123 Salsa

¡1, 2, 3 Baila!

by Delia Ruiz

"ONE invitation to a salsa dance. TWO dancing shoes to make a pair."
This bilingual English-Spanish book teaches how to count to 10 using salsa. ¡Vamonos! Learn to count with salsa in English and Spanish.

Children, caretakers, and educators will love the rhythmic text paired with bright and colorful illustrations showcasing characters of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

Genres: Music, Spanish Literature, Counting, Picture Books

12 pages, Board Book

Published September 5, 2023

Reviews

[Steena Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Count to ten in this English and Spanish book that introduces salsa dancing concepts. Engaging text and bright illustrations are perfect for the youngest readers. Look for the other books in this adorable board book series!

[Jackie Morera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased these adorable English-Spanish board books about dance, music, instruments, counting, manners, and consent as a boxed set and I LOVE them. But, more importantly, my 4 year old son, loves them too. He lugs the entire boxed set around with him everywhere he goes! In addition to Delia Ruiz’s fun prose, Graziela Andrade’s illustrations are so precious.

[Ellia Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, easy to read and memorize, and a great intro to the joys of salsa !

[Arlene Abundis · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter enjoys reading these adorable board books daily! I love that they teach her how to count in English and Spanish too! Such wonderful editions to any home library for littles!

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This counting book counts up elements of salsa dancing starting with 1 invitation and ending with 10 children dancing salsa in a dance recital. You need the right shoes, and a band playing exciting music! You can follow the steps and twirl around. Now you are ready to salsa!

I love this cute book! The illustrations are adorable, and I especially like the designs for the children. They are all very diverse and their smiling faces bring a lot of energy to the story. As a musician, I love to have books introducing different styles of music to little kids!

I've been looking for more bilingual books in Spanish and English to read to my little nieces, and I know they will love this series of books from Soaring Kite that teach language through music and dance.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Anna Orenstein-Cardona · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the vibrant world of children's literature, it's a rare gem that manages to entertain, educate, and inspire all at once. "1, 2, 3, Salsa" by Delia Ruiz, with its stunning illustrations by Graziela Andrade, is one such treasure, offering young readers and their guardians a bilingual odyssey that is as delightful as it is instructive.

Through its pages, children are not just learning to count from one to ten; they're embarking on a multisensory journey that bridges languages, cultures, and the universal love of dance.

Each page turn reveals a kaleidoscope of characters, diverse in backgrounds and abilities, united in their love for salsa. It's this inclusivity that sets the book apart, making every reader feel welcomed and represented in its narrative.

A sweet and educational book for educators, parents, caretakers, schools, and libraries!

[Judith Valdés B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

1, 2, 3, Salsa" by Delia Ruiz, beautifully illustrated by Graziela Andrade, is an enchanting bilingual board book that effortlessly blends learning the movements of salsa with numbers in both English and Spanish. The book's captivating artwork engages young readers and makes learning to count an exciting adventure. Incorporating Latin American cultural elements, such as salsa dancing and lively characters, adds charm. Ruiz's simple yet engaging narrative encourages interaction and participation. "1, 2, 3, Salsa" celebrates language, culture, and early learning. It's a must-have addition to any young reader's library, offering an engaging way to explore numbers while embracing bilingualism in a fun and colorful manner.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part of the 1, 2, 3 Baila series, this board book blends English and Spanish across facing pages as readers learn to count from one to ten while also learning some salsa steps. While it's encouraging that the young couples include two girls dancing together and feature characters with various skin colors and in different sizes, it would have been even better if there had been two boys partnered on the dance floor too. As someone who has no clue how to salsa, I'd need more help with the steps than is provided here, which prompted the 2.5 rating from me. The youngsters have odd facial expressions and eyes in some of the illustrations, which I found a bit offputting.

[Ismée Amiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

123 Salsa is a sweet, cheerful counting board book to read to any toddler or child. The side-by-side English and Spanish text is perfect for those looking to either introduce their child to a new language, maintain proficiency, or help a new English language learner. The illustrations are vibrant and happy showing children learning to dance salsa and then performing for an audience. The text is uplifting and very easy to follow for young minds. I love the page when all the families are cheering for the little dancers! A great addition to any preschool library!

[Ana Velez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The three titles of this collection immediately caught my attention. I love all those rhythms and am excited to see them recognized in books for children.The graphics are bright and compelling. The diverse characters are full of joy and motion. The dance references are a fun way to talk about familiar and new concepts. 
123 SALSA re-imagines numbers and counting with a clever invitation to a dance party.
I think the board books are delightful and a great addition to any library.

[Ashley Gulyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ¡1, 2, 3 Baila! series are books your littles NEED in their lives!

These English-Spanish board books are so beautifully done with lyrical text in both languages and adorable diverse and inclusive illustrations!

¡1, 2, 3 Salsa! introduces counting to 10 in both English and Spanish while also teaching readers the basics of Salsa music and dance!

[Sheila Colón-Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ¡1, 2, 3 Baila! board book series, offers a frolicking fun way for little ones to learn numbers (1, 2, 3 Salsa); manners (1, 2, 3 Cumbia); and instruments (1, 2, 3 Merengue) in both English and Spanish. Delia Ruiz’s lyrical prose and Graziela Andrade’s lively illustrations will delight little ones and grown-ups alike. They’re a pitch perfect read-aloud!

[Mónica Mancillas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Spanglish-English counting book is a sure way to introduce young readers to a second language while helping them learn to count to ten! The vibrant illustrations are sure to have both parents and kids asking to read this one again and again. And the best part is, you may learn how to dance Salsa along the way! Highly recommend this book and its companion books, 123 Cumbia and 123 Merengue.

[Angela Padron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adorable counting book is not your typical counting book. It infuses the Latinx culture throughout while giving readers a little salsa lesson. I think the illustrations are a perfect style for this age group and I love the bilingual component. Great way to teach kids about counting while also teaching about Latinx culture.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful board book series perfect for little hands and little movers learning to groove to different rhythms. I love that the 3 main latin dance/music genres is included in this playful set and parents can learn a little too. A perfect read before playtime, you need these for your bebé's library!

[Mariel Jungkunz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in love with this series of three books! They’re fun to read out loud & teach the basics of these dances on a board-book level by showing instruments, steps, and more. Beautiful illustrations with a diverse cast of kiddos! I would wholeheartedly recommend these to parents and their kids. Definitely board books to treasure!

[Lissette Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute and fun counting book! With text in both English and Spanish, little readers, not only learn to count flags, instruments, dance shoes and outfits, but they learn simple facts about Salsa. The illustrations are absolutely adorable! This book is perfect for all libraries and I highly recommend it!

[Alexandra Alessandri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this series by Delia Ruiz and Graziela Andrade! They're fun, lively, and a wonderful introduction to traditional Latinx dances and concepts. In 1, 2, 3, Salsa! we get introduced to salsa dance as well as numbers. The text is lyrical, making the book a fun read aloud, and the illustrations are lovely and engaging.

[Delia Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the author I hope you all enjoy this series and explore number counting with salsa dancing. There's so many styles of dance from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Cuba, and even the U.S. (LA style vs New York style for example). Salsa is for everyone, I hope you enjoy!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to counting in both English and Spanish for little ones and as a bonus, they get to learn about the beauty of salsa. This book is a must for fostering learning in little minds!

[Maritere Rodriguez Bellas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book that introduces bilingual niños to the world of counting and of course, SALSA! This is the book I needed when my kids were little and I was teaching them about music and culture. Love the illustrations!

[Paola Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This bilingual counting book is a great way to introduce children to salsa dance while teaching them to count from one to ten. The text is engaging, and the illustrations are vibrant and eye-catching, making them perfect for young readers. These books are sure to be a hit with the little ones!

[Dre Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delia Ruiz's board book series are so playful - a colorful cast of characters help teach us about numbers and salsa. What a fun combination! The fun rhythms, colors and joy make this a playful way to learn some Spanish too!

[Sara Fajardo]

A delightful bilingual counting book, perfect for littles, language learners and salsa lovers. Gives a brief overview of this dance form and places it in a cultural context, does so much in a very simple accessible format.

[Mariana Ríos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect book to learn the numbers in English and Spanish, with fun an easy text paired up with joyful and colorful illustrations.

[Gabriela Belt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely introduction to Spanish and Salsa! Andrade's vibrant illustrations and Ruiz's sweet text pair perfectly. A must add to all baby bookshelves.

[Ber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bilingual on each page, great for children to learn numbers with movement.

[Ofelia Montelongo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned to dance too!! Not only for kids ❤️😂

[Jenny Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Qué lindo! This adorable bilingual book is sure to make any bebé want to dance! It’s also a great book for introducing numbers 1-10 in a fun way!

[Cyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

so fun to read with a little one and dance along! loved the illustrations and the story is so inviting.