Audio

PreS-Gr 3–Bible stories and well-known spiritual songs provide an entertaining introduction to French. Listeners follow Marie and Pierre in Sunday School and Bible Camp and during prayer time. Among the 21 songs are favorites such as “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” and “This Little Light of Mine.” The accompanying 28-page book contains the conversations between the characters, the French lyrics of the songs, and the prayers and activities in French. An English translation is provided at the back of the book. The sound quality is excellent, and the singers and speakers enunciate clearly. Children can follow along with the booklet as they become familiar with the French words. Although this title is intended as an introduction to the French language, it also could be used to reinforce French vocabulary studies with older students.–Denise A. Garofalo, Astor Learning Center at the Astor Home for Children, Rhinebeck, NY

Gr 6-9–Elizabeth Lenhard’s coming-of-age novel (Dutton, 2005) about teens who help one another while knitting is brought to life by the youthful voice of Liz Morton. Scottie, the main character, is grieving the death of her aunt when she discovers that knitting calms her down and helps her to cope. Scottie, her best friend Amanda who has trouble accepting her learning disabilities, and two other girls from school begin frequenting a cozy knitting store. They form a special knitting club and help each other deal with their problems. But can their friendship last outside of their knitting circle? Morton reads quickly with a very pleasant voice. She conveys the appropriate emotions but doesn’t over dramatize the climactic moments. Although she makes very little differentiation in the voices of the characters, it is easy to follow the plot and the dialogue. This novel of self-discovery will be enjoyed by teenage girls, especially those with a penchant for knitting.–Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA

Gr 5-8–The underside of life in 19th century England comes alive in Ian Lawrence’s Dickensian tale (Delacorte, 2005) about Tom Tin, a 14-year-old whose sea captain father has been taken to debtor’s prison and whose mother is losing her mind following the death of Tom’s younger sister. A desperate Tom runs away from home to try to free his father, and ends up having a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He discovers a diamond in the mud, but then has to fight off a blind man to keep it. Tom spends an unforgettable night with a grave robber, and is later mistaken for a look-alike ruffian named “The Smasher.” This eventually results in his being found guilty of murder and sent to a former British battleship now turned into a prison ship for hundreds of boys. Tom’s life on the ship forms the main and most memorable part of the story with its wrenching descriptions of the boys’ daily routine and the survival of the fittest. Tom befriends a waif named Midgely who retains a positive outlook despite his dreadful circumstances and helps Tom overcome his fear of the sea. While there are plenty of villains in the story, the main one is the ironically named Mr. Goodfellow who is obsessed with ruining Tom’s family. Listeners will get caught up in John Keating’s compelling narration once they become accustomed to his British accent and to the meaning of terms such as “bone grubber.”–David Bilmes, Schaghticoke Middle School, New Milford, CT

PreS-Gr 2–Eric Drachman, author of Leo the Lightning Bug (Kidwick, 2001) and Ellison the Elephant (Kidwick, 2004), returns with the story of Frank, a frog who wants to fly. Frank’s parents promised him that he could do whatever he set his mind to–until they discovered that he wanted to fly. They try to explain to Frank that flying is a bird thing and swimming is a frog thing, but Frank remains undeterred. One afternoon, when a young bird falls into the water, Frank uses his strong swimming skills to save the bird. To thank Frank for saving her baby, the mama bird and another bird fulfill Frank’s wish by carrying a twig between them that Frank holds onto while they fly him through the sky. In the end, Frank agrees that he can’t fly, but maybe he can be one of the greatest swimmers. Beautiful illustrations by James Muscarello capture the frog’s emotions, bringing the story to vibrant life. Drachman and a full cast narrate this heartwarming story, capturing all of the hopes, dreams, and unending determination of this spunky frog. Perfectly selected classical pieces serve as the background music, dipping and soaring right along with the story. A true delight that will be welcome in any collection.–Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library, IL

Gr 5-9–Thirteen-year-old Gilda Joyce is fearless, spunky, and has a quizzical and impulsive personality that often gets her into trouble. When her teacher asks how she plans to spend her summer vacation, Gilda doesn’t want to let on that she enjoys spending time spying on neighbors. So she blurts out that she plans to visit a distant relative in San Francisco. Glida finds herself caught in the dilemma of whether her answer was “the result of a genuine psychic impulse or […] a compulsive lie.” Deciding that a lie is not a lie if it comes true, Gilda invites herself to California to visit her cousin, Lester Splinter, and his daughter, Juliet. Upon learning that Juliet has seen the ghost of her Aunt Melanie who committed suicide ten years earlier and after hearing stomping in the mansion’s locked and boarded tower, Gilda is convinced it was her “psychic radar” that led her to San Francisco. Consequently, the two girls embark on an adventure to solve the mystery. Jennifer Allison’s debut novel (Dutton, 2005) does a great job of tackling the difficult subjects of divorce, suicide, and the death of a parent. Weaving proper amounts of grief, loneliness, and humor, Allison combines a spine-tingling mystery with a tale of friendship and personal growth. Jessica Almasy does a convincing job of providing distinct voices for each character. Especially pleasing are the valley-girl voice given to Lester’s secretary, and Sophia Lasagna’s (Gilda Joyce in disguise) brash, self-righteous tone. Although a handful of obscenities are used, this is a great choice for middle school mystery collections. Youngsters will eagerly await Gilda’s next adventure.–Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH

Gr 2-4–Judy Moody and her family follow the Freedom Trail in Boston and learn cool facts about the American Revolution in this novel by Megan McDonald (Candlewick, 2005). Judy has a great time and makes friends with a girl from England. Judy wants more freedoms like her new friend, so when she gets home she writes her own Declaration of Independence, insisting on certain “alien rights” like more allowance and getting to stay up later. Her parent’s won’t go along with it, so Judy tries to show that she is more grown up and responsible by doing her chores and being nice to her brother, Stink. When that doesn’t work, she has her own Boston Tea Party in the bathtub which only results in a mess and more trouble. Stink falls asleep on the school bus and Judy makes a heroic bike ride to rescue him. Her parents are finally convinced that she has earned a little more freedom. Actress Kate Forbes narrates all the characters’ voices with humor, giving them distinct personalities. Youngsters will enjoy Judy’s exploits and her quest for the “purse of happiness” while they learn a little bit about the American Revolution along the way.–Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary School, Edmonds, WA

Gr 2-8–Forty-two of Shel Silverstein’s poems from his best-selling book (HarperCollins, 2005), published posthumously, are performed by Dennis Locorriere. The poems are spoonerisms–the initial sounds of two words are transposed, so “Bunny Rabbit” become “Runny Babbit.” The poems beg to be read aloud and Locorriere, who has performed Silverstein’s poems in the past, has the perfect speed, pitch, and voice range to deliver these silly poems. The wordplay and rhymes will tickle listeners’ funny bones. Kids may even be inspired to write their own spoonerisms after listening to this delightful CD. Schools will find this useful as a perfect example of this unusual form of poetry. Children and adults will be entertained by this humorous collection. A gem.–Marilyn Hersh, Hillside Elementary School, Farmington Hills, MI

Gr 4-7–As a young girl in rural China, Lu Si-yan grows up with two loving parents and a younger brother. Her father farms their land and fishes to provide for the family After her father dies, Lu Si-yan struggles to keep her family fed but can’t manage when her mother becomes ill. Her uncle decides the best he can do is sell the 11-year-old into domestic service. Lu Si-yan realizes that her life is like “spilled water”–a waste. An upper-class family for whom she must cook and clean purchases the girl. She is kept locked in their apartment, but escapes when she realizes they plan to marry her to their mentally retarded son. As she attempts to return home to her family, Lu Si-yan’s money is stolen and she becomes indebted to a couple that owns a large factory. While working to pay off her debt and making friends, her longing to return home is still evident. It takes an almost deathly illness to bring help from Uncle. Liz Sutherland does a wonderful job of reading this novel by Sally Grindley (Bloomsbury, 2004). She gives each character a unique voice and Chinese accent, from Uncle’s curt tone to the voices of Lu Si-yan’s friends in the factory. An excellent addition for classes studying China or the exploitation of factory workers, and for world cultures collections in public libraries.–Lisa Baker, Chocowinity Middle School, NC

Gr 5-8–Set in 1893 during the Oklahoma Land Rush, Cissy Sissney’s family gets off the train in the middle of the prairie with a small group of homesteaders who have nothing but their meager belongings and the dream of prospering in a new town. Through the eyes of the spunky 10-year-old girl, Geraldine McCaughrean tells a rousing good tale (HarperCollins 2003) about the townsfolk’s crazy schemes to convince the Red Rock Railroad to make a stop in “Florence,” the name of their new settlement. The owner, bitter after failed attempts to buy up their landholding shares, becomes the town’s arch enemy, thwarting any plans for a train stop. Undeterred, the stubborn individuals try amusing and sometimes dangerous ways to slow down the train. Thanks to the power of the press, the burgeoning township reinvents its image and earns a station stop. The story couldn’t be more perfect for a full-cast reading. Actress Ellen Myrick narrates, and individual actors paint wonderful portraits of the colorful characters. The folksy parts are read with perfect timing and maintain the pace and emotional level of the story. Young voices, for Cissy and her new friend Kookie, are portrayed with the wide-eyed curiosity and the positive outlook of the prairie’s youngest settlers. Other engaging characters include Miss Loucien Shades, the Annie Oakley-ish school teacher who can’t read or write; Everett Crew, the cultured thespian who is besotted with her; and Sven Lagerlof, the baker who had to chose from two mail order brides. There’s even original fiddle music appropriate to the time period. Delightful.–Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

Gr 3-6–In Noel Streatfeild’s 1945 novel (Random, pap. 1994), a title in the Shoes series, siblings Sorrel, Mark, and Holly are considered to be orphans after their father, who is fighting in World War II, is declared missing in action. When their caretaker dies, the children are sent to London to live with their actress grandmother. They are forced to enroll in the Children’s Academy of Dancing and Stage Training with their tuition paid for by the now grown orphan sisters from Ballet Shoes (Random House, 1937). At first, the children are very unhappy at the Academy and ready to run away until they begin to discover that each has a hidden talent. Sorrel has a knack for drama, Mark sings, and Holly dances. Soon the children come to love life at the Academy. Narrator Elizabeth Sastre does a marvelous job of capturing the gentle innocence of the youngsters during such a tumultuous time in history. Listeners do not have to be familiar with the other titles in the series to thoroughly enjoy this story. A pleasant addition to collections for elementary school children.–Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library, IL

PreS-Gr 1–It’s Valentine’s Day and four spirited mice deliver valentines to the other animals. But wait, one mouse is missing! The other three find him in a snowdrift and everyone is safe and happy at story’s end. This sweet offering written by Bethany Roberts and illustrated by Doug Cushman (Clarion, 1997) uses simple, repetitive vocabulary. A soothing-voiced female narrator reads the story slowly enough for children to easily follow along in the book. Upbeat music complements the words and colorful watercolor illustrations. The sound of a kiss is the page-turn signal. At the end, the narrator explains how to flip the cassette to read the story without the page-turn prompts. Very young children will find this a warm, fuzzy, non-threatening, interactive introduction to reading.–Marilyn Hersh, Hillside Elementary School, Farmington Hills, MI

Gr 7-10–Susannah Simon, teenage ghost handler, is back in the sixth episode (HarperCollins, 2005) in the irresistible Mediator series by Meg Cabot. This time, Suze and arch nemesis Paul Slater uncover their ability to travel into the past to change the course of history. Paul wants to journey back 150 years to prevent the death of Jesse, Suze’s ghostly boyfriend. He wants Susannah for himself. Suze is frantic that he might not succeed because it would mean that she would never meet Jesse or have any memory of him. When Suze meets real-life Jesse, as opposed to the ghostly Jesse she has known, her love for him shines through and she struggles to put his welfare before her own. Teens will enjoy the tension created by this unusual triangle (boy, girl, ghost). Narrator Johanna Parker sets just the right tone and pace. The story stands on its own, but be prepared for readers to clamor for the first five books in the series. It’s as fun and fine as series fiction gets.–Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Broken Arrow, OK

Gr 8 Up–The sequel (Delacorte, 2005) to Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty (Delacorte, 2003; Listening Library, 2004) takes up 17-year-old Gemma Doyle’s adventures above ground, in Victorian London, and below in the magical Realms, just days after the first book ended. Narrator Josephine Bailey remains consistent and inspired in the range of accents and tones she provides for Gemma, her posh friend Felicity, their whiney classmate Ann, the mysterious and sensual Indian youth Kartik, and the newly introduced characters that include a suspicious new teacher and a patient at London’s famous Bethlehem Hospital (Bedlam). Those unfamiliar with the prequel to the current adventures may find themselves a bit lost at the outset, but the flurry of immediate events will soon catch them up as Gemma works feverishly to understand how she can bind the magic running loose in the Realms, whether Kartik is her ally or her deadly opponent, and if her father’s moodiness is an expression of the continuing grief at her mother’s death or an opiate habit. Added to these Gothic matters is the fact that Gemma must come to terms with her feelings for the young man who pays her court during the Christmas holidays she’s spending away from finishing school and in her grandmother’s house. Bray realizes the time period not only in her skillfully embedded descriptions of sounds, textures, and smells, but also by evoking the social framework within which Gemma must move, at least while above ground. The Realms, on the other hand, include both other worldly beauty and ghastliness, befitting of hallucinations. Gemma proves her strength and her charity in both arenas.–Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Gr 7-10–A simple English class assignment between two warring Australian high schools starts a funny, sad, and racy comedy of manners between the Ashbury school girls and the Brookfield school boys in this novel by Australian author Jaclyn Moriarty (Arthur A. Levine Bks., 2004). Through their letters (snail mail and e-mail), journal entries, and diary entries, Lydia, Emily, Cassie, Seb, Charlie, and Matthew share their hopes, dreams, and fears as they become friends, then enemies, and then friends again. The story takes a dramatic turn when Matthew (who writes to Cassie) turns out not to be Matthew. After a fistfight, a stolen car, and a dramatic school trial, Emily and her friends unmask Matthew and bring the beginnings of peace between their two schools. Moriarty creates a vivid portrait of teen angst, loyalty, and friendship. The full-cast narration is engaging and makes the humorous situations come alive. American teens will relate to the exploits of their Australian counterparts.–Larry Cooperman, Seminole High School, Sanford, FL

PreS–Singer-songwriter Mary Lee Sunseri delivers 33 favorites on this sprightly album. Divided into three “sets” for storytime programs and playtime, the songs and rhymes here represent traditional favorites (“The Noble Duke of York,” “Mother and Father and Uncle John,” “To Market, to Market”) as well as new twists on traditional tunes (“Here We Go Uppity Up,” “You Ought to See My Baby”). Each song invites participation, and librarians and early childhood educators will be happy to add new gems such as “The Elevator Song” and the traditional Danish tune “Stamping Land” to their storytime repertoire. The 19-page book that accompanies the CD makes the collection even more useful, featuring lyrics, suggestions for using each song with children, and tips for sharing music with babies. Mary Lee’s sunshiny voice and gentle delivery will make everyone want to sing along.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

PreS-Gr 2–Children’s educator Joy Williams joins Cowboy Mike (aka Michael Hayter) on this recording featuring the duo’s original songs. The relaxed voices, accompanied by bass, dulcimer, guitar, keyboard, and drums, are peaceful and restful. Songs such as “Mommy and Daddy Wake Up,” “I Like to Take a Bath,” “Come Over and Play,” and  “We’ll Be There in Just a Little While,” address themes with which children will identify. “Listen to the Jungle,” “Ice Cream” and “Land of Dreams” transport listeners to a dreamy, imaginative place. This title will be useful for themed story times as well as leisure listening. A solid addition to general collections.–Kirsten Martindale, formerly, Menomonie Public Library, WI

PreS-Gr 3–This set from Shari and Jerry Tallon is packed with creative ideas for librarians and educators. The CD contains two dozen songs and rhymes, ranging from traditional favorites like “Miss Polly,” “Frère Jacques,” and “Little Peter Rabbit” to infectious, interactive originals like “Take Me for a Ride in Your Spaceship,” “Do You Like It?,” and “If You Like to Jump.” The second disc features instrumental music appropriate for a variety of classroom uses. What really makes this set a boon for educators is the 52-page resource book which contains lyrics (a necessity, as many of the songs were recorded live with children singing and the lyrics are unintelligible), craft ideas, and background information about the effects of music on child development.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

PreS-Gr 3–In his fourth children’s CD, Brady Rymer again successfully combines his unique combination of rock, country, and folk music with lyrics that emphasize the love of parents for their youngsters, children’s everyday life, and the global community. The rocking beats of the opening songs, “Rock ’n’ Roll Mother Goose” and “Dilly Dally Daisy,” smoothly lead into the classic country beat of “Keep Up with You,” a song about the needs of parents for coffee and naps because children have so much energy. “Instead of Watching TV” is a great tune that offers a variety of alternate ideas to watching TV, such as writing grandma a letter, playing ball, or planting a garden. “Mama Hug”” playfully emphasizes the reassurance that a hug may provide in almost any situation. Interspersed are songs such as “Side by Side” and the title track that teach the importance of understanding that even though the world is a big place, the people in it work together and experience many of the same things. The final song, “Happy Birthday Around the World,” is a remixed version of “Every Day Is a Birthday” with the phrase “Happy Birthday” interjected in various languages including French, Lithuanian, and Hindi. Children, parents, and teachers will have a rockin’ good time listening to this excellent addition to all collections for young children.–Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library, IL

PreS-Gr 4–Children’s educator Vanessa Trien has an easy, relaxed musical style that makes her foray into children’s music a pleasure. Her imaginative original songs invite movement and participation, and embrace a variety of musical styles. Trien’s travel adventures have influenced her music; folk, blues, jazz, Brazilian samba, and ’80s pop are all heard on this recording. Accompanied by keyboard, guitar, and percussion instruments, she sings inviting songs such as “Hello World,” “Good Morning,” “Dance Our Blues Away,” “Await the Day,” “Island in the Sun,” the title song, and others. Trien’s introductory children’s album will receive a warm welcome by leisure listeners. A winner!–Kristen Martindale, formerly Menomonie Public Library, WI

Gr 1-5–The brain-child of composer David Haslam and English TV personality Johnny Morris, Juanita joins two other award-winning CDs in the Stories in Music series. The series’ goal is to expand the listening horizons of children, to hone their listening skills, to aid them in accumulating musical memories, and to encourage adults and children to listen to music together. In the tradition of Peter and the Wolf and Tubby the Tuba, Haslam and Morris created a short story enhanced by classical music. Juanita, a Spanish lobster, is dissatisfied with life under water and wants to visit the land. A young, witless seal tells her that a lobster pot is her ticket to visiting the land. Fortunately, her admirer, Caradoc the lobster, tells her the truth about lobster pots and manages to rescue her from certain doom. Haslam composed Spanish flamenco music for Juanita, and a bel canto-style aria and recitative for the love-sick Caradoc. The production is beautifully orchestrated by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with Stephen Simon (who is also the producer) conducting. Yadu (aka Dr. Konrad Czynski of Minnesota State University-Moorhead) narrates the story with vigor and sings the songs flawlessly. Other tracks include information about the story and the music, and a delightful early rock-style song, “O Juanita à la Elvis,” sung by James Shaffran & the Three Crustaceans. Shaffran mimics Elvis Presley’s voice perfectly. A final track features karaoke-style background music and singers, so that children (or parents) can sing “O Juanita à la Elvis.” The booklet contains information about the production, games, and lyrics. A welcome addition for most libraries.–Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX

Gr 1-5–Barry Louis Polisar’s children’s recordings have become a standard, well loved by a couple of generations of youngsters since he began recording in the 1970’s. Many of Polisar’s songs were not to his own liking, and he filed them rather than recording them. Inspired by his own lectures to school children about the writing process, he re-wrote the songs and recorded them on this album. Polisar markets these as his “worst songs with a brand new twist. With forty different songs and poems, there’s something for everyone to dislike!” Kids will definitely giggle when listening to songs like “Shut Up in the Library,” “Stanley Stole My Shoelace and Rubbed It in His Armpit,” and “When Suzie Sneezed.” Parents who listened to Polisar as children are likely to want to share the laughter with their own youngsters. Polisar’s 30-year-old recycling is a brave idea that works!–Kirsten Martindale, formerly, Menomonie Public Library, WI

K-Gr 3–Six-year-old Skyler Pia created and hosted this album as a radio show for his friend Erik who had cancer. Skyler chose six previously recorded songs from five Putumayo albums, and for each one gave a short introduction to the song and the artist. Skyler is an enthusiastic and talented DJ for this production. The songs are “Barco de Papel” (Tété Alhinho, African Playground), “Petit Français” (Polo, French Playground), “Jamaica Farewell” (Desmond Dekker, Caribbean Playground), “Nyangi Matilda” (Trevor Adamson, World Playground), “Just Keep Goin’ On” (Eric Bibb, World Playground) and “La Araña Picua” (Los 50 de Joselito, Latin Playground). After Skyler created the show, it was brought to the attention of Putumayo founder, Dan Storper, who decided to release it as a CD. Putumayo will be donating 100 percent of the proceeds from this CD to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.–Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX

K-Gr 4–Glenn Colton’s smooth, friendly voice, upbeat tunes, and motivational lyrics combine to create a rousing collection of music to reinforce character education programs in classrooms. The 19 songs are about optimism, acceptance, resourcefulness, initiative, appreciation, determination, perseverance, honesty, peacemaking, self-control, kindness, diligence, friendship, respect, responsibility, good manners, bullying, making good choices, and compassion. Imagination, creativity, and the importance of reading are also reinforced. “Mr. Ducky Wucky’s Vacation,” a conga, a limbo, and a polka are included as bonus tracks just for fun. Lyrics and sheet music can be downloaded and printed. While perhaps idealistic at times and somewhat redundant overall, when used a few songs at a time, this album will encourage young children to value themselves and others in the school community.–Leigh Ann Rumsey, Penn Yan Academy, NY

PreS-Gr 4–The JAMband, based in San Francisco, has a sophisticated but rocking sound that will appeal to parents as well as children. Featuring 13 tunes written by lead singer Charity Kahn, there is a wide range of musical styles and never a dull moment. Each song is upbeat and empowering for children. From the bicycle bell opening of “Travelin’” (a kicking rock song detailing a road trip, featuring dissonance not often found in children’s music) to the easy rock of “JAM Is,” Kahn is a chameleon. She shifts her sound throughout, inspired by the styles of Stevie Nicks (“Jump into the Middle”), Madeleine Kahn (“Towel Tango”), and Chaka Khan (“Happy Birthday Baby”), among others. Haunting harmonies and a fine piano accompaniment make “Whatcha Gonna Bring” (a celebration of self) a standout. Syncopation makes “Happy Fluffy” pop. Background vocals in “Super Hero” include 50’s doo-wop, breathy Rocky Horror Picture Show-type echo responses, and rap. “Partner Dance” is a montage of sound (melding conga, easy rock, and blues) about farm animals and includes a riff of “Ring Around the Rosie.” “We Need Mud” features only a drum, chant, and children responding. Four part a capella harmonies on “Peace Dream” are inspired. The high energy songs will have listeners up and dancing.–Stephanie Bange, Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH

PreS-K–Suzi Shelton has been recording children’s music with bands for about eight years. This is her first solo venture and shows great promise. She wrote, co-wrote, or adapted the 14 songs. Shelton plays guitar on most songs and sings lead on each with a clear soprano voice. Accompanying instrumentation and harmonies are similarly simple, allowing listeners to pick up the melody tune on each track. Themes explored in the songs include animals, family love, and growing up. Stand-out tunes include “So Long Chocolate Cake” (a bluesy tune about not getting dessert when you don’t eat your supper), “One Day on the Porch” (an easy rock song about what I want to be when I grow up), “Ten Thousand Kisses” (about a father proclaiming his love for his child), and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (an adaptation of the popular standard with original music interwoven seamlessly). “Time to Say Hello” (an action song) would make a perfect preschool story time opener. A bonus is the instrumental “Runabout,” written and performed by producer Dan Siegler. Very young children singing on several tracks will limit the appeal of this title to preschoolers and kindergarten-aged youngsters. A welcome addition for story times.–Stephanie Bang, Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH

PreS-Gr 4–Singer, songwriter, and all-around musical whirlwind Carole Peterson serves up 20 tunes that are anything but stinky on her fourth album. Her motto is “active music for kids,” and that’s exactly what she delivers. Every song here begs for participation, whether it’s the toe-tapping melody of “Shine, Shine, Shine!,” the call-and-response silliness of “Great Big Man,” or the rhyme-along fun of “Icky Sticky and Ooey Gooey.” Action songs like “Shake a Friend’s Hand,” “Everybody Clap Your Hands,” and “I Like My Hat” will become instant storytime favorites, and “Red Red Robin Sticks Dance” and “Drumming Medley” even bring in simple props. Peterson delivers these song with a smile in her voice and clear instructions that make them a snap for even the most timid adult to use with kids. This album deserves a spot on every programmer’s resource shelf.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll Count, Public Library, MD

K-Gr 6–This CD contains 13 rock songs that present the facts about multiplying numbers 0 to 12. The fun tunes, backed by electric guitar and synthesizers, will appeal to children and hold their attention while they learn and practice the multiplication tables. Some of the songs introduce tricks to simplify the multiplication process, such as “One Is Like a Copy Machine.” Other songs, such as “PBJ, Three Times a Day,” have catchy rhythms that make memorizing a snap. This title is similar to Schoolhouse Rock (Kid Rhino, 1996), with the same great quality music and witty lyrics. A fun way for individuals and groups to be entertained while they learn.–Cynthia Grabke, Thayer Public Library, Braintree, MA

PreS-Gr 1–This debut recording from the duo Constant Wonder, featuring the talents of Connie Gillies and Alice Weiser, presents upbeat and original music that also teaches young children about science and nature. The songs are linked together as a part of a walk in the countryside that presents young listeners with lots of facts about the world around them, including such topics as the forest and the seashore. In addition, there are little bits of conversation between each of the musical pieces to connect the storyline. The songs are presented in a variety of musical styles. “Who Am I Anyway?” is a bluesy piece about the snake. “Walk with Wonder” features an upbeat, Caribbean sound. The lyrics are accompanied by a full band that includes saxophone, organ, trumpet, flute, drum, tuba, clarinet, trombone, and piano. Another fun tune is “Ladybug,” about insect defense mechanisms. Other songs include “I’m a Little Jellyfish,” “Run Away, Earwig,” “Crickets Keep Me Up at Night” and “Pink Flamingo” (how flamingos achieve their wonderful pink color). These lively and upbeat songs will be useful as part of a science and nature curriculum and a worthy addition to public library collections.–Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

K-Gr 6–Working on the premise that “kids remember stuff when it’s in a song,” this CD uses music to teach facts about America–its history, symbols, and important documents. The 14 songs cover a wide range of topics. There are tunes about the causes and consequences of the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the westward expansion. The Pledge of Allegiance and the American National Anthem are presented and explained, and there’s an overview of national holidays. One song teaches the 50 states, another focuses on America’s symbols including the bald eagle and the flag. America’s natural wonders, such as the Grand Canyon and the Great Lakes, are featured in another song. Listeners also learn about the branches of government, the Bill of Rights, and important sites in Washington, DC. All the songs feature a rock beat and fun voices, including a computerized voice. They all include questions about the topic that students can respond to as the answers are given in the song. While not as catchy as the old “Schoolhouse Rock” songs, these are still fun and educational.–Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

Gr 5 Up–Thomas Jefferson, from his teenage years in 1757 to his death on July 4, 1826, is the subject of this collection of 11 true stories read by master storyteller Jim Weiss. Each of the stories, which Weiss refers to as chapters, involves Jefferson and another American hero of the time who interacted with Jefferson. Weiss delivers the stories in a quiet but compelling voice, employing a combination of third-person diary and fictionalized speaking parts to add interest. Among the notables featured in the tales are Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, James Madison, Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, George Washington, James Monroe, and Lewis and Clark. Listeners get a real feel for the politics of the time, life at Monticello, and the personalities involved in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Although the producers recommend this title for students in second grade and above, the concepts, content, and language are too complex for elementary youngsters. The best audience will be middle and secondary school students studying Jefferson and his contemporaries during America’s infancy.–Marilyn Hersh, Hillside Elementary School, Farmington Hills, MI