Book Description

What an event! What a show! It's catchy and quirky. Tuneful and toe-tapping. Exuberant, unexpected, and utterly endearing. It's what happens when you take America's beloved illustrator and children's author and combine her buoyant genius with some of the most talented people on the stage--presenting Philadelphia Chickens!

Created by Sandra Boynton, Philadelphia Chickens is a family musical in a book, bringing together a full-color songbook of 17 1/2 illustrated story-poems with a full-length, fully orchestrated CD of original songs performed by the likes of Patti LuPone, Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, The Bacon Brothers, and Laura Linney, who pleads "Please, Can I Keep It?"--it followed me home. / What exactly it is,/ I don't know. Also joining in are Eric Stoltz, Natasha Richardson, Scott Bakula, and two Boyntons, including daughter Caitlin McEwan, who performs a piece that every little listener will relate to--a love song to the chocolate chip cookies that are just out of reach. With the collaboration of composer Michael Ford (known to Boynton fans from Rhinoceros Tap), Philadelphia Chickens is that rarest of kids' musical discs--one whose inimitable lyrics and music make it as sing-along, dance-along, cluck-along for parents as it is for their children. ... Read more

Reviews (69)

ENTERTAINING FOR ALL AGES
My 2 year old loves this CD and accompanying book, and truthfully so do I. The songs sound like a broadway production, but are made to be clever and entertaining for young children. I had to buy two, one for home and one for the car. When my 2 year old says "Cow Song" I know just what she's looking for. And she has to hear it over and over again. The songs are adorable and the lyrics are easy to follow. You can't help but sing along. I like the fun diversity of the song topics. My husband and I find ourselves singing the songs even when the CD is not playing. I think any child would enjoy this CD as it is a wonderful departure from the old standard music. It is enjoyable for all ages. We all love it!

Oh what fun!
We absolutely love this book and CD! My nine-month old son thinks that it is the best thing since sliced bananas! We bought it for a road trip when he was five-months old and we have been dancing and singing ever since. If this becomes a traveling musical, we are there. My husband and myself find ourselves singing and dancing along while our son enjoys the show from his high chair. He has his favorites, "Cows", "Philadelphia Chickens" and "Pajama Time" but truly loves the entire CD. Sandra Boynton has always been a favorite of ours, with her whimsical cards and books, but this takes the cake. She and Michael Ford, as well as the performers, have created a masterpiece to be enjoyed by all.

This one deserves 10 stars!
This is by far the best music CD for children that we have! We use CD's in the car frequently as we take long trips to vist relatives (7 hrs. plus). There are no boring lullabys here, or music that will zone you out while driving! It is such a fun CD - parents will find themselves singing along, and (I admit it) may even play it with no kids in the car!

Toe tapping, car dancing fun!

This is no glorble snop!
What a wonderful gift we received for our one-year old ... "Philadelphia Chickens" is fantastic!

Presented as an "Imaginary Musical Revue," this book and accompanying CD are wonderfully written, illustrated and "directed" by Sandra Boynton. I assure you, I am going to look for everything else she has done.

Our son loves the high-energy songs, while my wife and I are halfway to learning all of the lyrics ... our favorites so far (yes, all of them, but standouts include) "Busybusybusy" by Kevin Kline; "Nobody Understands me" by the marvelous (and queckery bifflicious) Meryl Streep; and "Faraway Cookies" is adorably sweet ...

You can see kids really being able to relate to these songs. They are very well written, and the music, in most cases, is just as fun as the lyrics. In the short time that we have had this, it has won over the main spot on our playlists.

As the cover says, it's fun "for all ages (except 43)".

Every Song a Favorite!
We were given this as a gift for my daughters (4, 2, 8 months). We listen to it at home and in the car, and at literally every song one or both of the older girls will say "this one is my favorite". So many kids albums seem almost like parent torture, especially in the car. This isn't one of them. The songs are fun for every family member and very singable. ... Read more

Book Description

This rockin', rhythmic railroad adventure celebrates the uniqueness of America and the beboppin', doo-woppin' sound of jazz, from jammin' New York City all the way to New Orleans. With bold, powerful art by the "New York Times" best-selling team of Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, H. L. Panahi's text comes alive with a pulse and beat all its own.

Book Description

Redesigned. Reformatted. Remastered. Resequenced. Ready for Re-release. And it was already great to begin with!

Before there was Philadelphia Chickens, the #1 New York Times and Publishers Weekly children's bestseller with 319,000 copies in print, there was Rhinoceros Tap, the collection of seriously silly songs. Now Rhinoceros Tap returns in an all-new package to mirror Philadephia Chickens, with a spiffy audio CD. Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton--whose books have over 6 million copies in print--and with music by Boynton and Michael Ford, the same team that created Philadelphia Chickens, it's a read-along, sing-along, dance-along, oink-along collection of truly delightful children's music. There's "O, Lonely Peas," to appeal to the finicky young eater. The five-year-old's lament, "Bad Babies" ("They whine and they bite, they chew on your toys/And oh, do they make the most terrible noise"). "Tickle Time." "The Crabby Song." A mouse's impassioned ballad to his beloved, "I Love You More Than Cheese." And "Barnyard Dance," the song that was launched by the board book dear to the hearts of more than a million young readers. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A Must Have for LONG Rides with kids in the Car
Sandra Boynton's book and cassette not only have the kids singing but my husband and I find ourselves humming the tunes too! We were facing a nine and eight hour car trips with three kids (3, 2 and 3 weeks) and this made the trip go FASTER! The tunes and words are catchy and easy to sing along with. Some of the songs are from Boynton's other books, like"Barnyard Dance". Others became new favorites to us; Oh Lonely Peas and Bad Babies. Unlike other kid cassettes we have, this creation is done perfectly! Kids and their parents can both enjoy the humor, music and cleverness of Boynton and Ford.This became the only tape played in our car whenever we went anywhere, in fact we played the tape so much from August to October we wore it out. I'm buying another set today!

rhinoceros tap
This tap will make a long journey shorter with little ones in the car. The tunes makes a change from the usual nursery rthyms that we endure in the car. The music is funky. The songs are funny and easy to learn. It is the only tape my husband will have in HIS car. Occasionally I find him tapping his toe to the music. The book helped me learn of the words and when my daughter is older I am sure she will enjoy reading it too. At 2 years she is still a little young to even appreciate the graphics. Our favourite tune is "Tickle Time". When the whole family joins in we usually end up on the floor laughing. This tape will always remind me of my family having a great time together. It does not fail to put a smile on my daughters face.

Excellent choice for kids AND parents!
Rhinoceros Tap is far and away the best tape/book I've seen in recent years. The songs are fun without making parents crazy. In fact, we all like to sing along. The only complaint I had was that the songs are pitched a little too low for children to sing comfortably. The tape is well done and the book is wonderful! One half is simply words and illustrations and the other half is the actual sheet music! WOW! I can't say enough about this set. It is definitely worth the price and the wait!

The Best Tapping Songs, Let's Hit It!
My 33-month toddler has outgrown his nursery ryhmes. If you have an active toddler who has a sense of humor, you may want to try this out. His favourite tunes are definitely "Tickle Time", "Lonely Peas" and "Rhinoceros Tap", but most of all, he enjoys all the songs, including "Turkey Love", "So Long, Doggies" and he will shout at "Horns to Toes" etc.

Catchy tunes, witty words, funny creatures with really fun songs, my son's rhythm tapping is getting pretty steady. Though it's a bit more to pay for this audio book (as per our currency exchange), I couldn't find any other children's songs as creative as this ONE! See the way my son tapped along with the songs, I knew Sandra Boynton had it all!

A Real Fun !
I wondered much while ordering "Rhinoceros Tap" , as my 3 years old boy doesn't know English and this was expected to be his first sing & song book. But now I think that it was the best choice I could have done for the beginning. My boy liked it very much. It's really funny for parents too. Sometimes I listen to the songs when my boy isn't at home. He likes the animals singing, he likes to dance with them and we mostly sing and dance together. I recommend this book to parents all over the world. ... Read more

Book Description

Eye-catching illustrations, engaging text and delightful musical selections on the accompanying 70-minute CD lead children ages 8 to 12 (and parents, too!) on an exciting and educational tour through the instruments and music of the orchestra. Illustrated in exquisite and colorful detail with over 100 original drawings and photographs, this package is a fun and exciting musical journey for children. The engaging text is broken into three sections: an introduction to each instrument of the orchestra from the cello to the timpani, the stories of famous composers from Bach to Stravinsky and an explanation of different musical styles from Baroque to Modern. Each step of the way, children can listen to actual musical examples of what they are learning about. Young readers will hear the sound of an actual violin as they study the instrument and enjoy the playful tune of a Mozart minuet as they read about the composer's precocious exploits as a child. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Take This Book on Your Next Family Road Trip
We took Story of the Orchestra with us on a long road trip. Every hour or so, I would read a page and play the accompanying track on the CD player. My husband and I really enjoyed it, as did our 8-year-old. Our 13-year-old acted disinterested, but later I overheard him passing some of the information on to a friend. The book was entertaining, informative (even for my husband and I), and really helped pass the time. I think it would also be a good bedtime read--doing a page or two a night.

The Story of the Orchestra
One of the most delightful, informative books about music for children (an adults too!). Lots of neat facts about the composers and fun facts about the instruments in the orchestra. The whimsical illustrations make the book come alive!!!!

Lots of good information and a good book
The Story of the Orchestra is an excellent book for. Adults would probably know most of the information covered in the book, but still a good read. Covers famous composers and highlights of their lives, orchestra history, instruments used in orchestras and bands. All information is true, and is a good source if you are doing any reports on instruments. Context is good and fits childrens' appetites- the Viola is the "violin's big brother." Good book. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wee Sing is Pretty Darn Good for Kiddie Music...
Children's Songs and Fingerplays is my 2 1/2 year old son's favorite, and one I enjoy a lot, too. It is a collection of the classics I had forgotten (in my young mother sleep-deprived state). The songs are in the original version I remember (not Barney-ized!) The collection encourages dance and fingerplays so it is good rainy-day fun. Although the music is not acoustic, the synthesizer is not so obvious and the music is pretty good--not at all grating on the nerves of exhausted parents. The children's voices are what grab the attention--they are really good. My son inadvertantly ruined his cassette so we are trying to replace it with the CD...Amazon, hurry up and replenish your stock!

Brain Food for Toddlers, Respite for Parents
Our 2 year old daughter requested this tape so often that we wore it out! She is quite the vocalist now, breaking out into the Alphabet Song, This Old Man, Mary had a Little Lamb, and other fun songs at the most amusing times. She knows every song by heart and delights in doing the finger plays. This tape has been a lifesaver on long trips and short. The first thing she says when we get in the car is "Mommy. Please play Julie's music?" We had tried many other children's tapes, but this one is hands down the best.

Well, we sing
Our youngest daughter of 6 years old loves to sing this tape with the book in front of her nearly every day and her older brother (7) and sister (9) are singeing with her in all glorie. They are learning so much from it. Some titles of the á 60 songs are; Clap your hands (fingerplay), Hickory Dickory Dock, This old man, Old macdonald had a farm, ten little fingers and the Alphabeth song. I listened to some other children songs, but this is far the best. We've got also bible songs, mmm not so good as this one. ... Read more

Book Description

Beautifully illustrated board book, 8 1/4" X 8 1/4", ages 6-24 months. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great illustrations!
My daughter is very active and this is the only book that she will actually sit still for while I read to her. The illustrations are fabulous and the actions are simple enough for an 8-9 month old to mimic. ... Read more

Book Description

This "best-of" Wee Sing musical compilation contains all of your favorite sing-along songs plus one very special commemorative 25th anniversary tune. The book features all of the songs that you know and love, and a whopping 68 minutes of musical sing-along fun. Parents can also use the suggestions in the book to join in the fun as they help to develop their child's imagination. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

We love this CD!!!!
I bought this CD because it has a book with the lyrics, so I could learn all the songs to sing to my daughter. I have learn all the songs already and my daughter loves them.... She's now almost 8 months old, and I sing to her with this CD since she was 3 months old...I loves the voices.... I don't know if you guys have hear a CD for kids with adult voices, well I don't like those....This one has cute voices...I don't know the others CD's of this collection, but like this is a compilation that means that all of them have to be good.... I just ordered Wee Sing for Baby.... I hope this new one to be as good as this one!! ... Read more

Book Description

The best-selling collection of tapes and sing-along books--all the childhood favorites. (Ages 2-8) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Have a child.... Get this set! (Cassette and book)
Wonderful collection of nursery Rhymes and lullabies. Includes the old favorites as well as a few I had not even heard of. The voices used are very soothing. I enjoy it. My eight year old enjoys it. And my 9 month old enjoys it. When nothing else seems to be able to calm my infant down for sleep, this works wonders. Great for family time before bed. Times that I am sure my children will remember when they grow up and want to continue with their children. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Simple yet thorough
I have been frustrated with so many piano teaching books because they inadvertently teach the kids to learn the numbers instead of where they are. This is a simple approach that can be quickly mastered.

Kids are rewared by ability to learn a familiar song and by the chance to do a duet with their teacher both in a short time.

By the end of Book one, they are playing nine notes and using both hands, a few times even both hands together.

It adds new notes at a reasonable rate. It teaches them the timing and mechanics in a good, non-intimidating way.

We're on to BOOK TWO. Drawback~ Good luck finding Book Two!

Very good !
I used this book to teach my 9 year old daughter.She had no prior experience on the piano.She really liked the songs and illustrations.It's a very well organized material,and the perfect start for a begginer.

Usborne Piano Course: Book 1
I have found both book one and two of this series to cover comparable information to both the John Thompson and Bastien Primer piano books. Usborne's colorful, cheerful drawings, and simple instructions are far superior, however. This is an unbeatable primer series. Every few pages include reminders to the child of how to sit, hold their fingers, and what notes and signs they've learned up to that point. The children feel that they are playing "real songs" right from the start. Usborne teaches both hands together, instead of the old-fashioned method of teaching the right hand fingering first. I have taught four children with it, and they have found the two books readable and unthreatening.

Usborne Piano Course Book 1
My seven year old daughter has almost completed book 1 and we have just ordered book 2. The book kept her attention. It presented information in an entertaining, reinforcing manner. It was helpful in encouraging good fingering; reading most lines on the treble and base clefs; reading whole-1/2-& 1/4 notes; & understanding some of those bothersome Italian words. I hope book 2 is as good.

Book adequate for ages 7 -11 years of age
This book is geared towards children. As a parent who bought the book for an almost 5-year old child, I found the pages a bit cluttered. It was hard for my child to stay focused because there was so much going on that it seemed to distract her. I would have preferred a more organized, straight-foward approach.

There are several appropriate tunes that children will enjoy.

I would recommend this book for children ages 7 through 11. ... Read more

Book Description

This lyrical romp through the orchestra begins with animal musicians slowly gathering for the evening performance. Poetic descriptions suggest the sounds of the instruments, and lively watercolor illustrations capture the playful essence of each musician and musical instrument. “It’s a smashing introduction to classical music, and a must prior to a first visit to the symphony.”--Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Reviews (5)

unfortunate grammar
I am a music teacher and at first reading I was very impressed until I reached the page where the book stated that the musicians were "coming on the stage" instead of "coming onto the stage". This error is grave enough that I decided not to buy multiple copies as student incentives. Defacing books is generally a bad idea, but I plan to cross out and write over the offending error before giving it to my nephew.

Instruments Galore.....
Meet the orchestra and all the fabulous instruments that come together to make such wonderful sounds, from the strings that are bowed or plucked, to the woodwinds and brass instruments that you blow air into, to the percussion section where instruments are "beaten, banged, dinged, and pinged." Author Ann Hayes takes you on a marvelous and intriguing journey through the orchestra, describing each section, instrument, and sound in simple, engaging and evocative language. Youngsters will almost be able to hear the low notes of the string bass moan and groan, the sadness of saying good-bye to someone you love when the oboe is played, flags flying and soldiers marching with the notes of the trumpet, and the flash of lightning when the cymbals crash. Unfortunately, Karen Thompson's illustrations are not equal to the text and are a bit dull and uninspired as you see page after page of expressionless animals, dressed in concert garb, holding instruments. Perfect for preschoolers, Meet The Orchestra is a lovely and gentle, read aloud introduction to musical instruments and their sounds the whole family can share together, and should peak the interest of budding little musicians everywhere.

Great Introduction To Orchestral Instruments
My twin sons cherished this book from the time they were two years old. We have gone through six paperback copies (each insisted on having his own); my boys shared it with everyone they saw, and they even slept with it! They love the clever and colorful pictures, and the short verses describing each instrument capture each instruments' special sound and qualities better than any other children's book I have seen. I played my kids symphonic recordings and a videotape (Bernstein conducting Beethoven's 9th) along with this book, and at age three they could easily identify all of the instruments by sight and sound.

A great book for children who have high interest in music!
The book is a great way of introducing music and musical instruments to children.The illustrations are wonderful!The animals are precious. For someone who would like to honor a musician in some way,this book would be a great book to do so.

A fun book that introduces instruments to your child
My daughters really like this book. They love the different animals and instruments. I love the words and descriptions they use while talking about what each instrument does and sounds like. I only wish they had a cassette tape that went along with it to introduce the sounds of the instruments as well. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent activity ideas
I am a music therapy student and I used this book in constructing activities for music classes at a summer camp. This book had so many ideas for activities with music materials and ideas that were easily adaptable to fit the groups' needs. I especially love that few of these games really have a single winner, so everyone gets to participate and enjoy. I would highly recommend this for music therapists and educators as well as anyone else looking for this type of game for children.

101 Music Games for Children
Being a music educator, I purchased this book in hopes toenhance my music program. I have found it hard in the past to find musical games that young children can enjoy outside of musical chairs! With this book, I will never have that problem. To insure that my students have FUN learning music, we spend the last part of class playing one of these games. It is easy to do because this book provides you with a guide indicating age appropriateness, how long the game takes (5 min., 15 min., 30 min., etc.), specific number of players needed, and instruments and/or props if needed. Oh, did I mention that you don't have to be a kid to love these games? Well, you don't! There are games in here for those competitive music know-it-alls like myself! Did I mention that this book is great for planning parties? Forget the clown, it's usually a rip off anyway! Besides, music and parties go hand in hand! Last, it's a totally great book! ... ... Read more

Book Description

Remember...

"Take Me Out to the

Ballgame"

and

"I've Been Working on the

Railroad"?

Well, forget 'em!

Songwriter and comedy writer extraordinaire Alan Katz has turned those and other old favorites on their ears and created new nonsense songs kids will love. With zany, spirited pictures by illustrator and cartoonist David Catrow, this kooky collection guarantees laughs and plenty of silly dillyness for kids everywhere! ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Let your kids laugh!
We're constantly nagging our kids about what to do and what not to do; what to say and what not to say. If you've taught your children well enough they will be able to take this book with light humor and not turn it into "potty talk" and "bad behavior". Yes, it has a picture of a (cartoon) little boy's naked butt flying out of the tub. Is it dirty? No - it's quite accurate. I don't know about you but my kids don't wear bathing suits in the bathtub. And as far as stinky diaper change goes... that's our favorite song right now because we have a new baby in the house and his 4 year old big brother loves me to sing it when I'm changing the baby's diaper.
Afraid of the food fight song? Have a picnic outside and LET the kids have a food fight. What's the big deal? Let them be kids. Let yourself be a kid again.
Let the kids laugh a little. They have many years ahead of them to be grown up and politically correct.
OUR RATING: We think this book is GREAT!

Ahhhh, A Kindred Book for Silly-Music-Loving Parents....
My household is a musical one - we can be heard making up songs all the time... one of our favorites is "Nature Girl" or "Nature Boy" depending whether my daughter or son is freshly out of the tub and running around only in "nature's finest"... the song "Nature Girl" is sung to the tune of "Baby Face".... And with all the energy of the era of THAT song!

I loved singing these songs on the first read - from "The Yogurt Flies Straight from My Brother" to the tune of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" to "I've Been Cleaning Up My Bedroom" to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad" and "Stinky Stinky Diaper Change' to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

Read, laugh, sing, laugh, hug your kids, laugh. You will all love this one!

Great Book for those who love rhyming!
These poems were so cute, and the verses were terrific- Great for all ages groups.

Wish I'd had this growing up!
I'm 33 years old, but I still remember trying to make up words to well-known tunes with my friends. Yes, what we came up with was often off-color, but *that's what kids like*! The reviewers who called this potty-humor are way too uptight in my opinion. Guess what folks, your kids are going to make this stuff up in school, but will not be able to share it with you, their stuffy old parents. I'd much rather share this natural, fun experience with my kids, and have great memories of it. We sit on the couch and sing at the top of our lungs, laugh 'til we ache and love every minute of it. If someone is unsure about the lyrics of this book, that's what the sample pages are for. If you can read them and not chuckle, then you have no business getting it. But I think most of you will laugh out loud and bring this delightful book into your homes.

My kids think its the silliest book.
My kids love this book. They just laugh when we sing the songs ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

A Believe It Or Not book for the musically inclined
Most eccentrics do not become famous and most talented souls remain undiscovered. In "Lives of the Musicians", however, eccentrics with talent not only were discovered, but lauded long past their own lifetimes. Author Kathleen Krull has partnered with illustrator Kathryn Hewitt to create the world's first interesting children's collection of biographical information concerning some of the best composers ever to breathe.

The book spans the field of music from Verdi to Woody Guthrie. Each entry (there are sixteen in total) contains one picture and one description of the artist's life. These descriptions, as described by the author herself, "are offered now as a way of getting closer to the musicians - and the music". Every quirk and interesting tidbit is laid before the reader in the most wonderfully entrancing ways. Did you know that Bach once got into a knife fight in the streets? Or that Sir William Gilbert owned a bee named Buzfuz? It might be interesting to collect such fun but otherwise meaningless tidbits about composers' sometimes sordid lives, but Krull goes a step further. Facts included in each life explore the necessary details of their birth and death dates, how they were introduced to music, their lives, etc. Each section is also followed by information about their best-known works. What I liked about this book, however, was that the author did not choose to linger over their individual creations. A kid reading this book is not going to want to hear a long drawn out account of exactly why Chopin chose to write his Funeral March the way he did. You can find this information in a standard biography of Chopin's works. No, this is a book gives children the chance to acknowledge that all those hoity-toity names they've been forced to digest in elementary school music classes actually had interesting and sometimes wacky lives. Plus, the author is kind enough to include a section of musical terms, an index of composers, and a list meant, "For Further Reading ... And Listening", for those kids who wish to know more about these fascinating heroes of music.

Krull's method of writing is particularly adept when conveying irony. In her section devoted to Erik Satie (a perfect choice for this book, if ever there was one) she describes the composer's reaction to his own poverty.

"He once remarked, 'It's odd. You find people in every bar willing to offer you a drink. No one ever dreams of presenting you with a sandwich'".

The next line then states off-handedly, "He died of cirrhosis of the liver at age fifty-nine". Kids may not get the joke, but I for one whole-heartedly approve of the author's choice to mention that fact after such a statement.

Because the book only contains sixteen composers, you can't help but wonder what the author's method of selection was. These composers certainly define the canon of Western music, with two women, an African-American, and a man of Jewish decent serving to bring a little diversity to the list. But why include Charles Ives and not Claude Debussy? Why Stravinsky and not Wagner? The only reasons I can find for some choices would be because some composers lived far more interesting lives than others. Certainly the range of oddities Krull has collected is fascinating.

This book is probably best for slightly older children. Krull is an honest biographer and does not skirt around the fact that Chopin and George Sand never married, or that Tchaikovsky was undoubtedly a homosexual. She does not fudge facts to make them more interesting or record hearsay and rumor (though she is prone to mentioning "legends", like that concerning Beethoven's death). All in all, you will not find a better or more entrancing way of introducing kids to the classical composers. And for those of you that wouldn't be able to tell Prokofiev from Stravinsky if you bumped into him in the street, let me recommend that you take a gander at this puppy as well. It's a heck of a lot of fun, and a hoot to boot.

I Loved This Book.....
I loved this book because it made those musicians seem like real people instead of great-all-star-super-geniuses. It is full of strange little facts about all the famous musicians like Bach,Gershwin,Beethoven and Schmann.

---Megan W.

Lives of the Musicians
This book provides interesting insight into the lives of composers. I teach music to elementary and high school students and I read this book to all of my students. They all enjoy learning the details of the composers lives. The book presents the composers in such a way that the students remember the information about the composers. The book does not provide information about what the composers' music sounds like, and that is something I also like to teach. A great book to gain kids'interest in famous composers.

Lives of the Musicians--Good Times, Bad Times, and What the
I first read lives of the musicians when I was about 7 yearsold or so. Then, I thought it was terrific. I still do. However, I amnow 12 years old, and now that I have paid more attention to it, I see several faults, but overall it is still a very good book. First of all, their choice of musicians is not the best. I would have recommended Debussy and Schubert, like the Kirkus Reviewer. Some of the composers I have hardly ever heard of, like Igor Stravinsky or Nadia Boulanger. And while Clara Schumann was a great pianist, I think they should have focused more on her husband, Robert, a prolific composer, whose works are among the very best. Also, some of the parts of the biographies are questionable. Frederic Chopin may not have actually been romantically involved with Aurore Dudevant (George Sand), but in love with the Countess Delphine Potocka. The book states that the Waltz in D-Flat, or Minute Waltz, was written for George Sand's dog, when in fact it was probably written for Potocka. However, the book was still very well written, and I enjoyed it, despite the possible mistakes. I recommend this book to anyone who likes music, classical or not. So sit back and enjoy!

Lives of the Musicians-Good Times, Bad Times, and What the N
My granddaughter, age 9, said this: "I enjoyed this book so much that I checked it out of my school library 5 times. I am in ballet, and Tchaikovsky wrote our recital music. We are doing "Sleeping Beauty". I enjoyed reading about his life. Then I got to read about the other ones, too, and found them very interesting. I thought that Kathleen Krull described their lives as if each composer was telling about himself/herself. The illustrations told me alot about what their personalities were like. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys music." ... Read more

Book Description

You're the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold,
You're daddy's little girl, to have and to hold . . .

The song "Daddy's Little Girl" has been a favorite of fathers and daughters -- and mothers, too -- for more than fifty years. In this first ever picture-book version, an adoring rabbit daddy and his little bunny bring the moving lyrics to life as they share special moments that demonstrate the special bond reserved for daddies and their little girls. The full lyrics and music are included for the whole family to enjoy together.

"Daddy's Little Girl" was written by Bobby Burke and Horace Gerlach in 1949. It was an instant hit, and has gone on to become a staple of wedding reception playlists for the dance shared by a bride and her father. This and a companion song, "Daddy's Little Boy," written by Billy Collins in 1950, have been recorded by many artists, notably by the Mills Brothers, and are considered American standards.

Reviews (2)

Wow! What an incredible collection!
Looking for ideas for things to do with your baby or toddler? Look no further. This is an awesome collection of songs, fingerplays, bouncing games, nursery rhymes, and lullabies. It comes with a CD/cassette and book that contains the complete text as well as directions for how to do each game or fingerplay, with separate instructions for baby and toddler. Of course, all the traditionals are here- "Pat-A-Cake", "Ride a Little Pony", "This Little Piggy", "Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes", etc.- but there are many, many more that I had never heard of before and that have quickly become favorites with my baby. There are songs and rhymes for bathtime, for bouncing, for teaching baby the parts of the body, clothing, animal names and sounds, etc. etc. This is a truly amazing resource for encouraging your baby's language development and motor skills, as well as parent-child bonding. There are enough games to occupy your baby all day long!
Once it's bedtime, there are about 15 or so beautifully sung lullabies, all of which I have since learned by heart and sing to my baby all the time. Again, the lullabies include both traditionals like "Brahms Lullaby", "Rock a Bye Baby", "Hush Little Baby" as well as many I've never heard of before (e.g., "White Sheep", "Mother Goose's Lullaby", "Raisins and Almonds")
I've purchased several other infant development books, but this is the only one that gets consistent use every day. Best of all, it's a true bargain for the amount of material you get.

A true delight!
This audiocassette of songs and finger plays for little ones is absolutely precious. The voices of the young singers captivate my 18 month old twins, and are equally engaging for parents. The enclosed book with lyrics and hand motions to the songs is a terrific bonus. We have such fun acting out the songs together and encouraging our boys to imitate our hand gestures. I recommend it highly for interactive play with babies and toddlers. This would make a great shower gift! ... Read more

Amazon.com

"The STRINGS all soar, the REEDS implore, / The BRASSES roar with notes galore. / It's music that we all adore. / It's what we go to concerts for." In this exuberant tribute to classical music and the passionate, eccentric musicians who play it, author Lloyd Moss begins with the mournful moan and silken tone of one trombone. A trumpet sings and stings along, forming a duo, then a fine French horn joins in, "TWO, now THREE-O, what a TRIO!" The mellow cello ups it to a quartet, then ZIN! ZIN! ZIN! a violin soars high and moves in to make a quintet. The flute that "sends our soul a-shiver" makes a sextet, and "with steely keys that softly click," a sleek, black, woody clarinet slips the group into a septet.We move on! A chamber group of ten!And the orchestra is ready to begin. Moss should be congratulated for creating a playful, musical stream of rhyming couplets that seamlessly, slyly teaches the names of myriad musical groups. Marjorie Priceman, the whimsical, masterful illustrator of Elsa Okon Rael's When Zaydeh Danced on Eldridge Street and Jack Prelutsky's For Laughing Out Loud, won a Caldecott Honor Award for this swirling, twirling, colorful musical world worthy of thunderous applause and a standing ovation. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (23)

ENCHANTING
I first came across this book in one of my university classes (Music for the Child)and fell in love with it immediately. It is now is my son's (age 2 1/2) favorite book. Even my husband loves it. We can all recite it by heart. It's a great way to introduce musical instruments to young children. My son recently saw a harp in person for the first time and recognized it right away because of this story. The prose, the illustrations - all are wonderful!!! A must for any child's library!

Fresh, charming, artistic approach to counting and music
I wish I could give this book 6 stars, because it is a truly wonderful book for preschoolers. One by one, the instruments in a classic orchestra are introduced, combining simple counting with music education. The text is in elegant rhyme, perfectly complemented by the bright, original & whimsical illustrations (make sure you pay attention to the "dance" performed by the cats, dog and mouse). A top-notch addition to a young child's library.

Emergent readers' gem!
Being a cello player myself, I believe all children should be exposed to music as soon as possible. This is a great introduction to music, orchestras, and the sounds the instruments make. It's great for emergent readers because of the rhyming and the way the words seem to flow from page to page. The illustrations are beautiful and whimsical. I really like the way the author uses pretty advanced descriptive words for the sounds the instruments make, like 'mournful moan' for the trombone and 'the reeds implore'.

Students will also learn basic information about musical groups, such as what they're called, octet, quintet, etc. A great part of this book is that the musical terminology is not reduced to children's levels. The words are quite large and reflect what is really true about classical musical instruments and musical groups. I think children would enjoy seeing the illustrations and learning about these instruments, and perhaps picking their favorite one. It plants an early seed in their head about orchestral groups, makes music fun, and perhaps creates a new generation of orchestral students.

Obviously, this is a minority opinion
As the 20-plus reviews thus far have ALL been five stars! So, take what I say with a grain of salt...

and even I actually mostly like this book (though I know at least one person who actually dislikes the book and won't read it anymore -- she finds the art ugly and the text strained -- but I'm married to her, she can write her own review).

I don't particularly notice the art, I'm usually half-asleep when reading this book to my 4-year-old in bed. But the text does sometimes jar me -- my teeth practically break when I get to the lines that rhyme CELL-o with hell-O (clearly one is supposed to pronounce it HELL-o here, but I can't make myself do it) -- on the other hand, some of it's really quite nice: "with steely keys that softly click//its breezy notes so darkly slick,..." (that ought to give you a sense of it -- if you say that aloud and think "ooh, I like the way those words fit together", and you want to say them to your child, then get this book. If you think "a clarinet's notes are breezy? or slick?"
or you worry about the rhyme of clarinet and septet, then maybe it isn't for you.)

Still, I like the nice twist on counting books, with 1,2,3,
becoming solo, duo, trio, etc. -- and the mouse-cats-dog subplot in the pictures is cute, too.

Awesome!
My three year old loves this book. We've read it only a few times, but he can already correct me if I mess up. He is learning to count, about instruments, the orchestra. It is just a fabulous book. Not to mention the terrific artwork. This is definately one of my favorites!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Tune in to wholesome family fun with these Wee Sing favorites -- noq in CD format to carhm a new generation of fans! Parents and teachers love the quality entertainment.Sing a song of international harmony with these lively tunes from around the globe, presented in their native language with English translations. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Marvelous fun
This CD is splendid. Not only did the creators pick fun songs but they also had them sung by native speakers. The kids learn very quickly which country has what feel by the singer announcing who s/he is and from which country. Having the song in English after the original allows for everyone to sing along. Great intro to world music!

A Fun Trip Around The World!!
Talk about multicultural! This music is a delight! Most of the songs are sung by children. Each singer introduces him or herself in English as well as their native language, then they sing a traditonal folk song! Each piece is short, the music is
very catchy! My son was 3 when we got this and after 1,00's of listening hours...at 6, he still loves it! He has learned the names of countries, continents as well as foreign words!
His teachers have borrowed it and it has brought many magical musical moments to many children!

Children songs from all around the world
If you want to widen your children's horizons,this is the book for you.There are 43 songs from as many different countries,and almost as many different languages.Each song is sung in native and English language.With included maps,data on each country,various letters (Indian,Chinese,Arabic),and a sing-along cassette or CD it's not only fun but also something to learn from. So,where is number 2? ... Read more