Introducing "The Best Mariachi in the World"

From Raven Tree Press:

Everyone in Gustavo’s family is in a mariachi band . . .

Everyone except Gustavo, that is. They all play violines, trompetas and guitarrones. They all make wonderful music in restaurants and at wedding parties. Gustavo would love to join the band, but he can’t play any of the instruments. What’s a wannabe mariachi to do? Follow Gustavo as he finds his place in the family mariachi band.

Three versions of this book are available:

1. Bilingual version, presented primarily in English with key concept words in Spanish.


2. Spanish only version


3. English only version

About the Author:

Educated at American University, the University of Chicago, the University of Houston and Carleton University, J.D. Smith is adept at writing in various genres. He has published fiction, essays, op-eds and reviews in a wide variety of publications in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. He lives near Washington’s Southwest Waterfront with his wife Paula and Roo the Rescue Dog.

J.D.’s interest in the Mariachi book’s subject stems in part from growing up in Aurora, Illinois, a Chicago suburb with a large Hispanic population. He began to study Spanish in high school and continued his studies as an undergraduate and graduate student, complementing his formal instruction with travel in Mexico, Spain, Guatemala and Venezuela. His work, as well as his studies, has involved Latin American culture. J.D. has taught English as a Second Language in his hometown and has analyzed Latin American markets for products including candy, cleaning products and mayonnaise.

About the Illustrator:

Dani Jones is a full-time illustrator. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Brigham Young University-Idaho. Before she began illustrating children’s books she did spots for children’s magazines and some educational work.

Dani, a triplet, was born in Seoul, South Korea. She and her sisters, Nicole and Shannon, were adopted and all moved to Michigan when they were six months old. Dani’s family grew up all over the United States and they have lived in six different states and 15 different houses between 1983 and 1998. Dani and her cats, Melon and Harry, now call Keene, NH home. She is still very close to her family and one of her favorite places in the world is wherever they happen to be.

Visit www.danijones.com to see Dani's full portfolio of work.

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