Sneak peek! Here’s a first look at the musical picture books that will be released by The Secret Mountain in early 2025. We're excited to announce that these titles will be available in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.
Keep Your Ears Wide Open
Story Céline Claire Illustrations Marie Lafrance
Knock! Knock! Choo! Choo! Vroom! Vroom! As Russel awaits a visit from his brother, with every sound he wonders: Is Angus here? No, not yet. But with his ears — and his heart — wide open, Russel responds to the calls of a series of strangers who become his friends. Good thing because… Ting-a-ling! Ting-a-ling! Did you hear that? It sounds like Angus needs to be rescued!
Includes narrated story. Available March 1, 2025. Ages 5-9.
Songs collected by Chantal Grosléziat Musical arrangements Paul Mindy Illustrations Laurent Corvaisier
Imagine a daily island hubbub with warm breezes, salt water and music flowing through towns and countryside. Twelve traditional French Creole lullabies and nursery rhymes from Haiti and Reunion pay homage to community, family ties, work, love and life’s passages. The melodies included celebrate history, language and culture, with sounds of indigenous instruments alongside performances of women, men and children. Colourful illustrations of tropical animals, magical characters, people and places complete this collection that whisks readers away on a fanciful journey. Lyrics appear transcribed in their French-Creole dialects and translated into English, followed by educational notes on the cultural background of each song.
Listen on all major streaming platforms. Available May 1, 2025. Ages 4-7.
Music can give life to anything and everything. That’s exactly what happens when a boy and girl play their brand new piano for the first time. As they take turns tapping keys, the children discover that even the simplest melody can stir up a symphony of sensations. This playful tale invites children to explore how music makes them feel. Hear how sounds attune to emotions. See how music colours the imagination. From synesthesia to onomatopoeia, these musical sketches show that learning big words and even bigger ideas can be as simple as PLINK, PLANK, PLONK.
Songs collected by Nathalie Soussana Musical arrangements David Doucerain Illustrations Qu Lan
A riveting selection of 20 nursery rhymes and lullabies from Ukraine, collected from refugees living in France, Germany and Poland. These tasteful interpretations of popular traditional songs tug at the heart and reveal a rich vibrant culture. Gifted singers are accompanied by musicians playing instruments like the bandoura, sopilka, and accordion, making it a delightful, enchanting production that captures a strong sense of heritage.
Lyrics are transcribed in the original alphabet and in Latin characters along with English translations. Notes describing the cultural background of each song are also included.
Story and songs Bïa, Erik West-Millette and Olaf Gundel Illustrations Fanny Berthiaume Featuring performances by Alexa Devine, Olaf Gundel and Annick Brémault
On their next musical adventure, Mama and Papa Poss take a cruise up the Mississippi River aboard the Delta Queen to Memphis, the birthplace of rock ‘n' roll. As it turns out, the king himself, Elvis Harepiece, has enlisted the talented marsupial musicians to compose his next hit. Follow the duo as they stroll down the legendary Beale Street and make their way to the Graceland for a memorable encounter that will pave their way to glory!
Sunny Days in a Memphis Studio! is the third story in the We’re a Possum Family Band series, 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. At the end of each story, explanatory notes delve into the key figures, instruments and customs behind each genre.
Songwriter Alan Mills Singers Émilie Clepper and Thomas Hellman Illustrations PisHier
Get to know a quirky old lady who swallows a heap of animals—from a dog, cat, bird and spider to that infamous little fly. The children’s classic sets the table for several timeless folk tunes, written over 50 years ago. Tongue-in-cheek and smart at heart, this buffet of singalong alphabet, counting and rhyming songs is jaw-droppingly silly as it is devourable.
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See What’s Coming from The Secret Mountain Spring 2025
Sneak peek! Here’s a first look at the musical picture books that will be released by The Secret Mountain in early 2025. We're excited to announce that these titles will be available in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.
Keep Your Ears Wide Open
Knock! Knock! Choo! Choo! Vroom! Vroom! As Russel awaits a visit from his brother, with every sound he wonders: Is Angus here? No, not yet. But with his ears — and his heart — wide open, Russel responds to the calls of a series of strangers who become his friends. Good thing because… Ting-a-ling! Ting-a-ling! Did you hear that? It sounds like Angus needs to be rescued!
Includes narrated story. Available March 1, 2025. Ages 5-9.
Shop Local (Canada) | Bookshop | Indigo | Barnes and Noble | Books A Million | Amazon
Little Beloved Flower
Songs collected by Chantal Grosléziat Musical arrangements Paul Mindy Illustrations Laurent Corvaisier
Imagine a daily island hubbub with warm breezes, salt water and music flowing through towns and countryside. Twelve traditional French Creole lullabies and nursery rhymes from Haiti and Reunion pay homage to community, family ties, work, love and life’s passages. The melodies included celebrate history, language and culture, with sounds of indigenous instruments alongside performances of women, men and children. Colourful illustrations of tropical animals, magical characters, people and places complete this collection that whisks readers away on a fanciful journey. Lyrics appear transcribed in their French-Creole dialects and translated into English, followed by educational notes on the cultural background of each song.
Listen on all major streaming platforms. Available May 1, 2025. Ages 4-7.
Shop Local (Canada) | Bookshop | Indigo | Barnes and Noble | Books A Million | Amazon
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The Piano
Story and illustrations Joaquin Camp
Music can give life to anything and everything. That’s exactly what happens when a boy and girl play their brand new piano for the first time. As they take turns tapping keys, the children discover that even the simplest melody can stir up a symphony of sensations. This playful tale invites children to explore how music makes them feel. Hear how sounds attune to emotions. See how music colours the imagination. From synesthesia to onomatopoeia, these musical sketches show that learning big words and even bigger ideas can be as simple as PLINK, PLANK, PLONK.
Shop Local (Canada) | Bookshop | Indigo | Barnes and Noble | Books A Million | Amazon
Songs in the Shade of the Cherry Tree
Songs collected by Nathalie Soussana Musical arrangements David Doucerain Illustrations Qu Lan
A riveting selection of 20 nursery rhymes and lullabies from Ukraine, collected from refugees living in France, Germany and Poland. These tasteful interpretations of popular traditional songs tug at the heart and reveal a rich vibrant culture. Gifted singers are accompanied by musicians playing instruments like the bandoura, sopilka, and accordion, making it a delightful, enchanting production that captures a strong sense of heritage.
Lyrics are transcribed in the original alphabet and in Latin characters along with English translations. Notes describing the cultural background of each song are also included.
Bookshop | Shop Local (Canada) | Barnes and Noble | Books A Million | Indigo | Amazon
Sunny Days in a Memphis Studio
Story and songs Bïa, Erik West-Millette and Olaf Gundel Illustrations Fanny Berthiaume Featuring performances by Alexa Devine, Olaf Gundel and Annick Brémault
On their next musical adventure, Mama and Papa Poss take a cruise up the Mississippi River aboard the Delta Queen to Memphis, the birthplace of rock ‘n' roll. As it turns out, the king himself, Elvis Harepiece, has enlisted the talented marsupial musicians to compose his next hit. Follow the duo as they stroll down the legendary Beale Street and make their way to the Graceland for a memorable encounter that will pave their way to glory!
Sunny Days in a Memphis Studio! is the third story in the We’re a Possum Family Band series, 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. At the end of each story, explanatory notes delve into the key figures, instruments and customs behind each genre.
Bookshop | Shop Local (Canada) | Barnes and Noble | Books A Million | Indigo | Amazon
I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Songwriter Alan Mills Singers Émilie Clepper and Thomas Hellman Illustrations PisHier
Get to know a quirky old lady who swallows a heap of animals—from a dog, cat, bird and spider to that infamous little fly. The children’s classic sets the table for several timeless folk tunes, written over 50 years ago. Tongue-in-cheek and smart at heart, this buffet of singalong alphabet, counting and rhyming songs is jaw-droppingly silly as it is devourable.
Shop Local (Canada) | Bookshop | Indigo | Barnes and Noble | Books A Million | Amazon