Songs in the Shade of the Flamboyant Tree

An homage to the rich cultural heritage of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Haiti and Réunion featuring 30 traditional songs. Imagine a daily island hubbub with warm breezes, salt water, and music flowing through a marketplace of cinnamon, freshly roasted coffee, bananas, and raw cocoa. This collection of 30 traditional French-Creole lullabies and nursery rhymes from Guadeloupe, Martinique, Haiti, and Réunion pays homage to community, family ties, work, love, and life's passages. Lyrics appear transcribed in their original French Creole dialects and translated into English, followed by extensive notes on the origin and cultural context of each song. The musical picture book is accompanied by a CD featuring 30 songs recorded by an ensemble of local musicians with indigenous acoustic instruments. WINNER OF THE PARENTS' CHOICE RECOMMENDED AWARD AND MORE