanted to wear the fancy outfits—big hats, colorful bowties and shiny boots—and sing just like them! Their mother said they were too little; their dad said the hats were too big for them and their grandfather said their voices weren’t strong enough yet. When the boy sang at school, the other kids laughed at him, but his teacher encouraged him to “Keep on singing, Joselito. One day you will be a great mariachi.” So he and Lupita practiced and practiced. Finally, their parents thought they were ready and bought them the special outfits—black with silver details for him, and white with gold trim for her. “They were the best presents ever!” The siblings began performing at parties and soon they were known as “the Mariachi Kids.” Not only did their classmates quit making fun of them, but they won an important competition too! This bilingual picture book about kids who persist in chasing their dream also shares information about a beloved musical genre. Containing the lyrics for the iconic Mexican birthday song, “Las mañanitas,” in Spanish and English, this book will familiarize young readers with a popular art form while reminding them that “practice makes perfect!”
