Australian Playground

PreS-Gr 3—This excellent album showcases the diversity of Australia's music for children, featuring aboriginal folk, rock, blues, and Dixieland jazz styles. The many musicians give excellent performances on such instruments as guitar, ukulele, saxophone, drums, percussion, harmonica, brass, and didgeridoo. Several of the singers belt out their songs with strong Aussie accents. These mostly upbeat and fun songs include "Mango Rain" (Seaman Dan), "Mirri" (Garrangali, which means "descendants of the crocodile"), "Give Me a Home Among the Gumtrees" (Bob Brown), "Kangaroo (the Super Marsupial)" (Don Spencer), "The Road to Gundagai" (The Band of the South Australia Police), and "Waltzing Matilda" (Lazy Harry). One percent of sales will be contributed to the Australian Children's Music Foundation. A lively addition to children's world music collections.—Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX