SONGS ON THE VANILLA TRAIL

A collection of 25 lullabies and nursery rhymes from countries and island nations in southeastern Africa is captured on CD and in print.

The book is more of a companion guide to the audio renditions of the songs than a stand-alone read. The first part simply introduces the songs’ titles in the language of origin, the country or countries from which they hail, and, in English, a dominant verse or chorus from the song. These spreads are illustrated with scenes reflecting the song’s themes, using bold primary colors as well as white, black, and green. On these pages, brown-skinned people dance, swim, cuddle babies, work, play, and sleep, while stylized animals, countryside, and plant life adorn other spreads. A second section of the book, with white text set against a rich blue background, explains the unique history and cultures of the region of the world stretching from Kenya to South Africa and including the so-called Vanilla Islands. A final section, on yellow paper, offers detailed background on each song in the collection and includes more of the lyrics in the original languages alongside English translations. Readers are sure to learn new facts about this part of the world while appreciating its mix of global cultures. The book is beautifully produced on thick, matte paper, and the diversity of musical styles produced is impressive.

A valuable and thorough resource.