Illustrations and rhyming text reveal music in the songs of animals, plants, and people and the percussion of drums and galloping herds on the African plain.

Joan Rankin has illustrated over 30 books for children, including the acclaimed The African Orchestra and This is the Chick. She received the South African HAUM Daan Retief Prize for Children’s Book Illustration in 1986 and the Katrine Harries Award for Children’s Book Illustration in 1991.

Wendy Hartmann has been writing for many years, with more than 40 children’s books published, including, most recently, The African Orchestra. Her work ranges from concept and counting, beginner readers, high interest/low vocabulary readers to picture books. Her books have been selected for honor’s lists and nominated for awards for writing and illustration. Wendy lives in Cape Town, is married and has two daughters. In her spare time, she paints and has taken part in numerous exhibitions and has works in private collections in South Africa as well as overseas. Joan Rankin has illustrated over 30 books for children, including the acclaimed The African Orchestra. She received the South African HAUM Daan Retief Prize for Children’s Book Illustration in 1986 and the Katrine Harries Award for Children’s Book Illustration in 1991.