Take a look at the new musical children's picture books set for release from The Secret Mountain this fall. From a laugh-out-loud tale by Tomson Highway that features nine jazzy songs in Cree to the digital audio editions of our Songs From Around the World series, there are stories and songs here for everyone.
Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town!
Story and songs Tomson Highway Illustrations Delphine Renon Featuring performances by Coral Egan, Alexandre Désilets, Moe Clark and Angel Baribeau Narration Jimmy Blais
Once upon a magical time, a young rabbit named Weeskits hurried home to Kisoos—a town known as the Earth’s belly button—to deliver some thrilling news. Salamoo Cook, the Grand Chief of all rabbits in the world, was on his way to announce a mysterious contest. The prize? A year’s supply of all-healing waaskee-choos juice fresh from spruce cones that have just fallen. Would Weeskits be able to help his brother Keegach win the juice to rid his wife of the dreadful manchoos?
From Tomson Highway, acclaimed author and playwright, best known for his plays The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing and most recently his award-winning memoir, Permanent Astonishment. Grand Chief Salamoo Is Coming to Town! is a laugh-out-loud riot of a tale, interspersed with eight jazzy songs performed in Cree. This musical picture book includes a QR code to access the narrated story and songs online and a glossary of Cree words used throughout the tale. Read more.
Story and songs Christiane Duchesne and Jérôme Minière Illustrations Marianne Ferrer Featuring performances by Clerel and Geneviève Toupin Narration Mischa Cheeseman
Story and songs Christiane Duchesne and Jérôme Minière Illustrations Marianne Ferrer Featuring performances by Clerel and Geneviève Toupin Narration Mischa Cheeseman
Once upon a time there were four friends who always had oodles and oodles of fun together. After their last adventure full of surprises, a sudden torrential rainfall forces Bertie and gang to take shelter atop Blue Mountain. When they emerge, they encounter an extraordinary girl named Alice, who can grow big or small at the snap of her fingers. Together, they spend a magical night singing and dancing under the moon and shooting stars.
A sequel toA Picnic in the Sun, this imaginative musical tale is interspersed with four beloved traditional songs and 14 original tracks performed with pizzazz and emotion. Read more.
Story and songs Bïa, Erik West-Millette and Olaf Gundel Illustrations Fanny Berthiaume Featuring performances by Alexa Devine, Olaf Gundel and Annick Brémault
Every Saturday night at the Fais Dodo Thibaudeau, a suave young possum with a Zorro-like moustache takes the stage with his dobro to lead the band. In the audience, a pretty, doe-eyed possum falls for his charms. But just who could these plucky marsupials be? Mama and Papa Poss tell the story of how they first met and where their glory days as a musical duo began! Take a trip to the bayou in this side-splitting, toe-tapping tale that pays homage to Louisiana’s Cajun and Zydeco music traditions.
Rockin’ the Bayou Down in Louisiana! is the first story in the We’re a Possum Family Band series, which follows Mama and Papa Poss on their travels that bring them 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. Read more.
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, work songs from Jamaica—are all performed exquisitely by men, women, and children in more than thirteen 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 extensive notes describing the cultural background of each song and a world map.
Songs from a Journey with a Parrot Digital Audio Edition
Songs collected by Magdeleine Lerasle Musical arrangements Paul Mindy Illustrations Aurélia Fronty
A collection of lullabies and nursery rhymes from Brazil and Portugal that invites children on an authentic musical journey to explore the strong cultural ties that bind the two countries. Traditional songs about everyday life, work and play, courtship and love, travel from Porto to Rio and Lisbon to Bahia. The fifteen traditional songs blend samba, modinha, fandango and bossa nova, and are performed by an ensemble of women, men and children. This uplifting and enchanting production, featuring several indigenous acoustic instruments, captures the convergence of rich and diverse styles.
Lyrics are presented in Portuguese and translated into English, followed by notes on the origin and cultural context of each song.
Songs in the Shade of the Olive Tree Digital Audio Edition
Songs collected by Hafida Favret and Magdeleine Lerasle Musical arrangements Paul Mindy Illustrations Nathalie Novi
Presented in Arabic, Berber and French, this collection of lullabies and nursery rhymes from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia draws children into a musical journey across North Africa, from the Sahara Desert through the Atlas Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. In 15 songs about everyday life, children learn of the importance of rain, the communal aspects of meals, and the consequences of inappropriate behaviour. This uplifting, enchanting collection features traditional songs performed by women, men and children, and recorded with indigenous acoustic instruments. Capturing the meeting of ancient and modern styles, it’s an absolute delight to musical ears.
Lyrics are provided in Arabic and translated into English, followed by notes on each song’s origin and cultural context.
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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See What’s Coming from The Secret Mountain Fall 2023
Take a look at the new musical children's picture books set for release from The Secret Mountain this fall. From a laugh-out-loud tale by Tomson Highway that features nine jazzy songs in Cree to the digital audio editions of our Songs From Around the World series, there are stories and songs here for everyone.
Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town!
Story and songs Tomson Highway Illustrations Delphine Renon Featuring performances by Coral Egan, Alexandre Désilets, Moe Clark and Angel Baribeau Narration Jimmy Blais
Once upon a magical time, a young rabbit named Weeskits hurried home to Kisoos—a town known as the Earth’s belly button—to deliver some thrilling news. Salamoo Cook, the Grand Chief of all rabbits in the world, was on his way to announce a mysterious contest. The prize? A year’s supply of all-healing waaskee-choos juice fresh from spruce cones that have just fallen. Would Weeskits be able to help his brother Keegach win the juice to rid his wife of the dreadful manchoos?
From Tomson Highway, acclaimed author and playwright, best known for his plays The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing and most recently his award-winning memoir, Permanent Astonishment. Grand Chief Salamoo Is Coming to Town! is a laugh-out-loud riot of a tale, interspersed with eight jazzy songs performed in Cree. This musical picture book includes a QR code to access the narrated story and songs online and a glossary of Cree words used throughout the tale. Read more.
Available September 2023. Ages 7-9.
Find it on Bookshop | Bookmanager | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
A Feast Beneath the Moon
Story and songs Christiane Duchesne and Jérôme Minière Illustrations Marianne Ferrer Featuring performances by Clerel and Geneviève Toupin Narration Mischa Cheeseman
Once upon a time there were four friends who always had oodles and oodles of fun together. After their last adventure full of surprises, a sudden torrential rainfall forces Bertie and gang to take shelter atop Blue Mountain. When they emerge, they encounter an extraordinary girl named Alice, who can grow big or small at the snap of her fingers. Together, they spend a magical night singing and dancing under the moon and shooting stars.
A sequel to A Picnic in the Sun, this imaginative musical tale is interspersed with four beloved traditional songs and 14 original tracks performed with pizzazz and emotion. Read more.
Available September 2023. Ages 5-7.
Find it on Bookshop | Bookmanager | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Rocking the Bayou Down in Louisiana
Story and songs Bïa, Erik West-Millette and Olaf Gundel Illustrations Fanny Berthiaume Featuring performances by Alexa Devine, Olaf Gundel and Annick Brémault
Every Saturday night at the Fais Dodo Thibaudeau, a suave young possum with a Zorro-like moustache takes the stage with his dobro to lead the band. In the audience, a pretty, doe-eyed possum falls for his charms. But just who could these plucky marsupials be? Mama and Papa Poss tell the story of how they first met and where their glory days as a musical duo began! Take a trip to the bayou in this side-splitting, toe-tapping tale that pays homage to Louisiana’s Cajun and Zydeco music traditions.
Rockin’ the Bayou Down in Louisiana! is the first story in the We’re a Possum Family Band series, which follows Mama and Papa Poss on their travels that bring them 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. Read more.
Available October 2023. Ages 5-7.
Find it on Bookshop | Bookmanager | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees
Digital Audio Edition
Songs collected by Nathalie Soussana Musical arrangements Jean-Christophe Hoarau Illustrations Judith Gueyfier
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, work songs from Jamaica—are all performed exquisitely by men, women, and children in more than thirteen 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 extensive notes describing the cultural background of each song and a world map.
Available October 2023. Ages 3-7.
Find it on Bookshop | Bookmanager | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Songs from a Journey with a Parrot
Digital Audio Edition
Songs collected by Magdeleine Lerasle Musical arrangements Paul Mindy Illustrations Aurélia Fronty
A collection of lullabies and nursery rhymes from Brazil and Portugal that invites children on an authentic musical journey to explore the strong cultural ties that bind the two countries. Traditional songs about everyday life, work and play, courtship and love, travel from Porto to Rio and Lisbon to Bahia. The fifteen traditional songs blend samba, modinha, fandango and bossa nova, and are performed by an ensemble of women, men and children. This uplifting and enchanting production, featuring several indigenous acoustic instruments, captures the convergence of rich and diverse styles.
Lyrics are presented in Portuguese and translated into English, followed by notes on the origin and cultural context of each song.
Available October 2023. Ages 3-7.
Find it on Bookshop | Bookmanager | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Songs in the Shade of the Olive Tree
Digital Audio Edition
Songs collected by Hafida Favret and Magdeleine Lerasle Musical arrangements Paul Mindy Illustrations Nathalie Novi
Presented in Arabic, Berber and French, this collection of lullabies and nursery rhymes from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia draws children into a musical journey across North Africa, from the Sahara Desert through the Atlas Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. In 15 songs about everyday life, children learn of the importance of rain, the communal aspects of meals, and the consequences of inappropriate behaviour. This uplifting, enchanting collection features traditional songs performed by women, men and children, and recorded with indigenous acoustic instruments. Capturing the meeting of ancient and modern styles, it’s an absolute delight to musical ears.
Lyrics are provided in Arabic and translated into English, followed by notes on each song’s origin and cultural context.
Available October 2023. Ages 3-7.
Find it on Bookshop | Bookmanager | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
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.