There’s a Song in the Forest

There’s a song hidden deep in the forest
If you listen, and quiet your mind...

A gentle verse story from author and music educator Jennifer Britton (If You Could Be Anything) paired with bold, colourful, and textured mixed-media illustrations from artist Jillian Thalman, There’s a Song in the Forest takes young readers on an adventure to experience the soundscape of the natural world. Along the way, readers will be introduced to a range of notes, sounds, and melodies, from ＂the swishing and rustle of footsteps / through the leaves＂ to the ＂snapping of twigs like a metronome＂ to ＂the boom, crash, and thrum of the waves as they drum / upon rocky sea caves out of reach.＂

A lively read-aloud, a celebration of the wild world, and a mindful meditation on the art of active listening, There’s a Song in the Forest celebrates the music that can be found all around us.

Informative, illustrated backmatter also introduces young readers to musical terms featured in the text, like ＂orchestra,＂ ＂metronome,＂ and ＂symphony.＂

Jillian (Ailsa) Thalman is an award-winning designer and illustrator, inspired by book ornamentation, folk art, mid-century illustrators, and iconography. Her scope includes children’s illustration, editorial work, cover design, and brand creation. She loves to explore nature, magic, and symbolism in her work. Jillian works in collage, watercolour, pencil crayon, and digitally, while playing with texture and design. She lives in Scarborough, Ontario, with her husband, their two kids, and a bunch of pesky squirrels.