Additional information
by Nathalie Soussana (Author), Judith Gueyfier (Illustrator)
Learn about the cultures and traditions uniting two continents with 12 lullabies and nursery rhymes. An enchanting collection of 12 traditional songs that pays homage to the rich cultural heritage and multilingual communities of West Africa and the Caribbean. Stories about children playing in the schoolyard at recess, sisters braiding each other's hair at the beach, and parents dancing and singing late into the night mesh together thanks to the music. A wide array of styles--nursery rhymes from Gabon, lullabies from Cape Verde, rumbas from the Congo, and work songs from Jamaica--are all performed exquisitely by men, women, and children in more than 13 languages. Luminous artwork and homegrown instruments, such as the djembe, cavaquinho, and Peul flute, round off this wonderful celebration of history, language, and culture. Lyrics appear transcribed in their original language and translated to English, followed by a world map and extensive notes on the cultural background of each song. A free teaching guide and activity sheets are available at www.thesecretmountain.com. Scan the QR code to listen to the songs online. WINNER OF THE CHILDREN'S AFRICANA BOOK AWARD, PARENTS' CHOICE GOLD AWARD, AND NATIONAL PARENTING PRODUCT AWARD
Author Biography
Nathalie Soussana is the author of several musical picture books, including Songs from the Vanilla Trail, Children's Africana Book Award-winner Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees and Parents' Choice Gold Award-winner Songs from the Garden of Eden. She's also written several musicals, including À l'ombre de l'olivier, Romances de Paris, and Silence on tourne. Judith Gueyfier started creating picture books after studying design at the Duperré School and illustration at the Arts Déco School. She has published with several well-established houses in France, with recent publications that include Tu habites où? and The Hunt for the Golden Glasses.
