This November, celebrate #IReadCanadian Day with this reading list by The Secret Mountain, featuring French and English Canadian writers, illustrators, musicians, narrators, and more. From tales about second-generation immigrants to an imaginative story about a little blue dog who unravels one evening, the stories on the list will resonate with Canadians and readers from around the world.
The Four Seasons of the Pipa
On a cold winter night in Montreal, a young girl dreams about visiting her grandfather in China. Written by Saskatchewan native Patrick Lacoursière, this musical picture book brings together the music of Chinese-Canadian pipa master, Liu Fang, and the art of Quebec-based illustrator Josée Bisaillon.
A band of Canadians came together to bring A Picnic in the Sun to life, including Quebecois author Christiane Duchesne, songwriter Jérôme Minière, and illustrator Marianne Ferrer. Music is performed by Montreal-based artists Clerel and Geneviève Toupin.
This story about a young boy who discovers his love for music in a roundabout way was written by Governor General-nominated author Don Gillmor, who lives in Toronto. Fabulous illustrations were created by renowned Montreal-based artist Marie-Louise Gay.
Hailed as one of Canada’s most influential music figures in the 20th, Quebecois folk singer and poet Gilles Vigneault has written several titles for The Secret Mountain. Look also for artwork by two-time Governor General Award winner Stéphane Jorisch. Plus, did you know Martha Wainwright, who sings on the album, owns a café in Montreal?
Not a lot of people know that this classic children’s song was penned by Rose Bonne and Canadian folksinger Alan Mills back in 1952. In fact, Alan Mills wrote more than a few children’s albums for Folkways. His songs are reimagined here with illustrations by Québec-based PisHier.
This musical picture book may take place in New Orleans, but it's creators, from the narrators to the illustrator are Canadian. Discover the entire six-part series, We're a Possum Family Band, which follows Mama and Papa Poss on their travels across North America to the birthplaces of Cajun, jazz, country, rock’n’roll, blues, and traditional Quebecois music.
In addition to its Quebecois author and illustrator, the album for Sunday in Kyoto includes performances by Montreal-based musicians Patrick Watson, Coral Egan, Jessica Vigneault, and Ndidi O.
Vancouver-born singer-songwriter Jennifer Gasoi is a Grammy and Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner. She’s now based in Montreal, along with acclaimed illustrator Steve Adams.
Connie Kaldor’s characters may travel to cities across the globe, but the singer-songwriter is actually from Saskatchewan. In fact, she writes and sings extensively about the prairies, too.
This story’s origins as a mid-century French-Canadian radio jingle make it Canadian canon. Its author, Lionel Danais, was a fixture on the country’s airwaves in the 1940s and, in 2006, was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
This hopeful story was dreamed up, written, and performed by Hilary Grist, a Vancouver-based singer-songwriter. Her music has been featured on several TV shows, including Degrassi.
Christiane Duchesne, the Quebec-based author of this alphabet songbook, has written more than 60 children’s books and is a two-time winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award. Illustrator Geneviève Côté calls Montreal her home.
Canadian from cover to cover, this songbook features illustrations by Sophie Casson and a performance by Sin and Swoon, all of whom are based in Montreal. You can find She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain and five more classic tunes in Sing Out! Six Classic Folk Songs for Tomorrow.
This laugh-out-loud riot of a tale was written by acclaimed Indigenous author and playwright Tomson Highway. The story also features nine jazzy songs performed in Cree by Coral Egan, Alexandre Désilets, Moe Clark and Angel Baribeau and narration by actor Jimmy Blais.
The same band of Canadians behind A Picnic in the Sun returns for A Feast Beneath the Moon, a musical adventure inspired, in part, by Alice in Wonderland.
Discover The Secret Mountain’s entire catalogue here. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay informed about our new releases and events and for a chance to win our subscriber giveaway. To order books for your library or bookstore, please contact Hornblower Books/University of Toronto Press (Canada, United States) and MMS/BookSource (United Kingdom). For additional information, email info@thesecretmountain.com.
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15 Musical Picture Books by Canadian Writers and Illustrators
This November, celebrate #IReadCanadian Day with this reading list by The Secret Mountain, featuring French and English Canadian writers, illustrators, musicians, narrators, and more. From tales about second-generation immigrants to an imaginative story about a little blue dog who unravels one evening, the stories on the list will resonate with Canadians and readers from around the world.
The Four Seasons of the Pipa
On a cold winter night in Montreal, a young girl dreams about visiting her grandfather in China. Written by Saskatchewan native Patrick Lacoursière, this musical picture book brings together the music of Chinese-Canadian pipa master, Liu Fang, and the art of Quebec-based illustrator Josée Bisaillon.
Find it on Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop | Bookmanager
A Picnic in the Sun
A band of Canadians came together to bring A Picnic in the Sun to life, including Quebecois author Christiane Duchesne, songwriter Jérôme Minière, and illustrator Marianne Ferrer. Music is performed by Montreal-based artists Clerel and Geneviève Toupin.
Find it on Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop | Bookmanager
The Fabulous Song
This story about a young boy who discovers his love for music in a roundabout way was written by Governor General-nominated author Don Gillmor, who lives in Toronto. Fabulous illustrations were created by renowned Montreal-based artist Marie-Louise Gay.
Find it on Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop | Bookmanager
A Gift for Sophie
Hailed as one of Canada’s most influential music figures in the 20th, Quebecois folk singer and poet Gilles Vigneault has written several titles for The Secret Mountain. Look also for artwork by two-time Governor General Award winner Stéphane Jorisch. Plus, did you know Martha Wainwright, who sings on the album, owns a café in Montreal?
Find it on Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop | Bookmanager
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Not a lot of people know that this classic children’s song was penned by Rose Bonne and Canadian folksinger Alan Mills back in 1952. In fact, Alan Mills wrote more than a few children’s albums for Folkways. His songs are reimagined here with illustrations by Québec-based PisHier.
Find it on Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop | Bookmanager
Glory Days in New Orleans
This musical picture book may take place in New Orleans, but it's creators, from the narrators to the illustrator are Canadian. Discover the entire six-part series, We're a Possum Family Band, which follows Mama and Papa Poss on their travels across North America to the birthplaces of Cajun, jazz, country, rock’n’roll, blues, and traditional Quebecois music.
Find it on Shop Local (Canada) | Bookshop | Amazon | Indigo | Barnes and Noble | Books A Million | Waterstones
Sunday in Kyoto
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Blue and Red Make Purple
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A Poodle in Paris
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The Little Blue Doggy
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Tomorrow is a Chance to Start Over
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W is for Wapiti!
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She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain
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Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town!
Find it on Bookshop | Bookmanager | Barnes & Noble | Indigo | Amazon
A Feast Beneath the Moon
Find it on Bookshop | Bookmanager | Barnes & Noble | Indigo | Amazon
Discover The Secret Mountain’s entire catalogue here. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay informed about our new releases and events and for a chance to win our subscriber giveaway. To order books for your library or bookstore, please contact Hornblower Books/University of Toronto Press (Canada, United States) and MMS/BookSource (United Kingdom). For additional information, email info@thesecretmountain.com.