Vance Bollinger – Songs from the Baobab: African Lullabies & Nursery Rhymes

Songs collected by Chantal Grosleziat

Musical arrangements by Paul Mindy

Illustrations by Elodie Nouhen

Furthering what I said about “culturally responsive” teaching in my last annotation, I think that this book would make an excellent addition to my collection of resources in the future for a multitude of reasons.  It’s a window into music from all over the entire continent of Africa, from Mali, to the Congo, to the Ivory Coast, and the music spans a wide variety of difficulties and tonalities that children of varying musical ability could enjoy.

The book itself is well illustrated and attractive to the eye, featuring stylized art and vibrant colors.  The themes expressed in the songs are those of family and community, such as “Don’t cry baby, your family will take care of you.”  I think that these songs could foster a culturally inclusive, communal experience if taught well in a elementary music class.