The First Music

Don't just sit and watch, join the parade!

Inspired by the sounds and rhythms of the west African forest, avid storyteller and performer, Dylan Pritchett weaves a tale that reveals the music we all have inside us. In the beginning, each animal make his own sound—everyone, that is, except the frogs, who seem more comfortable listening than performing.

But when Elephant stumbles on a log, he accidentally creates an intriguing, unfamiliar sound that engages everyone's attention. What follows might be called the first jam session, with each animal contributing his or her unique sound to the rhythm to create an engaging, harmonious, sweet sound – the first music.

Erin Bennett Banks' bold and vibrant oil paintings capture not only the density of the African forest and the personalities of its inhabitants but also bring this cumulative tale to a satisfying crescendo. These singing animals create a wonderful harmony as well as teach readers the importance of citizenship, resourcefulness and sharing.

August House Publishers also offers an animated version of The First Music as well as free lesson plans! Visit

Dylan Pritchett Bio:

Dylan Pritchett shares his folktales with thousands of children and adults throughout the country in more than 200 performances a year. Dylan is inspired by cultural folktales with a positive message that cross cultural boundaries. Through his writing, he hopes to encourage and bring joy to people of all ages, from all walks of life. As the past president of the National Association of Black Storytellers, Dylan is dedicated to passing on the rich African oral tradition of storytelling. In addition to live performances, Dylan has provided narration and served as a performer and consultant for a number of historic broadcast documentaries, including the recent PBS program, “View from the Mountaintop,” the Thomas Jefferson biography. Dylan is one of a handful of artists selected to participate in the John F. Kennedy Center's Performing Arts Partners in Education touring program. He has been working with the Kennedy Center for many years, performing and leading workshops for teachers to teach them on how to use the power of storytelling in their classrooms. In addition to working with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Consortium in Columbia, South Carolina, Dylan has created a five-week course that teaches middle school students how to write and present stories of women and children — black and white — who lived during the Civil War era. Students are led step-by-step through the creative process using primary and secondary documents from Dylan's research in Kansas, Mississippi, and Kentucky. This sought-after course is a huge success in hundreds of schools across the country, as a vibrant, meaningful way to learn about our nation's history.

Erin Banks Bio:

Native to upstate New York, Erin Bennett Banks is a nationally published illustrator whose children's books have gained wide recognition. She holds an MFA in illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design, and a BA in studio art from Houghton College. Banks has illustrated children's books for Candlewick Press, August House, and Carol Rhoda Books/Lerner, earning recognition as one of the New York Times' Best Children's Books, honored by the National Parenting Publications Awards and reviewed in Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, The Washington Post and Parents Magazine. Additional clients include the Harvard Business Review and The Weekly Reader, as well as retail vendors JCPenney and Bed, Bath & Beyond. Banks lives in Charleston, SC with her husband, illustrator Timothy Banks, and their two precocious pugs, Fiona and Grace.