Layered with love and tradition

Mamiachi and Me celebrates mariachi and triumph over stage fright

By Jamie Siebrase | March 13, 2025

My husband claims I have selective hearing. Honestly, he might be right. I’d like to think I’m just, um, “efficiently filtering”—yes, let’s call it that. (Do I really need a play-by-play of that recent visit to the auto shop? Could I maybe go on living without knowing all the intimate details of his fantasy football lineup?)

Sometimes, though, I mishear Ben in ways that lead to hilarious new conversations, which is exactly what happened to Denver area picture book author Jolene Gutiérrez. The idea for Mamiachi & Me: My Mami’s Mariachi Band burst forth as quick as a chord strike when Jolene misheard her husband reading a news article aloud. With her son, Dakota Gutiérrez, she turned that goof into a vibrant, heartfelt picture book celebrating mariachi culture, family and one child’s braveness.

Rosa, a young girl, is preparing for a big moment—her first time performing alongside her mami’s mariachi band. As she dresses in a traditional charra suit—a spangled cowgirl outfit—Rosa is hit with a gnarly bout of stage fright. What if she’s not ready? What if the audience doesn’t like her?

If you’re into layered picture books with rich themes that resonate with children, then there’s a lot to love here. With the support of her “mamiachi” (a clever mash-up of “mami” and “mariachi”) and her madrinas, Rosa finds the courage to let her inner light shine bright.

Mirelle Ortega’s colorful illustrations really capture the lively, celebratory nature of the music itself. Flipping through the pages, it’s easy to get lost in Rosa’s world, and at times you can practically hear the strum of the guitarrón as the excitement of a looming live performance builds…

Read the rest of this review for free at Rocky Mountain Reader.