Mama Does the Mambo

Mama Does the Mambo
Book Review III

Author: Katherine Leiner
Illustrator: Edel Rodriquez
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Realistic
Primary Characters: Mama and the narrator
Secondary Characters: Papa, Rosa, Dora, Eduardo
Publishing: Hyperion Books For Children 2001
Awards: Américas Award Commended Book

Theme: Never let a tragedy take away your joy for something that you love.

Summary: Mama does not dance anymore now that Papa has passed away. Her daughter, the narrator, tries to find her mother a new dancing partner for the Carnival. She finds a genlteman named Eduardo. The only problem is he is not a very good dancer. At the carnival, the narrator is the one who ultimately dances with Mama as she does the Mambo. Mama's joy has been restored.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this book could be used to aid in discussions about the Hispanic and Latino cultures. Also, it could be used to introduce students to a few Spanish vocabulary words.