SALSA LULLABY

It’s bedtime, and Baby isn’t having it. What’s a parent to do?

No problem—just dial up some hip-swaying, foot-moving salsa music! In the kitchen, Mami kicks up her heels with the baby bottle while Papi dances his giggling infant across the living room floor. The exuberant family dog joins in the fun as Papi spins Mami around. Finally, the baby cuddles in Mami’s arms as the dance slows. The salsa lullaby soothes as the baby’s parents tuck their tot in with a stuffed toy. While both child and doggy friend drift off to sleep, they continue following the salsa beat in their dreams. Unfortunately, Arena’s mostly English four-line verses fail to conjure salsa’s infectious beat and bobble a bit in one stanza: “Mami glides across the floor. / Papi sets the pace. / Baby sings la la la, / makes a silly face.” There are only seven Spanish words (not counting “Mami” or “Papi”) in the entire book—one per each two-line, nonrhyming refrain. “Baila, baby, baila. / Dance, dance, dance.” The phrase “Buenas noches” is paired with “Good night!” outside the preceding pattern and rhyme. Meza’s characters present as a loving Latinx family but appear to be dancing swing rather than salsa. A retro boombox is the source of the swirling musical notes and floral designs that also fail to evoke salsa’s spicy tempo. Maurie J. Manning’s Kitchen Dance (2008) is a more authentic choice.

A slight effort with minimal cultural references.