This book is packed with original songs, vibrant illustrations, and storytelling that will inspire your child to learn, laugh, and dream. Perfect for bilingual families and a wonderful resource for teachers to make learning fun and engaging. A brilliant musical book that explores languages through nature, wildlife, and silly adventures!

45 pages & 20 original songs composed by professional musicians!

Hello! I am Alexandra Borghino, the author, illustrator, and musician behind the Singing Willows book.

Singing Willows all started right here with this book! At the end of 2022, I decided to combine all of my passions and skills to create a children’s musical book, bringing together my love for storytelling, illustration, music, performance, and working with children.

I wrote 10 original songs inspired by my childhood, life, and encounters with wildlife and nature during my travels. I then collaborated with talented musicians to help compose and record them, featuring a blend of vocals, double bass, banjo, guitar, violin, percussion, and flutes. Although we first recorded the songs in English, a visit home to France inspired the idea for a bilingual edition!

After hand-drawing the illustrations, I officially self-published the book in December 2023! Since then, we have been performing the original songs in libraries, festivals, and at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe. We continue to perform across various festivals and venues around Edinburgh.

Inspired by one of the songs from the book, “The Magical Bed,” I wrote a brand-new script and turned it into an inclusive children’s musical theatre show!

We are thrilled to be performing this brand new show at:

• The Scottish Storytelling Centre (Edinburgh Fringe)

• The Edinburgh Deaf Festival (Deaf Action)