Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s New Children’s Picture Book

Published by Penguin books, “Little Sheku and the Animal Orchestra” is Kanneh-Mason’s first picture book

The British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason has now written and published his debut children’s book titled, “Little Sheku and the Animal Orchestra.” 

Illustrated by Rekha Salin, the book follows Little Sheku on his way to play his cello in a concert with the animal orchestra. 

On the way to the concert, the adventure follows the characters, who find that a dragon has stolen the conductor, and embark on a music-filled adventure to rescue them in time for the concert. 

Suitable for young children aged three and up, the book hopes to inspire a love of music in readers. 

The book will be released on May 1, 2025, and is now available for pre-order here.  

“I am so happy to announce that my debut children’s book Little Sheku and the Animal Orchestra will be out on the 1st May,” Kanneh-Mason posted on Facebook. 

“In it, a much smaller version of myself joins the world renowned animal orchestra, but when the conductor goes missing we have to team up to find her and ensure our audience can still enjoy the music! I am so excited to share it with you, I truly believe that music is for everyone, and I hope this book shows that. It is available to preorder now and I hope you love it!”

Recently appointed as New York Philharmonic’s new Artist-in-Residence, Kanneh-Mason’s current season highlights include serving as the Konzerthaus Berlin’s artist-in-residence and Lucerne Festival’s 2024 artiste étoile. 

More projects include concerts and tours with the Czech Philharmonic, Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, WDR Symphony Cologne, Orchestre National de Lyon, Sinfonia of London, SWR Symphony Stuttgart, Camerata Salzburg, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and City of Birmingham Symphony.

As a Decca Classics recording artist, he has recorded Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, his 2022 album Song, and the 2020 album Elgar, which reached No. 8 on the Official UK Album Chart. Faber publishes sheet music collections of his performance repertoire, arrangements, and compositions.

Since graduating from London’s Royal Academy of Music (RAM), he has been awarded an MBE and was appointed as RAM’s first Menuhin Visiting Professor of Performance Mentoring in 2022. 

After winning the 2016 BBC Young Musician competition, his performance at the 2018 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle was viewed by two billion people. He plays a 1700 Matteo Goffriller cello — on indefinite loan to him.