Children's Book Review: Sunday in Kyoto

I was recently sent an interesting book by The Secret Mountain for review.

Sunday in Kyoto contains a cute rhyming story along with a cd that narrates the story AND provides 13 more songs by Giles Vigneault, one of Canada's iconic poet singer-songwriters! In fact, one of his songs (not on the album) has replcaed the singing of Happy Birthday in Quebec! Gens du pays  modified version of the chorus is often sung to celebrate a person, on their  birthday:   Mon cher ami (or Ma chère amie), c'est à ton tour De te laisser parler d'amour. ("My dear friend, it's your turn / To let yourself talk of love.") Alternatively, "ami(e)" is replaced with the name of the person being celebrated. Pretty neat to think he wrote this great book!

The title track/book tells the story of a Cajun musician who lives with his Japanese wife in Kyoto, and whom enjoy Sunday afternoon jam sessions with friends from Spain and other places. The book is gorgeously illustrated by Stephane Jorisch (who has created sets for Le Cirque du Soleil!).

The songs are sung by acclaimed artists including Patrick Watson, winner of Canada’s prestigious Polaris Prize in 2007, Coral Egan, Ndidi O, Thomas Hellman and Gilles’ daughter Jessica Vigneault.

Tracks included are:
1. Joe's Mother- cute animal sound song
2. If You Bump your Knee- cute rhyming song
3. Morning Breaks on Skates- We have this on a French cd and we both really liked the French version better
4. 1,2,3, A,B,C,D- contains Japanese, English and French numbering-very cute!
5. Sleep Tight My Love- the Carpenters styled lullaby
6. little Miss Adele- Hello song
7. When the Dance Began- very danceable song
8. Do You have Some Coins?- very short
9. Four Eggs- funny song
10. Greatest big Kite- ties in with the story
11. Yoshi and his Boat- also ties in with story
Settler's Lullaby- set to the music of the Christmas Carol, As I Wonder, lovely song
12. Poem of a Child- haunting melody with lovely lyrics

You can listen to some of the songs in French here

My daughter loved the book and songs. I can't wait to check out the rest of their English catalog.

Check out this book- it would be a wonderful Christmas gift for the children in your life!

Disclosure: The Secret Mountain sent me this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I was NOT compensated in any other way, nor told how to review the book.