The Birds' Song Book

It seems like a long time since the end of July when we launched Tom's children's book at Fiddlers Green Festival back at the end of July.  Since then we've waited to promote it until we decided how to proceed.  It has been taken back to primary schools in England, Germany, Denmark, Australia and Canada and there's already a German translation of it, so there are possiblities if we can follow them.  It has even ended up on the desk of the President of Ireland!

The Birds' Song is a fun song about the problems of immigration ... and when we first started to sing it in folk clubs, several people asked for it to be put into a book for children as it relates to the themes of diversity and culture that they focus on for 6 and 7 year olds.  

So now we're onto its second print (and we're delighted to be able to take the price down a wee bit) and we're just starting to get it out beyond friends and family and the local area, so fingers and toes crossed that we can get it to those who like to read to children and teach them songs.  One teacher in Liverpool has promised to teach it to her children for christmas assembly and video it for us - that would be so exciting and another friend in Germany who did the translation of it is also teaching it to  her 6 and 7 year olds. 

The Birds'Song illustrated for children in a 16pp book
to teach that differences are good.

Robin and his friends Blackbird and Thrush are wondering why the foreign birds are not visiting and think that something is afoot.  Are other birds stopping them at the borders?  

The Birds' Song is a gentle parody song about immigration, in a language that children can understand.  It is told from the perspective of the home birds versus the migrating birds. It was Tom's idea and he wrote the text.   It has been illustrated beautifully by Colum McEvoy and I wrote the music.

“We may have different feathers and sing a different song
But when we sing together the differences are gone.”

Aimed at children aged 5-7 years old and covering themes of diversity and culture, the Birds’ Song book is 16 pages, A4, has the sheet music included and is priced at £6.

Listen to The Birds Song here
Purchase here

Little footballs ...

It was a relief to get out for a walk today after being laid up for nearly 2 weeks (again - yes, the third time this year ... )  and with the diary filling up with mainly choir and singing group commitments between now and Christmas I thought it was way past time that I started to get a bit of exercise. 

 It was actually quite warm in the sun but you could really feel the bite in the wind. 

 Is it just me or do these pine fruit look like little footballs - they really made me smile.

Judging by the amount of berries around, it's going to be a very cold winter ... the birds have lots of choices...

It was a really lovely walk around the bay at full tide. 

We've been shocked to see the terrible floods across the north of England and the awful fires in Australia.  I hope you are all safe and dry.  It's been raining a lot here and very cold but thankfully there's not been a lot of flooding other than in the fields.