Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education
Américas Book Award, Commended Title, Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs
Choices, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

The perfect book for aspiring young drummers, where a young boy in Trinidad discovers he can create tunes on discarded metal tins, and goes on to win the Carnival band competition.

Now in paperback!

Carnival is coming, and the villagers of John John, Trinidad, are getting ready to jump up and celebrate with music, dancing, and a parade. Best of all, the Roti King has promised free rotis--tasty fried pancakes filled with chicken, herbs, and spices--for the best band in the parade.

Young Winston dreams of feasting on those delicious rotis. But there's a problem: he's not in a band! Pondering his predicament as he wanders through the village junkyard, Winston makes a curious musical discovery that may be just the ticket to realizing his dream. With ingenuity and the help of his friends, Winston takes on the Carnival bands, drumming his way to victory--and to the Roti King's prized treat.

Musical text and sun-drenched paintings joyously transport readers to the Caribbean in this exuberant story inspired by the early life of Winston "Spree" Simon, a pioneer in the development of the steel drum.