Tomson Highway publishing sing-along picture book celebrating Cree music and storytelling
Grand Chief Salamoo Cook is Coming to Town will be published on Sept. 1, 2023
2022 CBC Massey lecturer and author Tomson Highway is publishing a jazzy new picture book which celebrates Cree music and storytelling.
Grand Chief Salamoo Cook is Coming to Town! is a picture book told through words, images and songs. In a town called Kisoos, a very small rabbit names Weeskits announces to all his friends that the Grand Chief of all rabbits is coming to town to host a contest. The winning rabbit would be granted a year's worth of waaskee-choos juice which was a powerful healer. Determined to win and provide for his brother, Weeskits makes it his mission to impress the Grand Chief and win the contest.
Highway is a celebrated writer, musician and a prominent voice for Indigenous people and culture. In 2021 he was appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada at the end of 2021 for his contribution to theatre and Canadian culture. His other books include The Rez Sisters, Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing and Permanent Astonishment which won the 2021 Writers' Trust Hilary Weston Prize.
Accessed by a downloadable code, the book features nine original songs by Highway, performed in the Cree language. Each song is translated into English and there is a glossary at the end of the book.
"All native languages are in danger of dying in Canada. We must do our part in any way we can to preserve these languages," said Highway in a statement.
"Cree is my native tongue, the first language I spoke when I came into this earth, so I feel it's my responsibility to do whatever I can to help preserve it."
Through the colourful illustrations of rabbits and nature by French illustrator Delphine Renon and whimsical narration of Cree actor Jimmy Blais, Grand Chief Salamoo Cook is Coming to Town! Embodies the humour and joy of community-building.
Grand Chief Salamoo Cook is Coming to Town! will be published on Sept. 1, 2023 by Montreal-based children's publisher The Secret Mountain.
