La Guitarrista

K-Gr 3–A young girl finds a guitar in the trash and dreams of becoming la guitarrista, but first has to give her new instrument some much needed tender loving care. With the help of her neighborhood friends, she transforms her find into a functioning guitar. She is excited and nervous to start her guitar lessons, but those emotions soon change to embarrassment when her fellow music classmates make fun of her instrument. The rhyming of this story only enhances the rhythm of the guitar readers might imagine playing in the background as they read. The illustrations are vibrant and add to the feel of the story, showcasing diverse characters and the energy of the Los Angeles neighborhood where it is set. With English and Spanish text, this book could be used to foster social and emotional learning, as well as highlighting diversity. The book spotlights the importance of upcycling, i.e., finding new uses for discarded items. The author’s note also lends so much to this personal narrative and the importance of perseverance.