What's wrong with this flute? Lindiwe wondered. I must find music for it.

In The Song of Six Birds, readers go on an adventure with Lindiwe to find music for her African flute, a gift from her mama.  Shortly after receiving the flute, Lindiwe makes a shocking discovery.  The flute is without music and makes a disturbing sound!  Throughout the story, Lindiwe finds music for her flute from birds, six of them to be exact.  She gets the sounds of the Mahem from a crane, tocki-tock from a hornbill, doo-doo-doo from a rainbird, hoop hoop from the hoopoe, whee- wheeo, wit-wit from a paradise flycatcher, and finally whoo-hu whoo-hu from a wood owl. 

Lindiwe's adventure ends with beautiful music that fills her African village with sweet sounds of celebration! Deetlef's text is filled with musical sounds.

Now the sun hung low and Lindiwe's shadow was long. Just before the sun set, a wood owl called: Whoo-hu. whoo-hu-hu!

Using African names and customs in the text, Deetlefs presents readers with interesting cultural twists in the story.

Lindiwe shrieked, a hornets sting had burned her arm.  Off she ran to the village medicine man who was quietly gathering herbs nearbyThe wise old man smiled laying a cool herb on her throbbing arm.

Gilbert's illustrations are bold, powerful, and uniquely depict a traditional African village.  Gilberts paintings included exquisite images of African clothing, pottery, and landscape.  Gilbert's illustrations combined with Deetlef's melodic text make this lively story worth singing praises! Young readers will be captivated by the beautiful sound s and images!