See What’s Coming from The Secret Mountain Spring 2024

Hot off the press! Here’s a first look at the musical picture books that will be released by The Secret Mountain in 2024.

Behind “We’re A Possum Family Band” with Fanny Berthiaume

Fanny Berthiaume takes us behind the scenes of the side-splitting, toe-tapping six-part series We’re a Possum Family Band.

Activity: Describe your family members with Free to Be Me

Learn how to spell and compare size and height with the song “Family,” from the musical picture book Free to Be Me.

Picture Books for Kids Who Love Music: 2023 Holiday Gift Guide

In search of the ideal musical picture book for children who love music? Hit the right note with our 2023 holiday gift guide.

Musical Picture Books Coming to the United Kingdom in 2024

See what’s coming from The Secret Mountain to the United Kingdom in the new year, from new releases to favourites from our catalogue.

Classical Music for Kids: 8 Picture Books Featuring the Piano

Inspire young children to play the piano and learn to appreciate its music with these musical picture books and albums.

Discover Songs From Around the World: Digital Audio Editions

Introducing the digital audio editions of three titles from our acclaimed Songs From Around the World picture book series.

15 Fun Musical Picture Books for Children Who Love Animals

We’ve rounded up the best picture books for children who love animals, music, or both, along with activities and a playlist.

Behind Grand Chief Salamoo Cook with Alexandre Désilets

Alexandre Désilets shares what it was like to sing in Cree for the book Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town.

Behind the Music of A Feast Beneath the Moon with Clerel

Singer-songwriter Clerel takes us inside the recording sessions of A Feast Beneath the Moon and its prequel, A Picnic in the Sun.

12 African Lullabies for Babies, Children and Their Parents

African lullabies are popular with our readers, so we’ve collected some of our faves from our Songs From Around the World series.

Behind Grand Chief Salamoo Cook’s Art with Delphine Renon

French illustrator Delphine Renon takes us behind her colourful illustrations for Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town!

Behind A Feast Beneath the Moon’s Tunes with Geneviève Toupin

Musician Geneviève Toupin offers a peek inside the recording sessions of A Feast Beneath the Moon and A Picnic in the Sun.

11 Children’s Songs to Add to Your Back-to-School Playlists

Set the right tone inside and outside the classroom with these movement, learning and singalong songs for children.

Behind Grand Chief Salamoo Cook’s Songs with Moe Clark

Multidisciplinary Métis artist Moe Clark takes us inside the recording sessions of Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town!

Behind the Art of A Feast Beneath the Moon with Marianne Ferrer

The illustrator of A Feast Beneath the Moon and A Picnic in the Sun discusses her creative process and inspirations.

Learn Cree with Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town!

Tomson Highway wrote the musical picture book with the goal of creating Cree language resources, from songs to activity sheets.

Behind A Feast Beneath the Moon’s Songs with Jérôme Minière

Songwriter Jérôme Minière shares what it was like to write children’s songs for the picture book A Feast Beneath the Moon.

Musical Picture Books Now Available in the United Kingdom

The Secret Mountain is thrilled to share that many titles from our catalogue will soon be available in the United Kingdom.

Kids POP Presents: Grand Chief Salamoo Cook in Concert

Join us October 1 in Montreal for a musical performance of Tomson Highway’s Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town!

Activity: Express emotions in English with Free to Be Me

Here’s a look at the activities for an empowering ditty written to give children a vocabulary to express and confront their fears.

See What’s Coming from The Secret Mountain Fall 2023

Take a sneak peek at the musical picture books we’ll be releasing this fall, just in time for back-to-school season.

5 Children’s Songs to Add to Your Canada Day Playlists

Celebrate Canada Day with these five songs performed—and in most cases, written—by talented Canadian musicians.

Tomson Highway Talks Indigenous Art on Commotion

Listen to the CBC podcast, hosted by Elamin Abdelmahmoud, to hear Highway discuss why he can't live without music.

Available Now: Rockin’ the Bayou Down in Louisiana!

Available October 2023, this side-splitting, toe-tapping tale pays homage to Louisiana’s Cajun and Zydeco music traditions.

Introducing Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town!

Available in September 2023, Tomson Highway’s new musical picture book features nine jazzy songs performed in Cree.

Presenting A Feast Beneath the Moon, A Musical Adventure

You’re invited to A Feast Beneath the Moon, the jam-packed sequel to A Picnic in the Sun by Christiane Duschense and Jérôme Minière.

Behind A Feast Beneath the Moon with Christiane Duchesne

Learn what inspired the two-time Governor General Award winner to write A Feast Beneath the Moon and its prequel, A Picnic in the Sun.

Children’s Picture Book activity: Make a paper bag puppet!

Create a paper bag puppet character to join Bertie and gang in the musical picture books A Picnic in the Sun and A Feast Beneath the Moon! 

11 Inspiring Musical Picture Books to Read on Earth Day

Marvel at the wonders of the natural world this Earth Day and every day with these musical children’s picture books.

5 Picture Books for Black History Month Music Appreciation

Celebrate Black history this February with these musical picture books, teaching guides, playlists, and singalong lyric videos.

Ring in the Lunar New Year with Chinese Songs and Stories

Learn about Chinese culture with these children’s picture books and traditional folk songs performed on the erhu, pipa and zheng.

18 Musical Ebook and Audiobook Stories for Kids

Every musical story published by The Secret Mountain is available in enhanced ebook formats. On this list, we round up some of our favourites.

Discover Musical Instruments from Africa and the Caribbean

Learn about Africa and the Caribbean’s rich musical history through traditional instruments like the valiha, Peul flute, and caxixi.

Meet Some of the Musicians Behind Songs on the Vanilla Trail

The enchanting collection brings together eight musicians, 20+ singers and totals more than 30 contributors from Africa and beyond.

9 Singalong Books that Children and Parents Will Love

Everyone in the family will be singing along to these musical books, including everything from timeless folk classics to rockin’ tunes about emotions.

12 Picture Books to Introduce Children to Classical Music

These musical picture books make classical music accessible to budding musicians and composers through clever storytelling and engaging themes.

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.

Gift Guide: Find A Musical Picture Book for Everyone on Your List

This holiday season, give the gift of stories and music. We've put together this guide to help you find children’s books for everyone on your list.

My Music Box: Little Classical Masterpieces for My Baby

With this musical picture book, open up the fairy tale and dreamlike worlds imagined by renowned classical composers for the piano.

Contest: Share a Post Inspired by Maestro Evarista’s Orchestra 

On November 14, participate in our Maestro Evarista's Orchestra contest for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the bookstore of your choice.

14 Musical Picture Books by Canadian Writers and Illustrators

This November, celebrate #IReadCanadian Day with this reading list by The Secret Mountain, featuring French and English Canadian artists.

The Four Seasons of the Pipa, A Musical Picture Book

On a cold winter night, a young girl dreams of visiting her grandfather in Kunming, China, a magical place known as the eternal city of spring.

Meet Raquel Bonita the Creator of Maestro Evarista’s Orchestra

Explore her new accordion picture book from cover to cover and learn why all the animal members of this orchestra are women.

Meet the Sunflowers, the Musical Duo Behind Free to Be Me

Get to know Aaron and Julie Harris, the singer-songwriters behind the musical picture book, and learn why songs are a great way to learn languages.

Back to School: 5 Musical Picture Books Students Will Love

Whether for playtime, storytime or even movement fun, make the classroom a little more musical with these song and picture books.

See What’s Coming Fall 2022 From The Secret Mountain

Meet a maestro in search of an orchestra, discover the seasons of the pipa, express yourself through song, and more with our new titles.

Summer Road Trip Playlists for Kids That You’ll Play on Loop

From classic folk songs to the perfect tunes for a picnic in the sun, both kids and adults love these summer playlists from The Secret Mountain.

Introducing Free to Be Me, a Musical Book by Sunflowers

Awaken children’s vocabularies with this sunny collection of folk-pop songs written to help budding readers learn how to express themselves.

The Secret Mountain Artists Share Indie Bookstore Love

In anticipation of Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, we asked contributors past and present to share why indie bookshops are special to them.

Discover our Audiobooks and Enhanced Ebooks for Kids

Read along and sing along to The Secret Mountain’s children’s picture books in interactive ebook and audiobook formats.

4 Children’s Books with Fearless Female Characters

This Women’s History Month, inspire young readers with these female characters, imagined by authors from Spain, China, and Quebec.

Illustrator Beatrice Alemagna Shortlisted for #HCAA2022

Congratulations to Beatrice Alemagna, who was shortlisted for the 2022 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration.

Celebrate Black Stories With These Popular Songs

Discover the origin and stories behind popular children's songs such as “Frère Jacques,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” and “Day-O!”

6 Books with Inspiring Adventures for Young Readers

Give the gift of inspiration with these musical children’s books about friendship, adventure, community, and belonging.

8 Books that Encourage Kids to Explore the World

Find the perfect book for young readers who love to discover cultures, customs, and music from around the world.

Discover the Collection: Little Stories of Great Composers

Travel back in time with a little mouse named Minim, who bumps into Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Schubert, Haydn, and Paganini.

Explore the Stories Behind Songs on the Vanilla Trail

Navigate our collection of 25 traditional lullabies and nursery rhymes from East and Southern African with these learning resources.

Relive the Magic: A Picnic in the Sun in Concert at Kids POP

Picnics, puppets, and parades! Oh my! The Secret Mountain was overjoyed to co-host Kids POP in celebration of A Picnic in the Sun.

Create a Playlist for a Chance to Win Five Books!

This holiday, share the gift of music! Make a playlist with five songs from The Secret Mountain for a chance to win five books of your choice.

Sneak Peek: Songs on the Vanilla Trail

Discover a new children's collection of lullabies and nursery rhymes from East and Southern Africa, slated for release October 1, 2021.

Join The Secret Mountain at Kids POP for A Picnic in the Sun

Come one, come all for a puppet-building workshop, parade, and concert at this year’s Kids POP festival, celebrating the release of A Picnic in the Sun.

Behind Little Stories of Great Composers with Marie Lafrance

Marie Lafrance shares how she combined history and imagination in the artwork for the six-part series, Little Stories of Great Composers.

Christiane Duchesne On Imagining A Picnic in the Sun

Acclaimed Quebec author, Christiane Duchesne, shares the inspiration behind her song-filled tale and its companion story, Une fête sous la lune.

NAPPA Awards Sing Out! and That’s My Piano, Sir!

The Secret Mountain is honoured to receive National Parenting Product Awards for Sing Out! and That’s My Piano, Sir!

Behind the Art of A Picnic in the Sun with Marianne Ferrer

Illustrator Marianne Ferrer talks about the inspiration behind the splashy scenes and creative characters in A Picnic in the Sun.

Listen, There’s Music All Around, Says Gema Sirvent

Children’s literature editor and author Gema Sirvent shares the inspiration behind her enchanting picture book, Music All Around.

A Summer Moonlight Concert in China With Han Han

Acclaimed Chinese author and artist Han Han shares the inspiration behind her dreamy children's story, Summer Moonlight Concert.

Behind the Artwork of Music All Around With Lucía Cobo

The talented Spanish illustrator takes us behind the musical picture book’s intricate scenes and shows us how she created them.

Behind the Illustrations of Sing Out! With Sophie Casson

Sophie Casson shares how she created the zany illustrations for the musical picture book Sing Out! Six Classic Folk Songs for Tomorrow.

Watch TSM at the Children's Africana Book Awards

Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees was honoured at the 28th annual Children's Africana Book Awards ceremony.

Ana Gerhard on Penning Little Stories of Great Composers

Author Ana Gerhard explains how her new series brings young readers closer to classical music and composers like Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Vivaldi.

Celebrating 20 Years of Stories for All Eyes and Ears

This year marks the 20th anniversary since The Secret Mountain published its first children’s title.

Coming Soon: The Secret Mountain’s Spring 2021 Releases

The Secret Mountain is pleased to share six forthcoming titles that will be released in Spring 2021.

Multiple Awards for Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees!

Our an enchanting collection of 23 traditional songs received the prestigious Children’s Africana Book Award (CABA) in the category “Honors Books for Young Children”!

Classical Spring at The Secret Mountain

Celebrate Spring with some classical music featured in the musical picture books Listen to the Birds and Amazing Water, both Parents’ Choice Gold Award winners.

Let the good times rouler in your living room!

A Spotify playlist to rock in French at home

We’ve prepared a special Spotify playlist for kids who want to rock in French!

Classical Thanksgiving

Celebrate this holiday season with the majestic melodies of Handel, Roussel, and Josquin des Prez! Our Introduction to Classical Music series by Ana Gerhard includes award-winning titles Amazing Water, Listen to the Birds, Simply Fantastic, and our most recent book, Little Creatures.  

Conferences & Book Fairs

Our new titles, Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees, Little Creatures: An Introduction to Classical Music, and Animal Musicians have been a hit throughout North America for their beautiful illustrations, enchanting sounds, and captivating narratives. 

Praise & Awards for Songs in the Shade

Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees was just selected for the Kirkus Best Books of 2019 list and also won a NAPPA Award.

Discover our Enhanced Ebooks on Apple Books

Our 30-title list of Enhanced Ebooks in both English and French brings the experience of beautifully-illustrated storybooks to your iPad and iPhone. Check out the links below to download your special story today!

Pedro Alcalde & the wilderness orchestra

Pedro Alcalde, author of Animal Musicians, is a renowned composer and conductor. He has conducted numerous prestigious orchestras throughout the world–in Madrid, Berlin, Rome, Osaka, and St. Petersburg, among others.

More Gold and Silver from Parents’ Choice!

Two new Secret Mountain releases have won Parents' Choice Awards!

New titles are the talk of the town!

Over the past month, our three new releases have garnered a great deal of praise from several blogs and reviews across the continent that focus on children’s music and literature.

Great gift ideas for new parents!

Whether it's for birthdays or holidays, The Secret Mountain's collection of award-winning musical storybooks will always provide thoughtful, inspiring, and exciting gifts for the newborn. 

Ana Gerhard talks about kids, little creatures, and classical music

Little Creatures: An Introduction to Classical Music is out September 2019

The Midwest Book Review praises Little Creatures

Ana Gerhard creates another wonderful music storybook. Little Creatures: An Introduction to Classical Music by celebrated children’s author Ana Gerhard hits the shelves September 2019.

Two new titles get the nod from Kirkus

Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees earns a Kirkus Star.
Kirkus celebrates Animal Musicians.

Timeless Spanish songs for the whole family

A book-and-music combo that grows on you. The Hummingbird Sings and Dances, published in 2018, continues to garner positive reviews.

Books with stories and music in English and Mandarin!

10 musical picture books coming out in China.

The wide wild world of music !

3 new books with audio to be published this fall. Little Creatures: An Introduction to Classical Music, Animal Musicians and Songs in the Shade of the Cashew Coconut Trees.

A new release that will delight the whole family

The Secret Mountain has just published a charming, original audio picture book by Chinese author and illustrator Jiu Er describing the simple pleasures that fill a day in the life of Little Sun…

Praise for The Hummingbird Sings and Dances

The Secret Mountain’s new book-CD combo featuring 19 time-tested traditional nursery rhymes and lullabies in Spanish originating from 17 Latin American countries has been getting rave reviews.

Travel the world this fall!

Discover this fall a few of our superb award-winning world music titles!

A Dozen Parents’ Choice Gold Awards!

The Secret Mountain is proud to claim having received the prestigious Gold Award 12 times over the years. Here’s what the selection committee had to say about some of the winners:

Looking forward to 2018!

The Secret Mountain is pleased to announce that it has already secured the rights to two wonderful albums that will be coming out next year.