This vibrant, engaging assortment offers children an entertaining
introduction to the French language. From stories of friendship, family,
discovery, and self-esteem to silly, snappy songs of one-of-a-kind
barnyard animals, lullabies, and segments of classical music, children
tune in to a variety of musical styles and multicultural experiences.
The accompanying CDs provide children an opportunity to hear the
pronunciation of the words and sing along as they learn the language.
The lush, color-washed line drawings in the book focus on the whimsical
title-song "Comptine en mode zen" (Nursery Rhyme in Zen Mode) that tells
the tale of an improbable group of musicians who come together to play
their instruments in old Kyoto. The curious cast includes cane-wielding
Joe from Cajun land, his kimono-clad Japanese wife, their Spanish
friends, a little boy with a high-pitched voice, and a Buddhist monk.
Sixteen additional songs on the accompanying CD introduce zany-crazy
characters such as the old lady who snorts like a hog in "La mere a
Maillard" (Maillard's Mother) and a rooster who serves eggs for
breakfast in "Les quatre oeufs" (The Four Eggs).