Esquivel! Space-Age Sound Artist, Paperback

A playful picture-book biography of the father of space-age bachelor-pad lounge music.

Gorgeously illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, this lively biography follows Juan Garcia Esquivel from Mexico to New York City. Juan grew up to the sounds of mariachi bands; he loved music and became a musical explorer. Defying convention, he created music that made people laugh and planted images in their minds. His musical dreams brought him from Mexico to America and gained him worldwide renown. Juan's space-age lounge music--popular in the fifties and sixties--has found a new generation of listeners. This account honors Esquivel as one of the great composers of the 20th century.

Susan Wood, writing formerly as Susan VanHecke, is the author of Raggin' Jazzin' Rockin': A History of American Musical Instrument Makers and Under the Freedom Tree, as well as several books for adults.

Pura Belpr winner Duncan Tonatiuh is a Mexican American illustrator and an author in his own right. He graduated from Parsons School of Design and his style is inspired by Ancient Mexican art, especially the Mixtec codex. www.duncantonatiuh.com