Songs from the Baobab: African Lullabies & Nursery Rhymes

by Chantal Grosléziat, Élodie Nouhen (Illustrator)

Overview

Representing 11 languages originating from Central and West Africa and brought to life with lavish illustrations, this collection's rhymes and lullabies soothe babies to sleep as the songs travel from one country and one language to another. Lyrics are reproduced in the original language and translated into English, followed by notes on the origin and cultural context of each song. The accompanying CD features 29 songs from 10 countries—including Rwanda, the Ivory Coast, and Senegal—each one unique in language and sound, recorded with indigenous instruments and exquisitely performed by women, men, and children. This delightful, enchanting production captures the staccato rhythm of the children's rhymes and the poetry of the language as well as a sense of the heritage and tradition of each culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9782923163796
Publisher:	The Secret Mountain
Publication date:	10/01/2011
Edition description:	Bilingual
Pages:	52
Sales rank:	159,447
Product dimensions:	8.14(w) x 8.04(h) x 0.41(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Chantal Grosléziat is a musician and an educator who has spent more than 30 years exploring the effect of music on children. She is the author of several books on the topic, including the series Bébés chasseurs des sons (Babies Are Sound Hunters) and the award-winning book and CD collection Contes et berceuses (Stories and Lullabies). Paul Mindy is a percussionist, singer, composer, and arranger who received the Georges Brassens Prize in recognition of his Brazilian music. He has accompanied noted musicians such as Richard Galliano, Carlo Rizzo, and Baden Powell. Elodie Nouhen is a children's album illustrator. She studied at the Ecole Supérieure d’arts graphiques Penninghen in Paris.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This fabulous book and CD presents 29 African lullabies and nursery rhymes collected by Chantal Grosléziat from a number of African countries. . . . This excellent production will be a boon to units or programs on Africa as well as multicultural studies." —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW (February 1, 2012)

"A powerful 29-song CD of African lullabies and rhymes, in 11 native languages. Accompanied by a hardcover storybook illustrated with soothing, artsy images." —www.Scholastic.com

"This collection of lullabies and nursery rhymes from 10 countries was carefully chosen to broaden your little one's musical horizon's and lull her into a sound slumber filled with worldly dreams." —Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine (October 2012)

Editorial Reviews

"This fabulous book and CD presents 29 African lullabies and nursery rhymes collected by Chantal Grosléziat from a number of African countries. . . . This excellent production will be a boon to units or programs on Africa as well as multicultural studies." —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW (February 1, 2012)


"A powerful 29-song CD of African lullabies and rhymes, in 11 native languages. Accompanied by a hardcover storybook illustrated with soothing, artsy images." —www.Scholastic.com


"This collection of lullabies and nursery rhymes from 10 countries was carefully chosen to broaden your little one's musical horizon's and lull her into a sound slumber filled with worldly dreams." —Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine (October 2012)

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 2—This fabulous book and CD presents 29 African lullabies and nursery rhymes collected by Chantal Grosléziat from a number of African countries, including Congo, Mali, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Togo, Senegal, Rwanda, Guinea-Conakry, and the Central African Republic. Eleven languages are represented, such as Lingala, Bambara, Mina, Susu, and Sango, among others. Native speakers perform these tunes that are quite different from Western music—some a cappella and some accompanied by traditional instrumentsp such as berimbau, sanza, reed flute, kora, or xylophone. Titles include "Uélé molibá mákási" (Uélé, River With a Very Strong Current); "Ka baga ne ma" (Don't Provoke Me); "Ndi le e" (Sleep); "So diyara" (The Joyful House); "Yum-maa yehii jaabe" (Your Mother Has Gone to Search for Jujubes), and others. In the book, each double-page spread features one or two songs/rhymes. Elodie Nouhen provides interesting stylized illustrations, with the appearance of paintings on fabric. The book also includes the performers' names, the lyrics in the original language with an English translation, and background information on each song/rhyme. The final pages feature a map of Africa with the country names marked and information about the African languages in the book. This excellent production will be a boon to units or programs on Africa as well as multicultural studies.—Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX

School Library Journal