Hush, Baby, Hush!: Lullabies from Around the World - Tapa dura

A collection of lullabies illustrated by Pam Smy and chosen by Kathy Henderson from all over the world. Printed in English and in their original language, with their tunes also included, they show the way that mothers everywhere have always entreated and just occasionally threatened babies who will not go to sleep. (Independent)

This lovely collection of traditional lullabies from every corner of the globe features the songs in their original language alongside the English translation, as well as sheet music for many, too. It is an excellent resource for all settings, in particular for those that have children who are not originally from the UK to help them feel more included. (Nursery Education)

An unusual gift for new parents. The illustrations by Pam Smy are captivating and evocative of the different traditions from which the lullabies are drawn. (Green Parent)

There is a lullaby for every mood of the day, showing that soothing a baby to rest is still universal. (Ibby Link)

A delightful book. (School Librarian)

A wonderful publication which will benefit Britain's multi-cultural classrooms and make many parents, grandparents and babies smile. (School Librarian)

A book of traditional lullabies with a difference. Gathered from all over the world, these beautiful, simple songs give a flavour of different parts of the world as well as showing that soothing a baby to sleep is the same the world over. With words in the original language plus the English version, together with a melody line and delightful illustrations by Pam Smy, this is the perfect gift book for parents of new babies.
The lullabies come from:
Australia (Aboriginal) Austria Bangladesh Brazil Czech Republic

England France Greece Greenland Hungary India Iran Iraq Italy

Jamaica Japan Korea Malawi Mexico Nigeria Norway Russia Spain

Turkey USA (Hopi) Wales West Africa (Yoruba).

Listen to an excerpt from Hush, Baby, Hush! by clicking the Resources tab.

1983. We were on a beach in Jamaica. Sunburnt. A man came along selling long leaves of aloe vera to soothe the blistered skin of tourists. His name was Herbert and he had a great beach cry that really got your attention, a sing-song chant that lured you to his basket. We bought a few fronds and struck up a conversation. As usual, we were packing a tape recorder, looking for lullabies and other traditions for our Kitchen Sisters stories on NPR. At first Herbert sang us Chi Chi Buddo, a classic Jamaican children's song. Then he sang us a gorgeous gospel. About an hour later he sang us Hush Baby Hush, as the waves broke behind him, a song his mother sang to him when he was a boy.