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The African Orchestra
With magical illustrations from Joan Rankin, and poetry from masterful storyteller, Wendy Hartmann, The African Orchestra lyrically captures the magic of the African sounds of nature. From the clicking of crickets to the crackle of the fire, follow the journey that celebrates these sounds, in the rhythm and music of Africa.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published April 3, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 28, 2018
I liked the idea that nature provides the inspiration for music and instruments, particularly in Africa.
What I really loved was the idea that African drumming could mimic the sounds of animals thundering across the plain. <3
"We are the herds that gallop and run. We 'rumble' and 'boo-oom' in the African drum." (with a painting of hooves in motion and a person drumming)
What I really loved was the idea that African drumming could mimic the sounds of animals thundering across the plain. <3
"We are the herds that gallop and run. We 'rumble' and 'boo-oom' in the African drum." (with a painting of hooves in motion and a person drumming)
December 22, 2017
By comparing music to sounds animals make, this does a wonderful job of helping you hear the sounds while you are reading the story.
Themes: music, nature, African
Themes: music, nature, African
January 7, 2019
Why we chose this book:
When we requested This is the Chick from Crocodile Books, they included this book; it is by the same author and illustrator. We couldn't be happier that they did!
Mom's Review (V)
The music of nature leads to man's music.
The African Orchestra is a lyrical and visually beautiful book that highlights flora and fauna whose sounds fill the air with a natural music. From cicadas to zebras to seedpods and even to fire, readers can hear the orchestra of the African plain. The natural music is introduced, followed by animals showcasing the instruments they have inspired, such as "the herds that gallop and run. We 'rumble' and 'boo-oom' in the African drum." We read this book slowly, chatting as did. But reading it without interrupting the flow to chat will allow you to hear the rhythm of song the whole way through.
What I liked apart from the content and art (which are absolutely wonderful), was the way that this book allowed us to widen our view. T certainly makes music with sticks and trees and things he finds outside, but The African Orchestra prompts us to connect with musicians in another setting, examine the development of instruments, and hear the sounds of an African plain. Looking beyond our own yard lays the groundwork for T's understanding of and connection with other cultures. I've mentioned before the value we place on appreciation and respect for all cultural backgrounds. And one way to understand others despite superficial differences is by identifying universals, such as music. Although Africa is across an ocean and the Equator, T can connect with the men humming: we all make and enjoy music regardless of location and form. Furthermore, reading this inspired T to have an afternoon full of music himself. T often has a toy animal or figure with him when we read, and this time we read with Jessie the yodeling cowgirl because she loves music too. He immediately found the relation between his pink plastic keyboard and the cicadas and bees, and he wanted to play music for Jessie and sing me a song after reading. We also would have made our own instruments from materials we gathered outside, had it not been so late on a rainy afternoon. It is now on our list of what to do outside this week. You could certainly read this pretty book and enjoy it, but there are countless options for extending the experience beyond the pages.
The African Orchestra is splendid. This is an excellent fit for readers with any enjoyment of music and nature.
Son's Review (T)
(Age: almost 4 years old)
Mom: I liked that all the nature sounds are considered music, because I like listening to nature. Do you like listening to the outdoor sounds? Do you have a favorite?
Son: Yeah. Throwing grass or actually pulling grass.
Mom: What kind of sounds does it make?
Son, making explosive hand gestures: It makes kkkshhhhheeeee!!!
Mom: I like the sound of a rainstorm. What else sounds to you like music outside?
Son: Floating dandelion. It doesn't make any sound but I can hear it in the air floating away.
Mom: What sounds were your favorite in this book?
Son, pointing: This [fire]. I have a question. Why are those guys green?
Mom: Oh. They're not really green. They are next to the yellow fire, and so the darker color maybe looks a little green in contrast. But they're not really green.
Mom: See how all these instruments sound like the animals? Would you want to make an instrument? Maybe from materials in nature?
Son: It would be too much work for me.
Mom: What if we did it together?
Son: That would be a great idea!
Mom: Would you want it to sound like a plant or an animal noise?
Son: A human noise. MMM-mmm-MMM.
Mom: There were lots of bugs and animals and plants. If you could go see one in Africa, what would you see?
Son: A bird. All the birds in this book.
Mom: When you read this book, how did it make you feel? What made you happiest?
Son: Happy. That there was music. My favorite music part is...let me get a musical instrument of mine and sing you a song...
Mom: Before you go, could you tell me the best thing about this book? And when is it a good time to read The African Orchestra?
Son: That it's musical! When I want to do music.
Mom: Thank you. I'm so excited for your song!
Son, running off: Now I'm gonna get all my musical instruments so I can play a whole band.
When we requested This is the Chick from Crocodile Books, they included this book; it is by the same author and illustrator. We couldn't be happier that they did!
Mom's Review (V)
The music of nature leads to man's music.
The African Orchestra is a lyrical and visually beautiful book that highlights flora and fauna whose sounds fill the air with a natural music. From cicadas to zebras to seedpods and even to fire, readers can hear the orchestra of the African plain. The natural music is introduced, followed by animals showcasing the instruments they have inspired, such as "the herds that gallop and run. We 'rumble' and 'boo-oom' in the African drum." We read this book slowly, chatting as did. But reading it without interrupting the flow to chat will allow you to hear the rhythm of song the whole way through.
What I liked apart from the content and art (which are absolutely wonderful), was the way that this book allowed us to widen our view. T certainly makes music with sticks and trees and things he finds outside, but The African Orchestra prompts us to connect with musicians in another setting, examine the development of instruments, and hear the sounds of an African plain. Looking beyond our own yard lays the groundwork for T's understanding of and connection with other cultures. I've mentioned before the value we place on appreciation and respect for all cultural backgrounds. And one way to understand others despite superficial differences is by identifying universals, such as music. Although Africa is across an ocean and the Equator, T can connect with the men humming: we all make and enjoy music regardless of location and form. Furthermore, reading this inspired T to have an afternoon full of music himself. T often has a toy animal or figure with him when we read, and this time we read with Jessie the yodeling cowgirl because she loves music too. He immediately found the relation between his pink plastic keyboard and the cicadas and bees, and he wanted to play music for Jessie and sing me a song after reading. We also would have made our own instruments from materials we gathered outside, had it not been so late on a rainy afternoon. It is now on our list of what to do outside this week. You could certainly read this pretty book and enjoy it, but there are countless options for extending the experience beyond the pages.
The African Orchestra is splendid. This is an excellent fit for readers with any enjoyment of music and nature.
Son's Review (T)
(Age: almost 4 years old)
Mom: I liked that all the nature sounds are considered music, because I like listening to nature. Do you like listening to the outdoor sounds? Do you have a favorite?
Son: Yeah. Throwing grass or actually pulling grass.
Mom: What kind of sounds does it make?
Son, making explosive hand gestures: It makes kkkshhhhheeeee!!!
Mom: I like the sound of a rainstorm. What else sounds to you like music outside?
Son: Floating dandelion. It doesn't make any sound but I can hear it in the air floating away.
Mom: What sounds were your favorite in this book?
Son, pointing: This [fire]. I have a question. Why are those guys green?
Mom: Oh. They're not really green. They are next to the yellow fire, and so the darker color maybe looks a little green in contrast. But they're not really green.
Mom: See how all these instruments sound like the animals? Would you want to make an instrument? Maybe from materials in nature?
Son: It would be too much work for me.
Mom: What if we did it together?
Son: That would be a great idea!
Mom: Would you want it to sound like a plant or an animal noise?
Son: A human noise. MMM-mmm-MMM.
Mom: There were lots of bugs and animals and plants. If you could go see one in Africa, what would you see?
Son: A bird. All the birds in this book.
Mom: When you read this book, how did it make you feel? What made you happiest?
Son: Happy. That there was music. My favorite music part is...let me get a musical instrument of mine and sing you a song...
Mom: Before you go, could you tell me the best thing about this book? And when is it a good time to read The African Orchestra?
Son: That it's musical! When I want to do music.
Mom: Thank you. I'm so excited for your song!
Son, running off: Now I'm gonna get all my musical instruments so I can play a whole band.
July 26, 2020
I simply had to peak a look before donating the book today.
It is a beautiful children's book with beautiful illustrations that taps into the music of nature and how we humans have found ways to replicate those sounds. It's books like these that had enchanted my fantasy for reading from a very young age.
It is a beautiful children's book with beautiful illustrations that taps into the music of nature and how we humans have found ways to replicate those sounds. It's books like these that had enchanted my fantasy for reading from a very young age.
June 23, 2017
A journey through the sounds of Africa. Very nice:)
July 11, 2017
Listen to the music of the birthplace of man. Crickets chirp, bees hum, reeds whistle... all part of the natural orchestra bringing music to the ears of men.
July 14, 2017
I really like this one. I think it'd work really well in a story time.
January 19, 2018
Beautiful art, beautiful sound imagery.
June 30, 2018
Lovely!
July 12, 2018
Beautiful images and beautiful sounds of Africa. The author is from South Africa.
October 15, 2019
A really beautifully illustrated and poetical picture book that links the sounds of nature to music made by man.
January 18, 2021
What beautiful illustrations and I loved the natural music described in the book. A nice read aloud and project book.
March 9, 2018
The cadence is great for storytime
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews