Reading With Your Kids Podcast

In this captivating episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with acclaimed author Angie Cruz about her delightful new children's book, Angelica and La Guira. Angie shared the inspiring story behind her book, which follows a young girl named Angelica who receives a special family heirloom - an instrument called the La guira - from her grandfather in the Dominican Republic.  Angie passionately described the unique La guira instrument, a tin can-like percussion tool with a cheese grater-esque surface, played with a metal comb. She explained how the La guira is deeply rooted in Latin American culture, and how incorporating it into her book was a way for Angie to celebrate her Dominican heritage and share it with young readers. Angie also discussed the importance of representation in children's literature, and how she was driven to create a story that would resonate with Latin kids and families. She beautifully captured the themes of family, community, and the power of music to bring people together, even when fa