Hundreds of small faces glowed Tuesday afternoon at Napa Valley Language Academy, where three veterans of the international music scene dropped by to perform a just-for-kids concert.

Bay Area rockers Abel Sanchez of Malo, and Greg Errico, the drummer from Sly and the Family Stone, joined Paraguayan-born harp virtuoso Carlos Reyes (currently with the Steve Miller Band) in a set that had everyone clapping, from Principal Deb Wallace to the littlest kindergartner.

The purpose was two-fold: Raise awareness of the Voices of Latin Rock concert Saturday at Lincoln Theater and give the NVLA kids a treat.

All 650 students — plus a corps of smiling parents and teachers — crowded into the NVLA multi-purpose room for the show. But first, about 150 youngsters who had met or exceeded their summer reading assignments — 300 pages for the lower grades, 600 pages for grades three through five — got the rock-star treatment: They were rewarded with early admission and VIP seating (on the floor) to hear remarks by the musicians, veteran concert promoter Jeff Trager and Ron Sansoe, co-author of the book “Voices of Latin Rock: The People and Events that Created this Sound.”

“Bilingual education is something I think is really cool,” Sansoe said. “You won’t realize it now, but it’s going to be worth about 25 dollars more an hour when you guys are getting a job.”

Both Trager and Sansoe did their best to explain to the children why Sanchez, Errico and Reyes were important players in Latin rock history. But it was the musicians who connected directly with their young listeners.

Sanchez treated the reading group to a rare viewing of the music-video DVD “Song for Cesar,” with Jorge Santana. Over documentary images from the United Farm Workers union conflict — Cesar Chavez marching, arrested, speaking at rallies; lines of flag-waving workers chanting “Si, se puede” — Santana and Sanchez weaved a tribute to the late activist in the video.

When the lights went up, it was Reyes’ turn to entertain his audience. The violinist and harp player was brought to the U.S. as a child and started first grade without knowing a word of English.

“I had to read and write in English and Spanish at the same time …  but I found it was a lot of fun,” Reyes said. His bilingual skills made it possible for him to travel and perform worldwide, said Reyes, who has played before the Pope and for children in Cuba.

“You know how lucky you guys are compared to kids in Cuba? Very,” he said, before dazzling everyone in the room with an energetic harp solo.

As the ensemble gathered on stage, Errico added beats with a minimal but effective set of one frame drum and two hand drums, while Sanchez played guitar and Reyes plucked bass lines out of his harp.

The show came to a conclusion after Reyes played Moses to the sea of 650 children sitting on the floor, asking them to scoot sideways until an aisle formed down the middle.

He then turned the multitude into a rhythm machine, with the west side of the room clapping once to a bar while the other side clapped a counter-rhythm. Taking up his blue, wireless electric fiddle, Reyes danced down the center aisle playing a jaunty tune as the beats rolled across the room.

“Faster!” he cried, then slower. Then, as he neared the back of the room, Reyes played his finale, shouting “Everybody clap loud …. everybody yell!”

Voices of Latin Rock and the Carlos Reyes Orchestra will perform at Lincoln Theater in Yountville Saturday at 8 p.m. At least 20 artists will play, including Jorge Santana. Tickets range from $40 to $60 and are available at the box office by calling 944-1300 or visiting www.lincolntheater.org.