Playing drums is much harder than it looks. I was lucky to have been behind a drum set several times and learned to “play”, only to find out how bad my limb coordination is.

Based on a true story, this book is about a little girl who wants to become a drummer despite cultural obstacles. At first, she is not allowed to play drums because everyone believes drums are limited to boys. She practices and practices until one day, her father approves her to take lessons and her teacher approves her to perform. When life seems tough, she is neither upset nor discouraged. She just keeps on pursuing her dream, patiently and persistently.

I recommend it to children, whether they like percussion or not. It is a lovely book filled with colorful and vibrant illustrations. You would feel as though you are living on the same island and listening to the sound of drums together with the smiling sun and birds.

I recommend it to parents, whether they have sons or daughters. It would be a great bedtime story to read to or read with your kids. The story is simple and brings out positive messages such as determination, tenacity, respect, family values and above all, “both girls and boys should feel free to dream”.