Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres is a celebration of Latin American culture, bringing kids an upbeat lineup of songs in both English and Spanish. The tracks range from reggae to salsa to rock, and feature vocals by musician Andres Salguero.
Tracks such as “Hola Amigo,” “My Friend Manuel,” and “Los Colores” put a heavy emphasis on learning to speak Spanish. “My Friend Manuel” tells the story of a friend and how he says everyday phrases and words in Spanish. It’s put into context so kids can follow along, such as “when he wants to say ‘thank you,’ he says ‘gracias.'” “Los Colores” describes common things of the same color, and then identifies it in Spanish. For example, Andres will sing a line about the grass, the trees, a frog, and then say the Spanish word for “green.”
“Where Does My Salad Come From?” and “Daddy Was a Migrant Worker” is a monologue and song about Andres’ life in a family of migrant workers. The song educates kids about the origin of their food, beyond purchasing it at the local grocery store. Andres describes moving around the country in search of the next harvest, and his memories of the many farms on which the family picked fruits and vegetables. This song also incorporates a language lesson, with translations for several types of food.
The final track, “O Papa,” has an almost electronica-type feel to round out the set. The album is a great way for parents to introduce kids to the Spanish language in a fun and engaging way.
