Songs in the Shade of the Flamboyant Tree

Story and Songs Chantal Grosléziat Producer Paul Mindy Illustrations Laurent Corvaisier

BOOK Through colourful tunes and splashy illustrations reminiscent of the vibrant flamboyant tree, this collection of lullabies and nursery rhymes celebrates life’s passages and various island rituals in the tropical isles of Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, and Reunion. Lyrics are reproduced in the original French Creole dialects and translated into English, followed by notes on the origin and cultural context of each song.

MUSIC CD The accompanying CD features 30 traditional songs recorded with indigenous acoustic instruments and exquisitely performed by women, men, and children. This uplifting, enchanting production captures the joie de vivre evoked in the original repertoire, making it an absolute delight to musical ears.

Ages: 2 to 7 / Release date: June 1, 2012

Author-Composer

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, including Songs from the Baobab, the series Bébés chasseurs des sons (Babies Are Sound Hunters), and the award-winning book and CD collection Contes et berceuses (Stories and Lullabies).

Producer

Paul Mindy is a percussionist, a singer, a composer, and an 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.

Illustrator

Laurent Corvaisier is a painter, an illustrator, and an instructor at the École Nationale Supérieur des Arts Décoratifs in France. He has illustrated more than 100 children's books, including Gollo and the Lyon, which have been translated into several languages.

You are listening to Haitian nursery rhyme, "Ti zwazo" (Little Bird) performed by Roselaine Bicep.

Awards

2012 Parents' Choice Award, CD with Book

2012 National Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA), Honors in Music

2012 Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award for outstanding contributions to children’s literature.

Press Quotes

A sense of joy radiates from both the book and the accompanying musical performances.
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY