Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees

Age range 3 to 7

Children's Africana Book Award Winner

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 a world map and extensive notes describing the cultural background of each song.

The book also includes a QR code to access the songs online.