Reviews (35)

Great for adults and kids to enjoy together
My two year old daughter loves this CD, and so do I. It holds her attention just as well as TV does, and what a great alternative! Some of the songs (Sesame Street Theme, Big Bird's Alphabet Song, Rubber Duckie) sound like the same recordings that I remember from 25+ years ago when I was growing up with Sesame Street. Others (Put Down the Duckie, Elmo's Song) are more recent. All are great!

Elmo's Song!
This CD was a lifesaver for us. My infant son hated his carseat rides until we got this CD. He especially likes the first song and "Elmo's Song." We've been listening to it for months, and had to buy two CD's so we would have on in the car and one in the house. Mommy and Daddy like "Elmo's Song," but we also like the old favorites from when we watched Sesame Street as children. Ernie's "Rubber Ducky" song is a real classic!

A Must Have!
This is a fantastic CD. My son is 18 months old, and just loves it. It's all the old favorites that I remember myself as a child. And, I think it's the original recordings too because the character voices are the ones from years ago, not today. We just got back from Sesame Place, and they play all these same songs in the background around the park. My son loved it, especially because he recognized the songs from his CD. It's also nice and long, so it keeps him happy for awhile whether at home or in the car.

A classic full of fun for the whole family
I find myself singing "put down the ducky", "rubber ducky" "being green" under my breath at work or at home- and I myself giggle. My husband and I recently drove to South Carolina from CT and this cd put loads of smiles on my sons face. If he gets finisky we pop it in and in an instant- he's listening and laughing. How could anyone not love Sesame Street.

Makes my baby DANCE!!
My little girl has loved this CD since she was about 7 months old. Now, at 11 months old, she sits in front of the CD player and sways back and forth in time to the music. This is great music that both she and I can enjoy together. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There are thousands upon thousands of children's albums out there, but the one that quietly left its mark with more '70s children than perhaps any other album was this disc. Free to Be...You and Me was a pet project of proud feminist Marlo Thomas (a.k.a. "That Girl"), and it was born--according to the liner notes--by the desire to provide her niece with music "to celebrate who she was and who she could be." Harry Belafonte sings "Parents Are People," ex-football great Rosie Grier offers an incredible, touching melody titled "It's All Right to Cry," and Diana Ross waxes future-positive on "When We Grow Up." A great hour of brain food for young--and not-so-young--children. --Denise Sheppard ... Read more

Reviews (153)

Marlo Thomas & Friends- Free to Be You and Me
Most of the songs are delightful and positive. I do have one serious problem with one track however. The "Housework" track promotes a negative attitude toward housework that should not be instilled in anyone. My wife and I enjoy housework! Obviously, one's attitude toward housework is subjective, and therefore, should not be presented as a fact that mommy and daddy hate housework, and so will you when you grow up. Since we all have to do housework, we should promote a more positive attitude toward it. There is dignity in all honest work, including housework. I want my children to learn to enjoy housework. The track should focus primarily on the cooperative, fun, and rewarding aspects of housework. Incidently, if you want THE MOST FABULOUS (6 stars) children's music audio/video, check out Parachute Express' "Feel the Music." Our entire family dances and sings to it every day! It is absolutely fabulous! Ron Schlegel.

Makes me wish I grew up with this
On an episode of "Inside the Actor's Studio," Gwyneth Paltrow cited this album as one of her major influences in life. This piqued my interest, and I grabbed it at my local library. I was so pleased that I wished my parents had this for me when I was a child in the 1980s.

The messages are all very positive and life-affirming, even for adults. The "Free To Be... You And Me" theme song is just joyful. I love "William's Doll" for the pure affection of the Grandmother. The story of Atalanta is great, even for girls today. The line from Atalanta's father, the King, "Everyone gets married. It's what people do!" was surprisingly resonant. Not everybody gets married; some are meant for single life. The story's happy ending was satisfying, and good parents would be pleased if their daughter or son was happy whether they were married or not.

"When We Grow Up" and "Glad To Have A Friend" show how good friends in childhood can really form a child's personality and outlook on their future.

I love this, and I love that it sounds like the 19670s. Perfect.

Begs more questions than it answers
I read a ton of the reviews and decided to check this CD out at the library to listen to it before buying. I was not one of the nostalgic parents who remembered this from childhood. After listening to it, I decided not to buy it. I REALLY did not care for this CD. Not only did I feel there was too much talk and not enough music, but the talk itself begged questions that probably don't even cross the minds of your average 2-3 year old (such as the "girls are just as good as boys" theme)-- your girl won't even wonder if she's as good as a boy if you don't make a "thing" of it and just treat her right. Anyway, this CD bugged me a lot because of issues like that.

Still timely after all these years
I'm happy to finally own this album after having seen the video as an elementary school child. There are both songs that children can still sing when they feel they are too old for "children's music" such as "Free to Be You and Me" and whimsical songs smaller children would like such as "Helping." This album had a few pleasant surprises I didn't remember as a child, such as the hilarious "Housework" performed by Carol Channing. This album is startlingly ahead of its time with its message of self-esteem, liberating ideas on gender, and unselfconsciously racially integrated cast.

I feel the language and subject matter in this album can be safely rated G (even in "Boy Meets Girl," when a girl and boy baby humorously debate who is the girl and who is the boy). This album is safe for households concerned about media encouraging bad behavior in their children. On the other hand, this album is best avoided by households that wish to instill "traditional" gender roles in their children.

Yes! On to the next generation...
This album was one of my formative influences as a kid. Now that many of my friends are having kids of their own, I'm passing it along to all the new parents I know.

If you love(d) this album, do yourself a favor and get the companion book, _Stories for Free Children_. It explores the same themes of compassion, cooperation, and fun.

On a side note, it was a revelation to come back to "Free to Be" in my college years and realize how many of the performers were Famous People. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Entertaining for young and old alike!
I remember watching schoolhouse rock when I was a child and I use to sing those songs constantly. I bought this CD for my daughter who, although is only 5 years old now, is singing the songs too. She will learn the meaning of each song as she gets older. I plan on buying every one of the videos as well.

I love Schoolhouse Rock!
I can't believe I found this. Almost everyday in math class, I find myself using my 3s timestable and thinking of the Multiplication Rock song. And in Lit, I am constantly humming Conjunction Junction. I thought I'd never hear my favourites from Schoolhouse Rock again...forget that. I'm so getting this CD!!!

Great choice, along with the new SCRIPTURE Rock
This disc is indispensable for children's education.
Also, I just found exactly what I was looking for - a disc called *Scripture* Rock. They still have the magic!

Excellent
As A teacher, I believe that each and every student in my 3rd grade class benifits from this video. I have seen child after child humming the tunes to, "unpack your adjectives" and "I'm just a Bill". Even As A teacher I learn from these videos. I love the music mixed with the wit and humor of it. I think that we could all learn a little by watching "SchoolHouse Rock!"

CD is good, but the box set is better!!!
I love schoolhouse Rock, I love the songs and I love the videos. So I only giving this 3 stars because some of the better songs are not included here. "A Noun Is A Person Place Or Thing", "Elementary My Dear", "Lolly Lolly Lolly (Get Your Adverbs Here)" and others are all missing. Here is some advise... if you are a fan, spend a few extra dollars and buy the box set. It has EVERY song ever made for Schoolhouse Rock. You wont be dissapointed. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

It's Sesame Street... You Can't Go Wrong
This is a no-brainer... it's Sesame Street songs... every kid loves 'em. Nothing bad to say at all... your kids like Big Bird? Get 'em this CD.

slightly disappointing
Having purchased the first Platinum CD a couple of years ago, I decided to go for it with Platinum Too. I saw some of the songs on it and was so amazingly excited, particularly "Somebody Come and Play," "Take A Breath," and "Mah Na Mah Na." Unfortunately, the versions of these songs I know and love are not the ones which appear on this CD. I will admit to finding this more than a little disconcerting, but, after a couple listens-through, I didn't mind so much.

On the whole, it's a good mixture of Sesame Street old and new...but I still think the first one is better.

In response to another review...
Mr. Whipple's store is the one with the Charmin. I think you mean HOOPER'S Store.
Really, now. That reviewer should be ashamed...

Just a Little Shy.
PLATINUM TOO is the follow-up album to the very popular PLATINUM. Both feature favorite songs from Sesame Street. PLATINUM TOO pretty much feels in the gaps left by the first album. Well that's not quite true because these albums only cover Sesame Street favorites through the early 1990s. Still, it's a great album and I've been giving it a lot of airplay on my webradio show. Some of my favorite tunes are:

"Counting is Wonderful"

"Caribbean Amphibian"

"The Grouch Song"

"Believe in Yourself"

"The Ballad of Casey MacPhee"

"Take a Breath"

"Mah Na Mah Na"

"One of These Things"

"One Small Voice"

This is a wonderful companion piece to PLATINUM and is a great album to own and play for kids.

Kids? Who said this was for kids?
As part of the first generation of Sesame Street kids (and I'm almost 40), this CD is for all of us who know deep in our hearts that C IS for Cookie and that Mr Whipple's store is right around the corner. I grew up with this music and had the privilege of growing up all over agin with my kids, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch and my personal favorite, Grover. If you were ever a kid that sat in front of the TV after school and laughed at Bert and Ernie, then this CD is for you. We are never to old to find our way back to Sesame Street. We love you, Jim Henson, wherever you are! ... Read more

Album Description

Best Seller! Winner of the Canadian Juno Award, Parents' Choice Classic Award and American Library Association Award. A Canadian Gold Record with 4 Hugs a Day, Octopus(Slippery Fish), I am a Pizza, I Wanna Be a Dog and Looking for Dracula. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent CD for Children
They played this CD in the Day Care that my daughter goes to. She never really cared to dance and sing to music before, but now with these songs, she loves to dance and sing. Her favorite song is Slippery Fish, at Day care they even made puppets act out the song. Its so cute! Highly recommend this CD!!

No CZ--She's a real Diamond!!
Charlotte Diamond is not well known here in the states--I couldn't even find her CD's in Canada(and she is a native)! This woman is incredibly talented and knows how to turn kids on to music. I have been an elementary vocal music teacher and the kids adore her music. She knows what kids like and her voice is velvet!! We love "I am a Pizza!" and "Four Hugs a Day" is a favorite. I must mention "Looking for Dracula"--This is a real favorite with the kids too. This is one artist I would love to meet--just to tell her how very much I admire her style, her class and her musicality. WOW!! Keep singing, Charlotte!!

Wonderful !!
My son attends a special education preschool and there they teach him the songs on this cd with sign language and pictures. It has really helped my son achieve new words and also sign language. I was so amazed to hear him remember word for word the Octopus Song. He loves it. It is a wonderful cd, I went right out and bought it for my son to listen to it at home and the car.

This is my daughter's all time FAVORITE CD!!
I am a (taking time off to raise her kids) teacher who used to use this CD in the classroom. It's one that every kid in the USA should own, that's how much I like it (not to mention my kids!)

Some of the songs are enormously funny, hugely entertaining, and some will bring tears to your eyes! Our favorites are "I am a pizza" (your kids will learn a little French!) "I wanna be a dog" (you'll laugh 'til your face turns blue!) "Slippery Fish" (hilarious.. make up actions to go with this one.. your kids will sing it in the tub!) and my all time favorite "Four Hugs a Day" (it'll make you think!)

Enjoy this one, and get your own copy.. I'm keeping mine!

Pure fun for everyone...
I have been a preschool teacher for over nine years. And in that time, I've listened to a lot of children's music. 10 Carrot Diamond has got to be one of the best children's albums today. The songs are easy to learn and memorize. (Lyrics are printed inside the jacket cover.) Making up routines to go along with the songs is very easy. "I Wanna be a Dog" is one of the favorite songs the kids love to do at circle time. They love getting down on all fours and pretending to be little puppies. "Four Hugs a Day" and "I am a Pizza" are also classroom favorites anytime of the day. The entire cd is just plain fun to listen to...and sing along with. And when you put it on with a group of kids, chances are you won't be singing alone. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Songs from the Street, the boxed set that stretches back to "Sesame Street's" 1969 debut, is the kids' record of the year, if not the decade: Big Bird and the gang might've pulled it off themselves--for a crew of fix-it store workers, shopkeeps, and goofball monsters, the talent quotient's off the charts--but when you've got this many names to drop, they've got to land somewhere. What impresses most in three discs is the lack of a single thud. Cab Calloway, Pete Seeger, and James Taylor mosey in on disc one; Johnny Cash, BB King, and Tony Bennett take seats on the stoop for disc two; and the Dixie Chicks, Gloria Estefan, and R.E.M. raise the brownstone roof on disc three--and that's leaving out stars like Lena Horne, Stevie Wonder, BillyJoel, and Trisha Yearwood. When it comes to inspiring preschoolers and their parents to sing the praises of rubber duckies, bein' green, and the people in their neighborhood; "The Street" gets busy. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Not quite as definitive as I'd hoped
We all know a few Sesame Street songs and chances are they appear on this collection which features 31 cast originals and 32 celebrity appearances. If you've been watching Sesame Street, you can probaly add those up to a grand total of 63 songs! Of the 31 cast originals, all but one track (HENSON KING OF EIGHT) has been previously released on LP or CD. It would have been nice to have more never-before-released tracks. That said, it's great to have some of the tracks appearing on CD for the first time. As for the 32 celebrity appearances, 25 of them have never been released before. So this is definately the set for you if you're a fan of the celebrity versions.

Inside the 10.5" cardboard case, the 3 Cds are presennted in cardboard slip covers and a 68 page booklet is included. The booklet is really impressive as it not only has credits and lyrics for every song, but also offers a brief timeline of the series from it's debut through the present day, as well as extensive liner notes.

I was really miffed that the original broadcast version of LADYBUG'S PICNIC wasn't used. In order to make this THE definitive Sesame Street collection I believe the broadcast version of all songs should have been used. That said, the remix version of the PINBALL NUMBER COUNT and SESAME STREET THEME are terrific!

For the casual Sesame Street fan this set is terrific. For the Sesame Street fan who has a few CD's but never owned or knows what an LP is, this set will offer you a few things you've never heard before like the Lena Horne and Grover classic HOW DO YOU DO. But if you want original broadcast versions of the songs and don't care for the celebrity intrepretations, then this is not the set for you.

This set gets close to being definitive, but misses the mark by not including original broadcast versions and focusing a bit too heavily on the celebrity appearances.

Great Set For Sesame Street Fans Young And Old
This was a great CD set. I bought it as soon as I heard about it on "The Playground" a 3 houg children's music show on Emerson Colege Radio 88.9 in Boston. (Weekend nights from 5-8.) It was great to hear Mr. Hooper on "I've Got Two" without the static of my old Record. I love Children's music and I still have all my old Sesame Street Records. I wish the would release the old records on CD. There are so many out of print Sesame Street Songs that should be brought back. Remember Susan's "Someday Little Children(will Be Living On The Moon)". This is great with all the famious stars on this box set. They should of included included more songs with Mr. Hooper. I miss him on the show. They did not include my favorite sesame street song "We All Sing With The Same Voice". ("We All Sing with the same voice, The Same song, The same voice"). All in all Great set for anyone who wants to hear their sesame street favorites again.

Fell in love so fast...haven't gotten to all of the discs!
Our whole family fell in love with the first disc we popped in that we still haven't made it through all of them! But I can't wait until we do. For now, we listen to Oscar the Grouch and Johnny Cash singing "Nasty Dan" all the time in the car and around bath time. I think by now I can recite all of the lyrics. What a great way to share music with your child!

35 Years and a lot of missing memories...
Anxiously awaiting this box set, I was thoroughly disappointed when I found there were so, so many songs left out. There are so many songs from "today's Sesame" - what happened to the songs of Sesame from years ago? I was expecting to see more of the classic, unavailable songs from my record collection, but sadly, they can't be found on this box set. Disc 3 is a disappointment - who wants to hear another Aerosmith song???!! Not me. Give me the Ernie & Bert Rhyming song and you would have made my day. Sorry, I have to give it 2 stars. Most of these songs are available on all their other CDs. Shame on you Sesame Street! This box set is just as lame as Season 35.

Let's go back to the Street!
Like millions of children before and after me, I grew up with Sesame Street. I even credit the show for teaching me how to read at the young age of 5. So, it was only natural that Songs from the Street would attract my attention. Still, because of its price, I hesitated... after a few months, I finally decided to buy it and am I ever glad I did!!!

Everyone who's ever watched Sesame Street will find at least a few personal favorites... And make some discoveries along the way! For instance, Stevie Wonder's 1-2-3 Sesame Street (previously unreleased on album) is a great funky number that could have been used as a theme song for the show. It's THAT good.

And how can anyone listen to Mah Na Mah Na and not have it stuck in the head all day? (Yes, the Mah Na Mah Na song appeared on Sesame Street before being associated with the Muppet Show.)

The sound is pretty good, you can even hear some details that you weren't supposed to hear. For example, on Sweet-A Little Baby, sung by guest star Pete Seegers and the kids, you can hear faint shushing to cue the kids from singing along when the chorus is over.

There is only thing, though: Why wasn't Matt Robinson credited as Gordon? He does appear on at least one song (I've got two -- from 1970's Sesame Street 1 album, featuring the original cast). It would have been nice to see the original Gordon credited alongside the best-known Gordon, Roscoe Orman.

In any case, this is a great box set. I just hope that Sesame Workshop will release a DVD with the best early years' sketches (don't you want to see Mr. Hooper again?).

Happy 35th anniversary, Sesame Street!!! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Must Buy!
What a fabulous CD. This was the first CD we bought for our daughter. 10 months later and all of us still enjoy listening to it. (For new parents, it's a great way to relearn some standard kid's songs.)

The one and only
My 3 year old requests to listen to this CD over and over again! It is fantastic since I know the words to all the songs too. I love singing and dancing around the house with my son to this CD. It is much better than laying around the house and watching another movie. What was even better was listening to this CD on our last road trip. I never heard a peep out of him except his singing! It is a MUST HAVE!!

A Must for All Ages!!!
My 3 month old loves to listen to all types of music. I am a working mother, so when I pick him up at daycare, I have chores that need to be done when I get home. I put this CD in, and it keeps my son happy and occupied while he listens to Elmo and his friends. I play this CD over and over again! It is fantastic since most of the songs are ones I grew up with, and I know the words, so he can hear my voice singing along. I love dancing and singing with my son, and I even catch my husband singing along. It is A MUST HAVE for ALL Ages!!

We love this one!
This is a great rendition of kids songs. My 2 1/2 year old wants to listen to it over and over. He even suggested we sing and play Ring Around the Rosie at gym class. And when Elmo yells that he needs a life preserver or the Count won't stop counting, I can't stop laughing. And I'm a grown up, honest.

yeah!
Who can compete with this solid classic? Dark Side of the Moon? OK Computer? Abbey Road? Electric Ladyland? Bridge Over Troubled Water? Goodbye Yellow Brick Road? None of the previous I have to say. I have experienced several of these classics but none have matched up to the experience you get from these unforgettable tunes. I'm 23 and this is the only album I have listened to straight through every single day since I bought it. It has so much variety. The fun, despite being stereotypical to my German heritage, John Jingleheimer Schmit is always enjoyable. Ring Around the Rosy is a short, yet classic number that leaves you screaming for more. It includes darker numbers, too such as the cynical Grouch Medley, and In the Evening by the Moonlight Hoots the Owl. And This Little Piggy Went to the Market is a great way to finnish off the album. It has more energy and textures than any song I've heard since Bohemian Raphsody. The amazing part is how accessable it is. Kids like it just as much as adults and thats really intresting because it has taken me years to fully appreciate what has been done here. Basically, if you don't own it and you call yourself a music fan, you better hold your tongue. Go out! Buy it today! ... Read more

Album Description

Everybody's Favorite! Numbers, colors, the alphabet, and body awareness are all presented in a happy, rhythmic teaching program that pre-school, slow learners, and early primary children from all backgrounds can participate in immediately. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Memory from childhood
While working in a preschool I found this record, and decided to try it out. I was delighted to hear songs that I remembered from when I was a child. The children loved it to. This one is timeless, but I may upgrade from the record to the CD. I found "What is Your Name" a great song for circle time, not only does it help shy children, but it teaches rhuthem and timing too. A must for every preschool.

Goes around...
My daughter loves this CD just like I did. It's truly my first memory and I have seen the world in "colors" because of Hap Palmer.

Learning Basic Skills Through Music Vol. 1
As a pre-k, kindergarten teacher since 1986, I have used Hap Palmer's music extensively, and "Learning Basic Skills Through Music Vol. 1" has been one of my student's all-time favorites. Their favorite from this collection of original songs, year after year, is "Marching Around the Alphabet". Even though LBSTM Vol. 1 was relaeased in 1969, the recordings are still as fresh and usable as they were 30 years ago, with attention catching tunes and relevant skill building tools for early learners. (Hap REALLY has staying power!) The songs are ready to go from the first time they are used, with little or no prep time (tip: use alphabet cards with Marching Around the Alphabet), and need minimal or no parent/teacher direction. If you are new to Hap Palmer, start here and branch out! He has music geared to every learning need, including abc's, colors, opposites, feelings, health and safety, vocabulary building, shapes, numbers, emergent letter sound recognition, spatial concepts (I could go on and on), with the added attraction of being great music! Good choices would be: "Easy Does It", with the mega-hit "Tap Your Sticks"; Getting to Know Myself, featuring "Sammy"; "Ideas, Thoughts and Feelings", with the great "Letter Sounds" songs; LBSTM Vol. 2, which includes my fav, "Parade of Colors"; "Sally the Swinging Snake, (do the "Wiggy Wiggy Wiggles" with YOUR little one; you'll feel like your four and love it!); "Walter the Walzing Worm", (dance with Walter, he's not slimey!); and Witches' Brew", which includes the ALL TIME NUMBER ONE HIT with the kids, "Scamper". All I can say is, Hap Palmer's music is the standard by which all children's music, educational or otherwise, should be judged.

Review on Hap Palmer
Hap Palmers music inspired me when I was little so much that it was the first music I bought for my little girl. She is only one and already enjoys listening to every minute of it. We are so pleased with our selection and want to express that to everyone reading this. thank you

Kids Can Learn Through Music and Fun
Learning Basic Skills Through Music Vol. 1 is an excellent tool to use in learning about the preschoolers world. I work with children ages 18 months through kindergarten and its a very popular CD with every age. Children learn numbers, colors, the alphabet, body awareness and lots more while having a lot of fun through the use of music and movement! Hap Palmer created a wonderful tool for learning when he releases Learning Basic Skills Through Music Vol.1! ... Read more

Album Description

This excellent "introduction to learning" covers awareness of body image and the body's position in space, identification of body places, objects in relation to body planes, body part identification, movements of the body, feelings and moods. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

FEELINGS
IM A 25 YR OLD MAN-

I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF

OF HAPSTER---!!!! AND THIS GUY I PLUG IN EVRY NIGHT BEFORE

BED- PUTS ME TO SLEEP---

SHOULD HAPPER DO ADULT CD'S??

lOVE HIS RELAXING VOICE- NOT THAT RAFFI TAFFI STUFF--

USED TO LIKE RAFFI- BUT THAT'S BEFORE I LEARNED TO ENJOY

HAPPENING HAPPER- NOW RAFFI SOUNDS LIKE HED BE BETTER

AT FOLK- HAP IS ULTIMATE KIDS---HAPS NOT PATRONIZING-

TRY RED GRAMMER ALSO- HAP AND RED SHOULD DO A DUETT-

2 OF THE MOST SOOTHING VOICES-- in MY OPINION!!

preschool teacher and fan
I love this cd, and have used it for several years in my classroom of three year olds. The kids love the music, especially Sammy. Shake something is fun too. I also have a 22 year old assistant teacher who loves this cd so much that she says she is going to bring it to a nightclub so she can bust it out on the dance floor to the song Left and Right. Way to go Hap!

Wonderful Collection For All Children
I have So Big and this CD by Hap Palmer. In general, I like Hap Palmer's songs because they are catchy and not tied-in to product promotions (like Disney and others). He produces songs enjoyable for all of my children, and I have to admit, I find myself singing along, too.

This CD contains several "self-awareness" types of songs. I have a child on the autistic spectrum, and I found the songs on feelings to be especially useful. The overall message of these songs is to learn about yourself and be satisfied that you are who you are. These are particularly important concepts for an autistic child.

I am such a fan of Hap Palmer, that I suspect I'll eventually own all of his music.

Hap Palmer's "Getting to Know Myself"
Hap Palmer lends his gentle voice and melodies to a fabulous collection of songs here. They incorporate enough movement to maintain interest, but at intervals that will not cause things to detiorate into bedlam. I've used this collection with a class of 35 3 to 6 year olds at a Montessori school--it was our "morning warm-up." We especially liked "Turn-a-round." This collection enhances listening skills. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

If your kids seem more like couch potatoes than jumping beans, then this lively dance album is sure to get them on their feet. The entire Sesame Street cast participates in this high-spirited album that includes "Me Lost Me Cookie at the Disco" with lead vocals by Cookie Monster, "The Lambaba!" featuring the Count counting lambies, and the finger-snapping "Happy Tappin' with Elmo." Hot! Hot! Hot! is great fun and invites interactive movement but still retains strong educational values that parents and children can enjoy together. --Deborah Moore ... Read more

Reviews (12)

My 3 year old and his friends sing and dance like crazy!
I bought this for my son, and he immediately found a few songs that he asked me to play over and over. I skip over the Cookie Monster Disco song (dated) and other songs that seem to be on EVERY Sesame Street CD.
But all in all, this is an excellent one. There were a lot of songs I hadn't heard done by the SS characters, and everyone in my family has a different favorite!
I loaned it to my daycare provider, and the kids there range in age from 1 to 6 and they were ALL singing and dancing.

A great cd for the kids!
My daughter, the Sesame Street fanatic at 21 months old, got this cd for Christmas last month. Since then, it hasn't left the cd player. She runs to it every chance she gets and says "song" while pointing at it. The songs on this cd are really cute: the characters sing some songs you know (like "Hot, hot hot!") and a lot of other songs that I recognized from watching the show. I'd have to say my daughter's favorites are tracks 2 and 10, one of which is "Happy tappin' with Elmo" her favorite character. If you have kids, you really need this cd...it will keep them hopping and dancing for a long time and as a bonus, you won't mind listening to it either.

Cookie Monster Rules!!
I purchased this album for my young son and he loved it, nearly as much as my husbund! If we are in the car the first thing both of them want to listen to is Cookie Monster's "Me lost Me Cookie At The Disco", which I have to agree, is a fantastic song. It is this interaction that makes the whole album a must.

Fun!Fun!Fun!
I bought this album because I was looking for something upbeat and different for my son. I had bad luck it the past with children's CD's boring both him and me. The first time I played it my 11 month old started to laugh and giggle. Next thing I know I caught my husband trying to disco to I lost my cookie at the disco. I recommend this CD to all my friends with young kids.

So Cute
This music is so cute. It is upbeat and not only don't I mind listening to it, I like it. The songs are catchy with good music, unlike a lot of kids CDs. The quality of the production is great. My daughter loved it from the first time we played it. Hot! Hot! Dance Songs is a winner. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

This collection of songs from everybody's favorite little red monster will surely tickle the kids in your family. Elmo solos include the rockin' "Off to School," "Elmo's Rap Alphabet," and the sweet, inspiring "Just One Person." He gets a little help from his friends for the Joe Raposo classic "Sing," and Big Bird and Snuffleupagus join in for "Elmo's Song." Once you get used to hearing Elmo's tiny, preschoolerish voice, this charming album will have you and your kids "Be Doodle Dee Dum"-ing right along with it. --Deborah Moore ... Read more

Reviews (8)

TOO CUTE!!!
This is just too cute!!! Our daughter loves Elmo...she holds the CD case while listening to The Best of Elmo!!! Sings, dances to the songs!!! This is a must have!!!

If only they made Elmo Sings Bob Dylan and The Beatles Tunes
My 20 month old wants to listen to this album exclusively. If we put on other CDs or tapes, even other Sesame Street music with other voices singing, she says "Elmo. Elmo. Elmo" until that wonderful, high-pitched voice comes through the speaker. It really is quite funny to hear Elmo singing everything. I've heard this CD a few hundred too many times. We need a new Elmo compilation. A definite favorite of our daughter's and her Elmo-loving friends.

Great for traveling in the car and at bedtime!
I bought this cd for my 22 month old daughter because she watches Elmo on tv and gets very excited when she sees him. This is by far the best money I have spent on her! I first played this cd in the car, while on my way to a doctors appointment with her. While I was stressed out because of traffic, she was in her car seat dancing, moving and singing to the music! I also play this cd for her at bedtime and naptime and it is the perfect thing for her to listen to as she winds down from a busy day! I plan on buying the entire Sesame Street/Elmo collection for her!

Over and over
My son , now 3, has listened to this album over and over, and it doesn't lose it's charm. And he has shown no signs at all of tiring of it--he wore the first tape out and we had to get a new one!

My 2 year old son LOVES Elmo's songs
This CD is magical. My son sings and hums these treasures all day. My mother who cares for him while I work full-time swears that he will do anything as long as he hears Elmo's voice in the background. The funny thing is that I find myself humming these songs too! I wish I could give this CD to every parent who has a 2-year old -- it is a MUST for every toddler. ... Read more

Album Description

These easy to learn activity songs are designed for pre-school and primary grade learners.They tap children's natural desire to move, sing and make-believe.From a tiny chick curled inside an egg, to the vigorous movements of a galloping pony, a full range of images and movement possibilities are explored.While clapping, stamping, turning, reaching, falling, throwing, catching, bending, twisting, crawling, walking, hoppping, running and soaring, the whole child is engaged in developing movement skills, enriching language, experiencing basic math and science concepts, and stimulating imaginative powers. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A "must have" for all families with young children
My 3 and 5 year old boys request this cd all the time and really enjoy doing the activities suggested by the lyrics. We even bring it in the car so they can "wiggle" like worms in their car seat and do the "freeze" Most importantly, I love it too which as any Mom knows is essential when you have to listen to the same thing over...and over....and over.... The kids seem to like all the songs but my personal favorite is "When I'm down, I get up and dance" and I can't think of a better way to start the day than with a chorus of "So happy you're here" You won't be disappointed.

so happy hap's here!
Hap Palmer's calming voice and catchy lyrics are infectous. Children can easily pick up the fingerplay directions in these songs.
Every song has educational & fun potential. A teacher/parent could use this cd to encourage gross motor skills, listening/following directions, learning body parts, etc, or just plain having a blast!

The titles are of the songs are easily remembered by kids ( I'm a pretzel, Jack in the box...) and soon you'll be fielding requests for their favorites!

Whether you teach or have kids or even babysit this cd is great addition to your collection.

Top Notch Music for young kids
I bought this tape to use with a pre-school class. Sometimes CD's do not meet my expectations. Not true with this one. It is excellent and I use it a lot.

Great Way for Little Ones to Learn
I am a speech and language therapist working in 4 rural school districts in New Mexico. I have 28 years of experience. Children from the age of 3 to 7 love Hap Plamer's songs. They are slow paced and give children time to act out the meaning of the songs as well as learn the words. Mr. Palmer has a calming voice that children like to listen to. I have found it helpful for increasing listening, memory, turn-taking and vocabulary skills. Young children learn best by movement rather than paper work at their seats. They like to teach others the songs, too.

An Excellent Early Childhood Resource
I use this CD in my special needs kindergarten. The kids love it!! I am rather musically challenged, but this CD allows me to bring music and movement into my classroom. It is easy to follow and includes the words to the songs. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The beauty of Schoolhouse Rock in its original Saturday morning run (1973-85) was that kids watching couldn't tell whether the catchy three-minute cartoon jingles were meant to be commercials, shows, or something else entirely. That enabled overexposed TV youth to learn without realizing it between episodes of Scooby Doo and Fat Albert. Then the Brady Bunch generation became the alternative nation, and the innocence with which they took in these grammar, history, and math lessons was lost. Now comes the obligatory tribute album, Schoolhouse Rock Rocks--pleasant enough, but full of postmodern yuks and missed-the-point nostalgia that aim to celebrate but instead drain the joy from childhood memories.

Though it's somewhat interesting to hear Pavement turn "Mo More Kings" into lo-fi krautrock or Moby make "Verb: That's What's Happening" into industrial techno-pop, the performers who most successfully preserve Schoolhouse Rock's edutainment viability are those who are most cartoonish to begin with: Ween ("The Shot Heard 'round the World"), Biz Markie ("The Energy Blues"), and Daniel Johnston ("Unpack Your Adjectives"). The problem remains, nonetheless: Any revamping of these songs implies Schoolhouse Rock somehow needed to be made hipper. That none of these songs is better than its original proves how very unhip '70s kids have grown up to be. --Roni Sarig

... Read more

Reviews (28)

Groovy!
Worth buying just to hear the Mr. Morton track, by Skee-Lo, I also liked Blind Melon (w/Shannon) doing 3 is a Magic Number. Okay, this is no grammy winning CD, but interesting and fun enough to listen to more than a few times, I mean where else can you hear Moby singing about Verbs? If you want the Orignal School House Rock songs,with all those cute voices, you'll have to get the original SHR CD or better yet, buy the videos (of course, the videos we purchased have some exceedingly annoying intros by some very annoying kids and Cloris Leachman? I think that's her name, blyuck!).

Very cool
I'm a huge Schoolhouse Rock fan, so this album was definitely a treat. The songs are already classics, so the individual artists' interpretations take center stage here. Another good thing about this CD is that in many ways it sums up the sound of 1996 in rock, alternative, techno, R&B. There's some fun stuff here, and it all starts with the original theme music, just to add a little more irony to the disc. A great buy.

Pavement rocks
Being a huge Pavement fan, I was mostly interested in their cover of No More Kings. Their reworking of the tune is great, definately on par with their eariler work, and at the very least out performs most of the S&E era B-sides.

Not worth five stars, but certainly enjoyable
There have been numerous negative reviews of this album, and several five star ratings. I do not believe that it really deserves either. I enjoy each of the bands on this album seperately, anyway, so I don't know how biased I may be. But this album is not bad. I'm also not going to say that if you necessarily liked Schoolhouse Rock (which I did, by the way) that you will like this album. You kind of need to be in touch with this kind of music.

It is a tribute album, not a reworking of old songs. Each artist puts their own touch to the songs, though some leave them closer to the way that they were originally. I personally really like Pavement, but it's a taste that most people seem to lack. So they will probably not appreciate the song as much as I do. Actually, I probably have the weirder tastes. Also a fan of Moby, both early and late, so I enjoyed his reworking of Verb. Warning though: it's more like the Moby tracks from "Everything is Wrong."

Some of the songs less touched were actually the more enjoyable tracks. Blind Melon's rendition of "Three" is wonderful and almost makes me feel like I'm listening to, say, Three Dog Night (ironic, huh?). Ween, The Lemonheads, and Better Than Ezra all do tremendous jobs keeping to the original sounds, while still making the songs their own. Same for Biz Markie's "Energy Blues." "I'm Just A Bill" is done wonderfully, and certainly gives us a different view of how the bill actually feels about all of this beurocracy.

And, hey, let's face it: Skee-Lo's "Mr. Morton" is so wonderful, I had to replay the track immediately after listening to it.

Overall, I think the album deserves four stars. Pluses: Good collection of artists reworking some of the favorite tracks, and every track is worth listening to many times. Cons: Tribute cds are just so...common.

Knowledge is power!
The album features contemporary acts covering Schoolhouse Rock songs. All of them are good, with the notable exception of Pavement's dirge-like version of "No More Kings". Everything else is a lot of fun. And if you're not careful, you may learn something before it's done. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Exceptional, Fun, and Educational
Absolutely love it. I use it for my Spanish students. We perform for parents with songs from this CD. The songs are fun and the kids learn so much. They always ask me to play the songs over. I wish they would come out with another Spanish CD. Maria and Luis from Sesame Street have wonderful voices!

Sesame Street Fiesta Songs
I wanted to write this review b/c my purchase was based on an online review. This is the best CD! We are trying to learn and teach our 3 boys (3, 2 & 2) Spanish. I listen to Fiesta Songs in the van even when they aren't with me! We've learned so many useful words and phrases, and the music is great. Me gusta!!

Way too much fun to be only for kids!!!
#1) I'm an adult
#2) I have no kids
#3) I love this CD.

Yes...it's FUN...and sometimes way too sickenly cute. Elmo singing spanish? Classics like "The people in your neighborhood".

I tell my friends that I'm trying to learn spanish...when in reality this CD is just as fun to listen to as just about anythign you'll find on the radio. Super sticky sweet, but not stupid and not condescending.

Oh, and if you *do* have kids....I'm sure it's even more fun.
Worth it....if you came to this page you're probably considering it...so get on with it...buy it already!

GREAT SONGS!
Really fun -- my kids (4 & 6) love it! I love all the Sesame Street products - they are wonderful. My kids also love the "SING AND LEARN" CD by the Global Village Kids. These are bilingual nursery rhymes that they already know so it's easier for them to pick up words in Spanish. I highly recommend both -- much better than the so-called "educational" videos out there for getting your kids to learn a bit of Spanish (and have fun, too!)

AWESOME!
My son and I had been working with the same Baby Spanish CD since before he was born EVERYDAY and finally it bagan to get old. I wanted to find something we could alternate he is other cd with and found Fiesta Songs! It's great. It's a definativly bilingual approach in which spanish words and phrases are introduced into well known Sesame Street songs. The cd also comes with the words to all the songs in English and in Spanish. Elmo, the Count, Big Bird, Rosita, Maria, Luis, and others make this cd totally worth the money. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Love this with one 'dumb' reservation
My 2-year-old daughter absolutely loves this CD. Everytime we get in the car, she says, "Bert & Ernie" and then sings along with the lyrics. I admit, I like it too.

The reason I'm writing this review, though, is to let parents know that it has one part where the characters call Bert's game "Dumb." I'm sure my child will learn this word eventually, but I'd rather she didn't learn it from Bert & Ernie. I'm not sure what Sesame street people were thinking when writing this script. It's disappointing since the rest of the CD is so great.

Didn't know how much I loved them until I got this album...
Ernie and Bert have some of the best music on Sesame Street, and this album is the place to find it. It not only includes the standards "Rubber Duckie" and "Doin the Pidgeon," but there are some terrific songs that were new to me: an incredible lullaby incorporating deep breathing; "Up Goes the Castle" and a fun song about asking for help; "Lonesome Joan." This CD should have a place in any Sesame Street fan's collection, be they 2 feet or 7 feet tall.

Great for child AND parent!
My son has 4 Sesame Street albums; I'm a little sick of most of them by now, with the notable exception of Bert & Ernie's Greatest Hits. At 30 now, I grew up with many of these songs ("Rubber Duckie," "Imagination," and "Doin' the Pigeon," anyone?) and remember them with fondness. Today, I have a new appreciation for the clever lyrics and catchy tunes. I also love the newer songs, along with Bert's hysterical commentary on the track "Dance Myself to Sleep." ("Where did the sheep get tap shoes?") As counterpoint to the funny, zippy songs, there are some sweet and lovely slower songs such as "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" and "Up Goes the Castle." All in all, it's an album I can listen to repeatedly. My 22-month-old son can sing along with most of the tunes, and often asks to "listen Ewnie." With an album like this, I'm happy to listen Ewnie, too.

I Love It!
I love it! I grew up listening to Ernie and Bert; and I must say that the opener, "Rubber Duckie" by Ernie is certainly a blast from the past! I also like "Clink Clank" and "The National Association of 'W' Lovers" by Bert, his opening lines to "Pat Pat Patty Pat", and "But I Like You" by Ernie and Bert -- but most of all, I find "Imagination" by Ernie and friends to be an especially pretty song. Grown-up Sesame Street fans, get this Bert and Ernie CD -- I'm sure you'll love it, too!

My kids favorite, without a doubt!
My 2 year old AND my 6 year old both love these funny and fun songs. We've been playing this at bedtime for the last month and although there are some upbeat tunes, they segue into some quiet "nighty night" songs that usually get the job done. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Excellent for Children to Actually Sing Along With
This CD allows children of all ages from 3 years old to 7 years old to actually have a slow enough pace to repeat what has been sung to them. You do not have to keep playing each line over & over in order for the children to be successful. I am a speech and language pathologist who usually has children who stick-out like a sore thumb in class productions because they cannot keep up with the others. With this CD, they do not have a problem. All children enjoy the songs and want to sing along. They imitate many different sounds that can build on their phonemic awareness, which in turns helps them listen and discriminate between sounds of the English language. This aids them in learning to put sounds together to talk better and read better.

Buy it now!
I listened to this record at Montessory School as a child and adored it! The songs are beautiful and Ella Jenkins is a phenominal entertainer. I still remember all of the words and love sharing it with my 15-month-old. This is a fabulous CD (all of hers are) and I cannot recommend it enough. It is one of the few CD's for children that you won't get sick of hearing as a parent. Enjoy!

Sounds new again
After working with Ella Jenkins music for many years, (still using the original vinyl records) I moved to a new school with absolutely no resources. After spending days looking around I decided to buy an assortment of Ella's CD's, we have just had the most marvelous year, her music today is as fresh now as when first recorded, everyone at my new school was astounded with how much fun and success we had, my five year olds put on the most amazing music concert, with one conducting and the others divided into groups, playing numerous instruments and singing in rounds. Ella thanks for helping me give these children such a fun and sound foundation in music. Susan Fell, Melbourne Australia

Hiyo!
My almost-two-year-old has a favorite song from this tape which he likes to hear about 300 times a day. He has made it his mission in life to inform everyone he knows of this song's existence, and he's even discovered that every car we pass on the street has a stereo which could theoretically be used to play the song, if he asks insistently enough. So I guess you could say he likes it.

Superb!!!
The children in our Montessori classroom know this entire cd by heart! We went to see Ms. Jenkins live and they were thrilled to see her sing the songs they learned prior to our visit. The tempo, lyrics are just right for our 3-6 year olds! Please buy it, it is money well spent!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

When you hear this creative collection of alliterative alphabet anthems, you'll be amazed at the various verses and clever choruses. Whether it's the classic "'C' Is for Cookie" or "MMM Monster Meal," young kids will get a kick out of the frivolous fun while learning language set to song. Along with the lyrical letter tunes, there's a "What's My Letter?" skit with Prairie Dawn and Guy Smiley and a fantastic fable, "The Tale of Tom Tattertall Tuttletut," featuring Herbert Birdsfoot and the Anything People. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more alluring alphabet album anywhere. --Deborah Moore ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Great for Kids and Parents!!
As a music teacher and the mother of a toddler, I love this collection of alphabet songs!! Not only are the songs well written and entertaining, but my child is learning from them as well. My 21 month old has been listening to this CD for several months and still asks for it first thing in the morning and before bed time at night. This CD is a must for parents of toddlers!!

I learned from these songs, too!
I am a college student whose parents played these exact same Sesame Street Alphabet Songs ( I mean they haven't even been re-recorded!) for me on a record player in the early 1980s. I can still remember most of the words to the songs, and believe me, as a child learning the alphabet, I sure enjoyed this version much more than the traditional "next time won't you sing with me..." alphabet song.

masked education!
My three year old loves this. I love things that my kids think are fun when they happen to be educational. That's this CD. We have it on in the car all the time. I have a singing lesson CD "Voice Lessons To Go" by Vaccarino that I put on for my older daughter and myself- (you should hear the 3 year old try to keep up with that) She's actually learning her abc's and her Do Re Mi's. Should we try Spanish tapes next???

I've been looking all over for these songs!!
My brother had these songs on 45's when he was maybe 3 years old (late 70s) and I can remember singing along with many of these songs. Definitely a great find!! I hope my kids will enjoy these as much as I did as a child.

I Enjoy It More Than My Son
I purchased this CD for the daily car trips around town when my son is with me. Most every track has characters talking, giving intros to the letters and such. All very cute, very Seasame Street - and 100% a stroll down memory lane. I'm not sure if it's all in mono, but most of the songs are from way way back - probably 70's and 80's. I get a kick out of it because it's nostalgic; and my son enjoys it because he gets to sing along and learn the alphabet. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Yet another superb CD from Tom Chapin. Amazing!!
Ok, I'm pregnant and a little bit tired. So after dinner tonight I told my 2.5-year-old son he could watch a video (I really needed the half hour of rest). Nothing doing -- he wanted to listen to "the new Tom Chapin" CD. Ok, fine with me. I turned on "Family Tree" (which we bought last week, more about that later...) and he immediately started marching to the first song, Parade Came Marching. I followed him and he marched all around the house, singing along at the top of his little lungs. When the song ended, he paused, and when the next song, Nick of Time started, he jumped with glee and started marching and singing again. The two of us marched and sang our way through the entire CD...it was a really special and enjoyable time, and it chased my fatigue away. This is music that's more fun than a video, whether you're at home or in the car. Speaking of the car, that was our introduction to this CD. I bought it for the car ride from our Virginia home to our North Carolina beach rental place last week. Little did I know we'd spend 9 hours stuck in traffic as all of coastal NC was evacuated for Hurricane Floyd! Good thing this is such a wonderful CD...our son insisted on playing it over and over, and my husband and I didn't mind at all. It gave us a chance to learn all the words to these creative, crafty, songs. If you already know Tom Chapin's music, you'll love this CD as much as the others. If you don't know Tom Chapin yet, you gotta try him!! Your kids will love him, and equally importantly, you'll sing along too and will marvel at the quality of the music and lyrics.

A Great Timeless Family CD
As with all of the Tom Chapin recordings I have heard, this is an excellent collection of songs. The songs are full of humor and you will usually recognize some "character"from your own life in one of his songs. One of my favorites on this album is "Nick of Time" because I've done the "I'm-gonna-count-to-five" Routine and it's so funny to hear how it comes out in this song. Also, my whole family likes "Shoveling" because we love the blues-ey rhythm and, once again, the humor. Once you buy one Tom Chapin collection, you'll be back for more.

a family favorite
This is the first Tom Chapin CD that I've purchased and it's become a favorite of my two girls (age 2 and 4). They either start singing along or bouncing around to the music. The lyrics are intelligent and also silly. I have been a Harry Chapin fan for many years and am amazed at the talent of these two brothers. Some of the songs will have more meaning to the girls when they're older (e.g. Family Tree and Someone's Gonna Use It) and that's also a plus... highly recommed this artist and CD.

SELDOM I LISTEN TO-
TOM'S VOICE SOUNDS LIKE HE COULD DO BETTER AT ADULT MUSIC.
WHEN HE SINGS CHILDREN'S MUSIC, HE SOUNDS SO OUT OF PLACE.
THE LYRICS ARE WAY TO PRE-SCHOOLISH FOR ME IN MY OPINION.

IN FACT I COULD HAVE FUN WITH THIS CD BY BACKING
THE CAR OUT OVER IT!!

USE THE CD AS A FRISBEE, OR USE IT AS A SHOTPUT!!!

TOM JUST DOES NOT CUT THE MUSTARD FOR ME!!!!

funny, clever and cool
I remember Tom Chapin from the tv show "Make a Wish," so when I found out he'd done a number of kids' cd's, it was a no-brainer. "Family Tree" is everything I'd expect from Tom Chapin. It's great for even the youngest kids -- catchy tunes, playful lyrics, humor, fanciful stories, kooky characters -- but it's not so sugary that parents cringe. In fact, I look forward to hearing this cd along with my kids. As others have said, "In the Nick of Time" is brilliant, striking a chord with kids and parents alike. I love the environmental message of some of the songs, like "This Pretty Planet," which is achingly beautiful, and "Someone's Gonna Use It," about water conservation. Then there are the songs that are just plain fun, like "Uh Oh Accident" and "Plenty of Room." Great stuff. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hap Palmer may be best known for his vocal contributions to the hugely popular Baby Songs video series, but parents of 2- to 5-year-olds, particularly those with a sturdier than average educational bent, will find a lot to love on Early Childhood Classics: Old Favorites with a New Twist. This release rids itself of tiresome attempts to turn performances of simple songs like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" into minor personal masterpieces and instead injects its de rigueur dose of creativity directly into familiar lyrics. For instance, while there's the usual cow and pig on Old MacDonald's farm, we're also introduced to Henrietta's House, where there's a cat, Zebediah's zoo with its tiger, and the puppy in Pamelina's pet shop. Similarly, instead of the usual "Pat-a-Cake" cliffhanger, where the cake's put in the oven and that's all she wrote, we get to hear the ding-ding-ding when it's done and layer on the frosting. The sequence of songs is repeated instrumentally after Palmer's interpretations to allow for sing-alongs and the dreaming up of more new lyrics--a useful device for caregivers who think like teachers (those who don't, though, can make use of clever movement and activity suggestions in the liner notes). Each song's wordplay and simple rhymes are catchy enough to fall into the can't-fail category when it comes to enhancing vocabulary, phonics, and vocabulary skills, and the surprise lyrics lend themselves nicely to attentive listening. Early Childhood Classics delivers old-fashioned fun in a satisfyingly unsplashy way. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A disappointment; Too far from the classics we know and love
I must say, I just received this CD today and if you are expecting the classics, you will be disappointed. The melody, speed, words etc are quite different from the classical songs we all know. They advertise the cd as "Old Favourites with a New Twist", but I found the twist a bit too far from the original versions. This is not the type of CD you can put on for your child to help him learn the words of the songs. I bought this CD for my 2 year old son, based on great reviews I read on Amazon.com, so clearly I am in the minority. I will try to give it a chance for it to grow on me but first impressions are most certainly a disappointment.

A child's music library must-have!!
We LOVE this recording from Hap Palmer!! It is upbeat and perfect for ANY child, not just tiny ones. It is especially appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers, and the accompanying booklet outlines many activities that can be done along with each song. This is perfect for a do-together activity, or to use as part of a home/neighborhood preschool curriculum. Creative arranging, writing, and excellent musical talent make this a pleasure for all of us to listen to. My kids (4 and 1)love to run around and dance to this, as well as do the actions. You'll love it, too!!

Absolutely Fun!
I bought this for my daughter who is 2 1/2 years of age. It turns out that my son who is 5 enjoys this CD too. I found the music upbeat and easy to listen to. Hap's singing is smooth and not annoying like the Barney music. He takes all the nursery rhymes and adds different rhythms. My kids love to dance to this CD. This definitely helps when the weather is not so permitting to go outside and play. The CD incorporates movements along with the songs. This is important to build music appreciation and make music fun for them. It also means that I do not have to sign my children up for expensive classes to enjoy music! Little ones need to move. I even find the children's chorus enjoyable. They actually remain in key! On some CD's, they use very young children who sing like Elmer Fudd. Not on this CD. These kids annunciate! I love the twists to the songs. The lyrics and suggestions for movements are included with the CD. This definitely helps! My daughter's favorite is "I'm a Little Teapot". My son's favorite is "This Old Man". It is a great investment in music! I highly recommend this CD for teachers and parents!

Fun and Creative
My sister recently bought this for her son, who's nearly three years old and he absolutely loves it. She just puts it on, and he dances around and jumps up and down. He loves it and that's hard to come by as he's pretty picky about everything. It has great lyrics and I found myself chuckling over some of the new twists it takes on the nursey rhymes I heard as a kid. ... Read more

Album Description

Songs for children ages 2-8 that teach them how to exercise, the benefits, the fun, and purpose. This Award Winning collection has a rest song as a final track after all the exercises from these original instructive songs of Bobby Susser. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

It's The Children's #1 For Movement And Exercises
I have played several CDs for my kindergarten class to be used for movement and exercises. Ever since I played "Wiggle Wiggle And Other Exercises", the children will have no other. It's pretty easy to understand why. Every song is very catchy and easy for the kids to sing along with, and follow the instructions. The music is very interesting and also keeps the children interested. The exercises and songs teach the children coordination, right/left discrimination, rhythm, counting, and good health habits, which give the children alot of self confidence while having a terrific time. All this, plus more that you will find on this CD make "Wiggle Wiggle And Other Exercises", and Bobby Susser #1 with the children.

The Master Exercise Album For Young Kids
I am a first grade teacher, and I have been packing up my school work this week to bring to school for this year. The very first thing I was sure I had, was my new CD of Bobby Susser's "Wiggle Wiggle And Other Exercises." This album that I have used for the last three years in cassete has never ever failed me. It's always a sure favorite of the kids. They love the songs and exercises. Bobby Susser makes it simple for the children, but treats every song in such a way that the children are kept very interested, and adults are not bored. The man is an expert at treating any subject with his songs and activities for his early childhood audience, and this album is no exception. It's a master exercise album for young children.

This Tops Any Early Childhood Exercise CD
We have bought loads of activity, exercise, and movement cassettes and CDs for the children in our nursery school. They liked many of them but none ever came close to Bobby Susser's "Wiggle Wiggle And Other Exercises." This collection of songs and activities has everything. The songs are easy for the children to sing, and the instructions from the singers are easy for the children to follow. The beats of the songs are great, and the tunes are so catchy. The music keeps the kids moving until they get to the last song which is titled "Rest Awhile." There is not one song or exercise that the children dislike. It's great music that teaches children how to exercise, good health habits, and how to sing along and enjoy it. This tops any exercise CD our young students ever had. They ask for it everyday. Bobby Susser just keeps on doing it for young children.

For Young Children's Exercise Songs Bobby Susser's The Way
Throughout the eleven years of teaching kindergarten classes I have used songs for my children to exercise to. I have continued to use the ones the children liked for some time. Most recently, I discovered that other than Bobby Susser's "Wiggle Wiggle And Other Exercises", all the rest have become dust collectors. Also, the children couldn't make it any clearer to me. They literally request this collection and say play "Bobby's Songs" whenever I ask them if they are ready to exercise. The children's request says it all. I am simply reporting this for anyone who is interested in a young children's collection of catchy instructive songs to exercise to, teach good health habits, and that children can easily sing along to. It is such a wonderful delight to see my children respond to all these songs.

The Best Young Children's Songs For Exercise
Exercise, health, songs, fun, and Bobby Susser is the most popular combination in my day care center. This title "Wiggle Wiggle And Other Exercises" has everything you would want for young kids. They exercise to songs, and learn the importance of exercise, good health habits, and having fun to the music that is so excellently written and produced by Bobby Susser. The songs capture the importance of exercise, and the joy in music. The instruments are very sensitively played, but hold nothing back on the rhythm and beat. There is much of this subject in books, songs, and videos for kids. However, nothing measures up to this collection of songs, exercises, and activities, all written by Bobby Susser, for young children to exercise to. It is all the very best. ... Read more