Lullabies and nursery rhymes have been used for centuries by parents all over the world to entertain, tell stories, and help their children off to sleep. While most of us are used to traditional songs and rhymes such as Hey Diddle Diddle and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, The Secret Mountain, a children’s publisher, has some unique books and CD combos such as Songs in the Shade of the Flamboyant Tree and W is for Wapiti – An Alphabet Songbook.
As a teacher in a busy city, I find it is very important to be aware of other traditions and cultures, both for my own knowledge and so that I can educate my students. Songs in the Shade of the the Flamboyant Tree is an example of lullabies and nursery rhymes from the tropical isles of Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, and Reunion, whereas W is for Wapiti – An Alphabet Songbook is a fun way to teach your child the ABC’s using silly songs and characters.
Songs in the Shade of the Flamboyant Tree – Review
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Each of the songs and nursery rhymes in Songs in the Shade of the Flamboyant Tree are short and originate from a different tropical region. The songs are sung in the language of the region and the literal translation of the songs are quite different from what we here in Canada may be used to as lullabies.
As I passed by the ravine,
I found a stray cat.
If the child doesn’t fall asleep, the stray
cat will catch him.
–Excerpt from Sat Maron
It’s raining, it’s sunny.
The devil is marrying
his daughter behind
the church.
– Excerpt from Lapli Tonbe
Reading the English version of the lyrics are a bit out of my comfort zone as appropriate reading for my young children (ages 2 and 4); however as a grade 8 teacher, these are useful teaching tools. Once I popped in the CD that accompanies the book; however, I realized that the songs are sung in the original language and feature catchy tunes. A closer look at the book showed that the lullabies are written in both English and the original language and include an explanation on the origin of the rhyme.
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While I don’t read the book to my kids alone, I have played the CD for them to dance around to and they quite enjoy the tunes. The recommended age for this book is 2-6 years, which I find to be a bit young for the book itself, but is quite appropriate for CD. The illustrations in the book are quite nice, but I find that they’re more appealing to an adult who can appreciate the artistic aspect of the pictures as my children lose interest in them quickly.
Songs in the Shade of the Flamboyant Tree – Pros
- This book could be a great educational tool for older students.
- The CD is full of catchy tunes.
Songs in the Shade of the Flamboyant Tree – Cons
- The literal English translations are uninteresting and border on the inappropriate for young children.
- The illustrations, while brightly coloured, don’t appeal to my young kids.
Would I Buy Songs in the Shade of the Flamboyant Tree?
Though my kids enjoy the CD that accompanies the book, I would not choose to buy it.
W is for Wapiti! An Alphabet Songbook – Review
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W is for Wapiti! An Alphabet Songbook takes the reader from A through Z in funny songs and silly characters. This is quite a different type of book from Songs in the Shade of the Flamboyant Tree, as the songs don’t appear to have any cultural significance. Each page of the book represents a different letter of the alphabet and has a corresponding song. The songs are funny and at times made my 4 year old laugh out loud.
I love playing in my tub
Rub-a-dub-dub
With all my fishy friends
And my duck
Clickety Cluck
There’s a hungry goldfish
Who eats the soap in the dish
But not my duck
Clickety Cluck
–Excerpt from Clickety Cluck the Duck
The songs are catchy and the singers are energetic, which is quite appealing to a young child listening to the CD and following along in the book.
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W is for Wapiti! An Alphabet Songbook – Pros
- The songs on the CD are catchy and enjoyed by my kids.
- The funny illustrations in the book were appealing to my children.
W is for Wapiti! An Alphabet Songbook – Cons
- There are no cons!
Would I Buy W is for Wapiti! An Alphabet Songbook?
I would definitely consider buying this as an ABC book for my kids or as a gift.
Where to Buy The Secret Mountain Books
These books, and more, can be purchased directly from The Secret Mountain website.
Do you have any non-traditional nursery rhyme books that your kids enjoy?
Disclosure: This review was sponsored by The Secret Mountain.
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