Violins, pipas, and bobres, oh my! Delve into these stories that feature musical instruments, from classical orchestra staples to the traditional Chinese erhu or African bobre. Learn the history behind these instruments, meet the people who have mastered them, and listen to them on the accompanying album. Don’t forget to also check out our teaching resources for guides and activity sheets such as, “Draw the Pipa” and “African Instruments.”
Maestro Evarista’s Orchestra
Maestro Evarista is a conductor in search of an orchestra. With a heavy cart full of instruments —such as a trumpet, ukelele, cymbals, clarinet, and harp—the little lizard sets out to find musicians.
On a cold winter night, a young girl dreams of visiting her faraway grandfather in China as her mother plays the pipa. The heartwarming story is accompanied by 11 recordings by world-renowned pipa master Liu Fang.
Discover dreamlike worlds imagined by renowned classical composers for the piano. On the accompanying album, Ludmila Berlinskaïa and Arthur Ancelle perform 20 miniature movements for two- and four-hand piano.
This first story in our Little Stories of Great Composers series tells the tale of young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who once performed the piano for a tired customs officer while on his way to a concert in Vienna.
Learn about traditional instruments such as the tube zither, the kayamb, the bobre, the segakordeon, and ravanne drums in this collection of lullabies and nursery rhymes from East and Southern Africa.
One hot summer evening, when the power goes out in their apartment, Xiaomi convinces her parents to play a concert. As her father plays the erhu and her mother the accordion, their neighbours join them.
Travel back in time to a luthier’s workshop where a little girl catches Niccolò Paganini’s most cherished violin in midair and saves it from imminent destruction. Filled with gratitude, he performs a piece to thank her.
It may come as no surprise that birds have inspired numerous compositions for the flute, among other instruments found in this collection of classical music that features works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Vivaldi.
Take a trip to the bayou in this side-splitting, toe-tapping tale that features the dobro and pays homage to Louisiana’s Cajun and Zydeco music traditions.
Watch the animated read-aloud of That’s My Piano, Sir! with narration by Colm Feore.
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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9 Children’s Picture Books Featuring Musical Instruments
Violins, pipas, and bobres, oh my! Delve into these stories that feature musical instruments, from classical orchestra staples to the traditional Chinese erhu or African bobre. Learn the history behind these instruments, meet the people who have mastered them, and listen to them on the accompanying album. Don’t forget to also check out our teaching resources for guides and activity sheets such as, “Draw the Pipa” and “African Instruments.”
Maestro Evarista’s Orchestra
Maestro Evarista is a conductor in search of an orchestra. With a heavy cart full of instruments —such as a trumpet, ukelele, cymbals, clarinet, and harp—the little lizard sets out to find musicians.
Bookshop | Shop Local (Canada) | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo
The Four Seasons of the Pipa
On a cold winter night, a young girl dreams of visiting her faraway grandfather in China as her mother plays the pipa. The heartwarming story is accompanied by 11 recordings by world-renowned pipa master Liu Fang.
Bookshop | Shop Local (Canada) | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo
My Music Box
Discover dreamlike worlds imagined by renowned classical composers for the piano. On the accompanying album, Ludmila Berlinskaïa and Arthur Ancelle perform 20 miniature movements for two- and four-hand piano.
Bookshop | Shop Local (Canada) | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo
That’s My Piano, Sir!
This first story in our Little Stories of Great Composers series tells the tale of young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who once performed the piano for a tired customs officer while on his way to a concert in Vienna.
Bookshop | Shop Local (Canada) | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo
Songs on the Vanilla Trail
Learn about traditional instruments such as the tube zither, the kayamb, the bobre, the segakordeon, and ravanne drums in this collection of lullabies and nursery rhymes from East and Southern Africa.
Bookshop | Shop Local (Canada) | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo
Summer Moonlight Concert
One hot summer evening, when the power goes out in their apartment, Xiaomi convinces her parents to play a concert. As her father plays the erhu and her mother the accordion, their neighbours join them.
Bookshop | Shop Local (Canada) | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo
We Are All Ears
Travel back in time to a luthier’s workshop where a little girl catches Niccolò Paganini’s most cherished violin in midair and saves it from imminent destruction. Filled with gratitude, he performs a piece to thank her.
Bookshop | Shop Local (Canada) | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo
Listen to the Birds
It may come as no surprise that birds have inspired numerous compositions for the flute, among other instruments found in this collection of classical music that features works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Vivaldi.
Bookshop | Shop Local (Canada) | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo
Rockin' the Bayou Down in Louisiana!
Take a trip to the bayou in this side-splitting, toe-tapping tale that features the dobro and pays homage to Louisiana’s Cajun and Zydeco music traditions.
Bookshop | Bookmanager | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Watch the animated read-aloud of That’s My Piano, Sir! with narration by Colm Feore.
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.