Reviews (23)

Songs for All Seasons
There are lots of music albums for kids available now, but I think one of the most timeless records is In Harmony. It shows the true talents of old favorites, such as the Taylor brothers and Carly Simon. I've listened to this record for as long as I remember, and even though I'm theoretically at the threshold of being an adult, I still listen to it when I can't sleep. This album is one of the reasons that I'm going to pursue a career in music. It's definately a good investment for your kids--something positive for once.

The Best Ever
My sister and I used to sing and play along with this album in 1980 - it is still a favorite inside joke for us. I can't wait to get this CD for her this Christmas and my own son. This is a very unique, diverse CD - with lots of fun songs and beautiful music. It is sure to be a treasure for all families - no matter what the age. Buy it now!!!

great album
i remember my older sister giving me this album when i was about three or four years old...a couple years after it came out and it has stayed with me ever since..i think we can all relate to the songs young or old..i remember singing along with linda ronstadt to i want a horse...or dancing with my sister to bluebery pie..these are great singers...this isnt barney or teletubbies...i wish more kids music was like this album..and i dont care if im 5, 25 or 65...ill cherish this album for the rest of my life..so that my children can experience it as well..

Song for every heart
I haven't even gotten the CD yet. I just babysat a nephew, and sang him to sleep with a song I remembered from this album many years ago. Since then I have been on a quest to get the CD, and cannot wait to receive it!!! It may not be for a young child, but it is for any child to share with his/her parent!!

Dad in Denver
Gave this album to my kids (and listened to it for myself frequently) when it came out. My fiance' started using it a couple years ago because she teaches elementary school and the kids (2nd graders) love it and it calms them down when they get wacky. Bought it again for her as CD (yup, I still had the vinyl) along with Sesame Street Platinum and Free to Be Me & You (Marlo Thomas). ... Read more

Amazon.com

This fun and accessible collection of songs from Hap Palmer's acclaimed Baby Songs video series is the winner of the Parents' Choice Classic and Gold Awards. The milestones of childhood--such as potty training, learning to dress oneself, and the joy of exploring finger foods--are celebrated in Palmer's folksy style. Kids will love this album because its bouncy tunes explore the things that are important to them--imagination, fun for fun's sake, security blankets, reading, and favorite toys--and songs like "Piggy Toes" and "What a Miracle" will have them wiggling, clapping, and stamping along with the beat. Accompaniment includes keyboard, strings, woodwinds, percussion, vocalists, and a children's chorus. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Happer is happenin!!
I LOVE HAPPER!! I AM 24 YRS' OLD ALSO! I HAVE THIS ONE.
MY FAVORITE IS "WHAT A MIRACLE". SORT OF A COUNTRY SONG
FOR KIDS- ALTHOUGH COUNTRY IS TO TWANGY FOR ME!!
HAP'S VOICE IS EXTREMELY SOOTHING AND RELAXING!!
HE SHOULD MAKE RELAXATION TAPES!! I'D BUY THEM.
I WILL NEVER GET BORED OF HAP. SORT OF LIKE
MICHAEL CRAWFORD (VOCALIST OF PHANTOM OF ...) FOR
CHILDREN. I DEEPLY APPRECIATE HIS MUSIC!! i'M GLAD
WE ALL DO!! LONG LIVE HIP HAP!!

A must have for all young children
This tape was sent to me by a good friend and I did not know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. We play it in our house every day and my son never tires of it. The songs are lovely, melodic and child & adult friendly. Hap Palmer has a beautiful & gentle voice. My husband and I find ourselves humming these tunes as we go about our day. The songs are about real activities that kids do and they can relate to them. Get this CD/Tape. You will not be disappointed.

Mom of 2 from New Jersey
I recommend this CD for anyone with young children. Both of my kids love it (they are 5 and 2). In fact, my 2 year old screams from the back seat of the car, "Mommy, dan-dan on!" (Dan-dan, meaning this particular music which she also enjoys dancing too.) I first heard the music at their former babysitters house and knew I had to get it.

I cannot tell you how many times I have arrived at work still singing these songs. I enjoy it as much as the kids do. Cute lyrics and melodies about all the things that are important in a kids life. My 2 year old sings along with the rest of us. "My Mommy Comes Back" has also helped her adjust to a new day care. Don't hesitate, buy it!

Great Baby Gift!
Gave this to three different friends who all loved it; I finally got a copy for myself and I don't have any kids, which should say something.

Fun for all ages, empowering!
Both my 1 1/2 and 4 year olds love this tape! "I can put my clothes on by myself" is an empowering favorite. When my 4 year old dresses herself, she still sings this song. "Baby's First" makes everyone laugh. The funny sounds have my 1 1/2 year old giggling with his sister in the back seat. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great for the car
My son loves to sing along with this in the car. We alternate between this and Bear in the Big Blue House. I will definitely buy more Sesame Street CDs.

Elmo is a saint
My three year old is crazy about Elmo. So many children's songs are annoying, Elmo is a godsend. I can listen to it over and over as we drive to & from school without pulling my hair out. Go Elmo!

GREAT CD! Addictive catchy tunes!
My 21 month old daughter LOVES, LOVES, LOVES this CD! We play it in the car. When we are inside, she keeps saying "DD" and pointing to the car. I even love this music. When I dropped her off at her playgroup this morning, we had the CD playing, then after I was alone in the car, I kept it on for me to listen to!

Absolute best
I enjoy listening to ELMO!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fun for the Entire Family!
We ALL love this CD! The baby, our toddler, and our six year old - and even Mom and Dad! A great blend of silly and sweet, always fun to sing and sure to make even the crankiest member of the family laugh. An absolute STAPLE for the car - we listen to this more than any other CD we own and never seem to get tired of it. I think your family will love it too.

buy this cd and every other one tom has recorded
This is an absolute must-hear for children from two to 82. Tom Chapin presents a combination of clever and creative lyrics with a gentle, happy feeling. Kids of all will relate to the images expressed in his music. His music sends the best kinds of messages, that we all are responsible for making the earth a more friendly, fun and healthy place for everyone. If a kid can't find something to love anywhere else, he or she will in Tom's music. If you haven't added it to your music library, do so now!!!

Great Listening For Young and Old Alike
This is a superior children's cd. A mix of great music and vocals telling a series of compeling 2-3 minute story songs. Well I think it is just superb!

Parents, teachers, librarians all can use this cd to not only enjoy great music and lyrics but to explore simple and complex story themes, plots, characters with sometimes serious humour and grace. The story songs cover a variety of topics you will enjoy to include ecology, holidays, being an "outsider", etc. The songs collectively and individually stand the test of multiple listens! I highly recommend this as a starter for the music of Tom Chapin.

In addition to the Whale Song mentioned above add "Neat Mess" (a really hit home tune) and "I'm Going Down to the Library"....

Tom Chapin does for children's stories in song what his brother Harry did for many of the rest of us!

My son loves this cd
We got this cd at the library, and from the first listen my 2 year old son loved it. He especially loves the song "Whale Song." Everytime we got in the car we had to listen to Whale Song at least three times. Unfortunately we had to return the cd to the library after 2 renewals, so now I'm buying it! ... Read more

Album Description

Here's a fun musical way for children to learn about reading, writing, and mathematics.Phonics and numbers are presented in a meaningful context of colorful rhymes and stories.Through hand and finger motions, full body movement, and opportunities for verbal expression, children are fully engaged in the learning process.

The songs focus on the relationship between letter symbols (the alphabet) and sounds of the English language (phonemes).The songs also encourage children to search for relationships, order and predictability as they work with numbers.

When the lyrics pose questions or problems, answers often come from children on the recording. There is always a musical interlude or a short pause before the answer is given. This gives the child listening a chance to answer first, then check the answer immediately following.

The 12 songs are presented first with vocal versions and then with instrumental renditions. Once children have learned a song, they can sing along without hearing the words or create their own lyrics and activities. The instrumentals have a soft piano melody line to act as a guide without overpowering the children's voices.

Included with each CD is a teaching guide that describes ways to actively involve children with each song. (Feel free to vary and adapt the ideas suggested in this guide, and to create new ways of using the songs to fit your school or home situation.) The ultimate goal is always the same: to foster enthusiasm and enjoyment of learning through music and movement. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One little gem!
I've used Hap Palmer's music in my pre-k and kindergarten classes for many years. This year I moved to first grade, and having such a huge selection of Hap's music, (nearly all of it on LP's!) that I hadn't thought to add to my collection until I happened to get a copy "One Little Sound, Fun with Phonics and Numbers" at the beginning of this school year. While "One Little Sound" is still great fun and learning for pre/k, and kindergarten, it's also a wonderful resource for those all important first grade skills too. Having a hard time getting those vowels memorized and tired of singing about Old MacDonald's vowels? Try "Ayee I Owe You" and get them down in nothing flat. Learning about syllables? Sing along with "Chickadee And Chipmunk" and learn all about word chunks! (And slide right into a REAL kid pleaser--"Skidamarinkadinkadink" at the end of the song!). Beginning word families? Bop, hop, pop, mop, chop, and flop along with "Bop 'Til We Drop". And learn even more word families with "Bounce", "One Little Sound" and D-O-G, Walkin' The Dog". How about skip counting? "Follow Along" will introduce counting patterns for you. And not only are these songs educational, they are FUN, FUN, FUN! There is so much to this CD, and I've only scratched the surface, so to speak. One more thing--don't forget to read the booklet that comes with it--there's a goldmine of information about how to extend the learning with every song.

Wow! What a terrific CD!
Hap's most recent work shows why his music is so widely used by educators. "One Little Sound: Fun with Phonics and Numbers" uses cutting-edge educational methods in a most enjoyable way. Hap's music has evolved with the times, integrating rap and cool beats with his trademark calls for movement. Superb for building reading and math skills. Who says learning can't be fun?

Makes learning about phonics and numbers both easy and fun
Children's music education specialist Hap Palmer's One Little Sound: Fun With Phonics And Numbers features twelve original songs that make learning about phonics and numbers both easy and fun. Each song in One Little Sound focuses on the relationship between letter symbols (the alphabet) and building-block sounds of the English language (phonemes). The educational content of each song is as impressive as it is entertaining and the children will quickly master the concepts as they become involved in the music by singing, dancing, playing, and chanting along with the humorous rhymes. Very strongly recommended for family, school, and community library collections, the individual songs in this wonderful compilation included Chickadee And Chipmunk; Bo 'Til We Drop; Marching Around The Alphabet; Ayee I Owe You; Mary And Marvin; Bounce!; Follow Along; D-O-G, Walkin' The Dog; Celebrate The Day; How Many Are Here?; The Secret Word; and the title piece, One Little Sound... ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Must Have 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!!

Not enough Elmo
My daughter is 5 mos. old and loves Elmo, but this cd didn't show him enough. She wasn't interested in the other characters as much and got bored very easily.

Happy Kid in the car!
Our daughter loves this video tape, so I thought I would get her the CD to listen to in the car and she loves it.

An 18 month old stopper!
We own quite a few Elmo tapes and videos but this is the only one that my daughter actively seeks out and asks to watch or to listen to....again and again and again! And I don't mind at all! It's is a great video as well! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Harry Chapin's younger brother Tom never made the elder's commercial splash, but his recordings for kids are doing wonders for parents. Chapin's seventh children's recording, In My Hometown, is unapologetically excellent at several musical levels. Simplicity in melody here never cheats the rich instrumentation or complex, polystylistic composition. In the profusion of styles are lively mariachis, bouncing ragtime, funny ska, and, of course, plenty of dyed-in-the-wool folk. And for all the musical variety, none of the songs shoots above kids' heads. Like his brother, Tom Chapin writes narrative songs, many of them turning on witty repetitions that perk kids' ears up--and still strike adults as worth hearing. If you peruse Chapin's musician list, you'll also find some marquee talent, such as jazz trumpeter Lew Soloff, uilleann pipes maestro Jerry O'Sullivan, and former Blues Brother Blue Lou Marini on alto sax. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Great Family Music
Love Tom Chapin! This is my family's favorite CD! Children of all ages will appreciate the melodies and humor of the songs. Am currently teaching school children these tunes and they respond eagerly! So refreshing to sing tunes that are positve, funny and beautiful musically.

My favorite Tom Chapin album... highly recommended
Our first Tom Chapin album, "Billy the Squid," was borrowed from the library. I found the lyrics so clever, and the tunes so catchy, I ended up tracking down all of his albums available in the library catalog, then proceeded to buy all my favorites. "In My Hometown" is at the top of that list. The tunes are all pretty snappy, and I would be hard-pressed to choose my favorite... although I *love* "A Mozart Duet," which actually incorporates the Sonata in C. It *exactly* captures the way a kid tends to practice the piano and addresses the problem. Not to mention that my 4-year old is now *so* familiar with the piece in question she actually recognized it (Mozart, not Tom Chapin) when she heard it on the radio! She also spontaneously sings several the songs on her own... without the CD! The very best part is that it's "real" music... not the dumbed-down, sacharine pap that usually passes for kids' music.

Rich harmonies combined with spellbinding lyrics...
This is undoubtedly the most fun recording I have ever bought my kids (ages 6&8) and nearly the most memorable I've bought, period. With top-class lyrics, melodies, and orchestration, this disc has me singing tunes to my children and grabbing for the lyrics printout in the accompanying booklet. My favorites are Goosetown Halloween for its ironic story lines and fast but complex tonal structures and the Lemonade song for its beautiful harmonies and mention of our neighboring Caribbean island Aruba.

Catchy songs with clever lyrics for the elementary set
As Tom Chapin's liner notes for this album related, he wrote these songs with his friends John Forster and Michael Mark because his daughters were of an age when there were too old for Raffi and too young for songs about teenage love and rebellion. "In My Hometown" was the seventh installment in an extensive body of work geared for that age group. If you compare these songs to those of Raffi then their charm can be conveyed in a simple idea: the lyrics in these songs focus on being clever rather than being cute. These are not sophisticated lyrics by any means (just check out the verses of "My Town Is A Salad Bowl"), but neither are they simplistic. Listening to these songs children will become attuned to the fun you can have playing with words and the inherent charm in a clever piece of rhyme. Several songs mean to teach as well as entertain, such as "His Name Is Ty," about a kid who is "just a little...shy." My favorite is "Goosetown Halloween," about a volunteer fire department that decorates the firehouse for Halloween and then has to go out on a call dressed as zombies and ghouls. Kids will enjoy pretty much every song on this album, but you probably have to be a parent or at least a lot older to understand why "Da Baby Sitter" is so funny. Musically Chapin and his co-writers borrow liberally from the entire spectrum of musical forms from classical, mariachi, ragtime, and folk to boogie woogie, rock 'n' roll, doo wop and ska. Just because you are having fun is no reason you cannot be totally serious about what you are doing. If you have kids in the right age group then check out the Family Artists Series and Tom's other albums such as "Family Tree" and "Around The World and Back Again." Final Note: If you cannot help but hear his brother Harry when you listen to Tom sing, you are certainly not alone.

Fantastic family music!!
WE LOVE this CD!! Our whole family has it memorized and we sing it again and again! In this day and age it is great to have a CD everyone can listen to, laugh to, learn from and enjoy! "Dog Rules" is cool, "Da Baby Sitter" is such a neat song my older son used it as an audition piece (and won the part!), "Mozart Duet" inspires and encourages all pianists to keep on practicing, and "His name is Ty" helps kids understand why some children may not be so outwardly friendly ("their just a little shy!")GREAT CD FOR TEACHERS!!! Positively wonderful music for children of ALL AGES! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Rhythms on Parade, a revised and expanded version of an earlier album, is one of Palmer's most inspired collections. Catchy tunes encourage kids to sing, play, and march along, while Palmer skillfully uses pitch, tempo, and rhythm to reinforce his lyrics. In "Roller Coaster," for instance, tempo and pitch vary to conjure an image of a roller coaster slowly climbing a hill and then rushing down the other side. Palmer sounds comfortable using a wide variety of sounds (including a children's chorus, percussion, keyboards, strings, and woodwinds) in a number of styles (ballads, jitterbugs, and country, among others), which should delight most any child. Rhythms on Parade is an easily accessible study of rhythm that will leave both parent and child humming long after the music stops. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great for preschool teachers.
I have used this CD for a couple of years with my preschoolers and they all respond positively to it. It is all I need to teach rhythm instruments to my students. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With a grandfatherly voice reminiscent of Burl Ives, Hap Palmer delivers another musical collection of healthful lessons geared toward the preschool set. The title song in this case refers lightheartedly to a question posed to the child participant in a lesson in distinguishing between fantasy and reality. Other songs focus on such topics as the recognition of colors, learning the days of the week, and understanding the concept of opposites. Engaging the child in participatory song and movement, Palmer's tranquil collection strives to teach, entertain, and occupy simultaneously. The liner notes include the lyrics and activity objectives for each song, which is helpful for a parent or preschool teacher when guiding children through the music. --Bryony Angell ... Read more

Reviews (5)

One of the best CD's in our child's collection
Hap is really a marvalous musician and lyricist. His word play is very fun for the kids and very singable for the adults. I recommend him highly for any children under 5 or 6 but especially for those who are looking stretch from the nursery rhymes and first songs style collections.
Simple, yet very powerful learning is going on here . . .my daughter really, really tunes in to this CD . . .I'm sure yours will too.
Stand out for my daughter are the Weekly Rap . .she likes it when they go really fast at the end . ..Can a Cherry Pie Wave Goodbye? and the Animal Quizes .. and her latest fav is the Opposites song. My fav is Pocketful of B's . .which I find myself sometime playing when the kids are not in the car! Egads!

Kids learn with every song!
I came across this tape in my school's resource room and my 1st graders love it! Some of the songs are more for kindergarten or even pre-K, but my kids LOVE the title song and have made up their own using rhyming words, which has been great!

They also LOVE the Weekly Rap...they literally (eek!) go nuts over it! Kudos to Hap, I will have to check out his others!

Hap Palmer has done it again!
I teach a Kinder-Gym class for preschoolers and "Cherry Pie" is the cornerstone of my whole program! We use the parachute for "Put a little color on You", and we use the beanbags for warmup activities with the "Beanbag Alphabet Rag"... Then the fun REALLY begins! The children love the friendly, lively tone of the music, and I enjoy singing and moving along with Hap. Best of all, Many of the songs, once memorized can turn a long wait on an errand into a fun, educational break! This one's a hit with me!

Can A Cherry Pie Wave Good-bye?
The music is delightful for young children with lots of movement

This CD is awesome for preschool children.
I teach 3 and 4 year olds and they love the song "Weekly Rap". It teaches the days of the week without the kids even knowing it and it gives them exercise. "Can A Cherry Pie Wave Goodbye?" challenges children to think about real and make-believe. This CD incorporates fun with learning and is excellent for preschoolers. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tom Chapin's music for children has always been conscience-driven. But This Pretty Planet is far and away his most thematically focused work. His musical map is still wide ranging, from the opening brass-band cadence of "Come Blow Your Horn" to the two-step folk pacing of "Two Kinds of Seagulls" and on and on. Chapin's songs here, apropos of the CD's title, all focus on environmental connections and concerns. The title track first appeared on Family Tree, but most of these cuts are newly recorded (or never before recorded). All highlight Chapin's unbeatable knack for involving the hearts and minds of kids. The lyrics turn on tricky phrases that will build kids' vocabularies (and, hence, sense of self) but they also rely on great rhymes, intricate--though never intimidating--musical arrangements, and heaps of humor.Appearances by Judy Collins, Michael Doucet (of Beausoleil), and Dr. Ruth Westheimer add to Chapin's delightful mix. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not his best
We really enjoyed Tom's Moonboat CD, so I purchased a couple more for the kids (2 and 5 yrs) for Christmas. I was very disappointed in the content of this CD. We listened to a little more than half before the kids and I lost interest and turned it off. Every song is about "Green" subjects, which gets old after the 2nd song. The songs are not as creative and playful as his other work. We also bought the Family Tree CD, which is wonderful, and contains a better version of the "Pretty Planet" song. I recommend purchasing Family Tree or Moonboat over this CD, unless you're a teacher looking for music about environmental issues.

This Pretty Planet
While it is probably a special kind of sin to say it, I have always preferred Tom Chapin's music to that of his late brother, Harry. This Pretty Planet is just the latest offering by Chapin meant (perhaps) as a children's recording, but it will be enjoyed people of any age. The addition of the guest duet partners is a whimsical and entirely welcome surprise. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Catchy tunes, but not perfect.
While there are several very catchy songs on this album (Steve Tyler's cover of Oscar's "I Love Trash" song is inspired!), there are a couple of tracks we completely skip... one I don't particularly like, and one that my daughter doesn't like and I don't like well enough to convince her otherwise. So we only listen to 9 out of 11 tracks, which makes for a very short album. And when it is the only "Elmo Songs" CD in the car, it tends to repeat a lot faster than other albums, so I got tired of it after a while. OTOH, the remaining songs are quite catchy... I have found myself singing bits of the last track, "Songs" while surrounded by adults, and "Mambo I, I, I" tends to float up from my subconscious frequently (and it is to this album's credit that aside from a bit of embarassment, I don't mind at all). I also love Jimmy Buffet's "Caribbean Amphibian," but then, I have a soft spot for JB.

As another review mentions, this is not an Elmo-heavy album, but the songs are still good and my 2 1/2 year old daughter enjoys it anyway. I first heard it in her classroom at daycare, and decided I had to get it.

An acquired taste
I bought this CD expecting songs we could sing along to. I had never seen the video. When I got it home, I didn't like it too much, but then it grew on me. Now I can't decide which track I like best, and while I thought the En Vogue song was boring at first, I can tolerate it now. I still don't care for the Celine Dion cut. My daughter took to the CD immediately when she was 11 months old. Her favorite is the Elmo song at the end, but she dances to "Mambo", "I Love Trash", "Zig Zag Dance", and she knows the words to all of the songs and sings along (she's 17 months old now).

I disagree with the review I saw here that this is not intellectually stimulating for a child. It is. It exposes them to many different styles of popular music, all with good messages. I just think that the music is more sophisticated than many people expect on a children's album. The orchestrations are not dumbed-down, and there is a lot for adults and children to listen to. Why do people think that children need watered-down arrangements all the time? A little variety is healthy.

Great songs
My kids loved the video so we had to get the CD. It's just as wonderful! They love it and so do we, the songs are fun and don't get annoying after listening to them over and over.

Fun for kids, fun for adults
A lot of fun music. My daughter likes everything on this, except for "I Love Trash". One of the first things she actually sang was "Mambo, mambo, mambo, I, I, I".

We prefer this over the video. As other reviews point out, this CD doesn't have a lot of Elmo, despite the title, and it isn't especially long either.

Sesame fun for everyone!
This CD is a mix of original and classic Sesame Street songs performed by popular music acts along with various Sesame Street characters. The music is current with today's pop music scene so Mom and Dad can enjoy along with Baby. You will not want to pull your hair out after the fifteenth replay. This is not a build your baby's brain CD, but rather an innocent, fun escape. Isn't that what music is supposed to be about? If you are looking for an homage to Elmo, this is not it. If you are looking for a break from Barney and Pooh you found it. Our eighteen month old loves it...almost as much as we do! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

popular sing-alons
This CD is popular with my 1-year-old, and I enjoy it, as well. My daughter seems to especially enjoy the songs which feature children singing with Ella, of which there are several. I enjoy the folk-songy sound of the songs. I especially like "Out of the Wilderness," though my daughter prefers some of the other songs. It was a good choice for us.

A Great Children's CD!
My Co-teacher first checked this CD out from our local library to use in our classroom. We found that our students LOVED IT! They loved it so much I realized I had to own my own copy:) This CD lends cultural awareness and age appropriateness for all primary aged children- ... Read more

Reviews (3)

FUN
It is really good it is one of my fav. band next to SLAYER and King Diamond

It's Friendlier like Moonboat
I Like This Album As Well as Moon Boat because they are both more nostalgic than Family Tree or Billy The Squid. I also Like Both Albums because they help me bring back memories of the time when on PBS They had the Blue P Head Logo with The Bell String Tune and the male announcer saying This Is PBS.

I like to sing the songs, too
The second Tom Chapin in my collection (1st=Around the World) I got this at the library and fell in love with the Wheel of the Water song, plus Picnic of the World. Almost all the songs are good! Tom Chapin is great b/c his songs aren't annoying like many kid songs, and they have layers of nuance that will make my 2-year-old enjoy them for many years to come. Definitely worth having. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jonathan Sprout's cool name isn't the only thing school-age kids appreciate about this guitar-toting, frequently touring troubadour. For one thing, he has a great singing voice, and he pairs it with contemporary-sounding, unkiddified music. His 1996 award-winning American Heroes strings together folksy guitar lines, a smidgen of smooth R&B, a few handfuls of pop and rock, and a rhyme style teetering on the edge of hip-hop in a happy, nonjarring hodgepodge. But what's most impressive about Sprout on this release is his mission: after catching wind of a survey showing that most kids list athletes and cartoon characters as their heroes, he set out to spread the word on some other legendary folks. In inspiring and sometimes funny song-sketches, he relates the adventures of Thomas Edison, Sacajawea, George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr., Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman, Benjamin Franklin, Clara Barton, and Abraham Lincoln. In addition to planting the seed for more substantial heroes, of course, Sprout's also lending levity to some important history lessons here. American Heroes, then, should be shared with anyone who's feeling a little directionless, and it'll also come in handy for those whose social-studies grades are on the slide. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Jonathon Sprout's music makes me say WOW!
I cannot "sing enough praises" for both of Jonathon Sprout's albums about American Heroes. The songs TEACH you about these great Americans with wonderful lyrics and delightful tunes.
I used these CD's in my college classroom to help teach future elemetary teachers - and they fell in love with the music.
The songs make REAL HEROES come to life.
I know that any parent or teacher who introduces these songs to kids will have those young people hooked on heroes. Listen to the tunes and then please, make REAL HEROES part of your home and school.
Dr. Dennis Denenberg
co-author, 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet!

Educational and Touching.
I bought this for my preschool son and my class of 1st graders. I love it and even listen to it without kids. The songs are well written. The instrumentation is high quality and very appealing. "Martin's Dream" is my favorite. The lyrics and music are powerful. "Heroes" is an appropriate and thoughtful song for honoring and recognizing heroes of the past and present. My least favorite is "Washington's Hat." It takes some creative liberties with the lyrics. The children love the catchiness of the tune, however. This would be great for all ages of children. The older children would get more from the lyrics and lessons. The younger children are at least exposed to some important people and events in our history. I highly recommend this CD. I can't wait to purchase the second one. Happy listening.

This is the greatest CD!!!
I became a friend of Jonathon Sprout after he sang at my school. I have a lot of his CDs and tapes, and I think this one and More American Heros are his best. These CDs tell about heros who have done great things. I like learning the facts about the characters he sings about. If there were 10 stars, I'd give it that many. I listen to it over and over, and always love it.

Great Songs and educational too!!!!
My sons just love his music. Received "More American Heroes" as a gift and had to get the one that started it all. The whole family enjoys the music and wonderful lyrics. They are learning without even knowing it.

Catchy music, lots of learning, great fun = FANTASTIC tape
My kids love it, I enjoy it. Fun songs that teach you about great people in American history - chugging along Harriet Tubman's underground railroad, light bulbs flashing in the head of Edison. A good mix of women and men. One of the best tapes my kids (18 mo - 9 years) have. I have often given it as presents and get the same feedback. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hap Palmer goes about educating children through almost entirely organic means--he writes catchy tunes that involve a variety of games, stories, and activities that involve kids and parents both during the music and beyond it. Can Cockatoos Count by Twos? cites a handful of high objectives in its liner notes: For kids to "enhance listening and comprehension skills"; to "teach basic academic concepts"; to "increase vocabulary and stimulate language proficiency"; to "develop fitness and basic motor skills"; to "foster the recognition of rhythm and melody"; and to "encourage problem solving and creativity." A tall set of ideals, indeed, but Palmer lives up to each goal, aiming these creative songs at the twin targets of entertainment and edification. Each song's lyrics has explanations of the objectives, ideal settings for playing along, and a description of the ideal activity. Palmer has a supple enough voice that he melds in with the mostly acoustic instruments on Cockatoos, but he avoids becoming sonic wallpaper and provides kids with understandable, fun narratives. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (3)

COOL COCKATOOS
I HAVE THIS TAPE-

MY FAVORITE SONG IS RHYME TIME BAND.

i LOVE THE CUTESY LYRICS!!

MORE OF HAP'S VERY RELAXING VOICE IS ON HERE!!!

eNJOY!!

New edition of this title
Hap has now released a new edition of this title (January 2001) which features 5 new songs and additional activity ideas in the liner notes. Your review reflects this, but the product description does not.

Rhythm, melody & lyrics beautifully blended for youngsters.
Rhythm, melody and lyrics blend to provide young preschool through third grade listeners with an enjoyable experience combining music and movement to facilitate comprehension of numbers, number order, addition, subtraction, rhyming, phonics, primary colors, secondary colors, telling time, months, season, comparison of opposites, and appreciation of diversity. The lively songs comprising Can Cockatoos Count By Twos? are composed and performed by Hap Palmer and are as fun as they are informative. Featured are Rhyme Time Band; Colors In Motion (basic); Magic Scarf; Jolly Clock (time on the hour); Months On The Move; We Are All Alike; Colors In Motion (mixing colors); What's Bigger Than A Bear?; Seasons; Jumping To Add And Subtract; Numbers Can Tell About You; Jolly Clock (advanced); Betty Beep; Toss It High Let It Fly; Rhyme Time Band II; Thirty Second Challenge; It's Time To Go; and the title piece, Can Cockatoos Count By Twos? Running Time 55:00. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Long before Raffi ever picked up a guitar, Ella Jenkins was pioneering the field of children's music. Her example of short, well-played folk songs that neither talked over kids' heads nor condescended to them remains the model for children's-music performers everywhere. Long before "multicultural" became a buzzword in educational and arts circles, Jenkins was drawing her material from Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and her own African American neighborhood in South Chicago. She celebrates her 40th anniversary as a professional entertainer with the anthology, Multicultural Children's Songs, which collects 23 songs from a dozen different Folkways albums onto a single CD. She is the Pete Seeger of children's music, and this is a good introduction to her work. --Geoffrey Himes ... Read more

Reviews (6)

My kids love this!
My mother played this album for my kids (ages 5 & 2) in the car during our recent week-long visit. They loved it! We listened to it all week long! Ms. Jenkins introduces many of the songs, and there are children singing along with her on many of the tracks. It is as if you are listening in on a music workshop she is conducting for children. I couldn't believe how quickly my kids began to sing along, especially since many of the songs are not in English. My kids often prefer music with which they are already familiar, especially when away from home, but they took to this recording immediately. This is certainly an album we will want in our collection!

I was dissapointed
After reading the glowing reviews of this CD I had high expectations. I had to come back here to say that this is one of the worst internet purchases I have ever made. The songs were slow & overly simplistic, as well as dated. I listened to this with my husband and our 5 year old daughter. There was one song on here that our daughter liked, the rest about bored us all to tears. It was a test just for us to endure to listen to them all. I don't understand the fondness some have for this CD, so buyer beware.

555 stars!
I love Ella Jenkins, and I love this compilation. The way she has of bringing music to so many children makes me respect her so much. I use this CD and its music in my music classes and the students meet it with incredible enthusiasm. My own children ask for this when we travel in the car. Buy this CD. You won't be sorry!

Best music for Young Children!
WONDERFUL FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

wonderful fun
My 5 year old daughter LOVES this music. Ella Jenkins gives brief introductions to songs so you get a sense of place and culture even before the beat begins. The songs are made for singing along, you can't help but clap and tap. this tape is superb. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

great song to get kids to eat more vegetables
Captain vegetable encourages kids to eat more vegetables. Just teach them the words and watch what happens when you give them carrots and celery...totally magic. Sing the song to them and watch them complete the verses while they eat healthy vegetables. Bravo sesame street and captain vegetable!

Boogie Woogie Piggies rule
What a great way to keep kids humming during an 8-hour car trip! And the songs are clever enough to involve adults, too. My personal favorite is "Monster in the Mirror."

Very funny and only slightly educational!
Sample lyric from "I'm Proud To Be a Cow", written in the style of an old English music hall number: I'm proud to have an udder/ like my father / No - my mother. I think this is very funny, even after my two year old (who certainly doesn't get the joke) asks to here the "Cow Song" for the tenth time in one afternoon. Like all of the best Sesame Street humor, these songs work on two levels -- one for little kids, and one for their parents. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great CD for Blues Clues Fans
My son loves Blues Clues and can't get enough of this CD. It features songs from different Blues Clues videos and music CDs. The only thing is that it only has eight songs that go by really fast when you're listening to it in the house or in the car. Then my son wants to start it over and hear them all again
which means we hear these same songs twice as often as a CD with more songs. But it is a pretty cheap CD so I guess it is worth it for my son, but unless your kid really loves Blues Clues it probably isn't worth buying since it is so short. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hap Palmer is a master of entertaining and teaching children with music. Can a Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet? overflows with fun songs that will have your child dancing along while he or she encounters themes such as vocabulary, shape recognition, problem solving, spatial awareness, numbers, and cultural diversity. Included in the liner notes is an extensive teaching guide, which lists skills and concepts, vocabulary, lyrics, suggested activities, variations, and follow-up questions for each song. These notes are a great resource for daycare or school instructors as well as parents, and, when implemented in moderation, can add another dimension to the listening experience. Palmer's original songs are diverse in style and are accompanied by strings, percussion, woodwinds, keyboard, vocalists, and even a children's chorus. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Highly Awarded Early Childhood Music Pioneer
Hap Palmer has been honored with many awards for his music for young children. He is a pioneer of pairing movement and music, and integrating basic educational ideas into music. His music interests me as a parent.

So my family and I have made a point of listening to his music, mostly by loan through our local library. Unfortunately, we do not like his musical style or voice very much. Most of his albums are not singable or melodic. I praise Palmer for making music that is good for childen and not like most commercial "junk food" children's music products that are on the market, but we just don't like most of his songs.

"Can a Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet" is one of the exceptions. The songs are interesting and fun to listen to. We like this CD. Plus, the messages are good for children, like most Hap Palmer albums. Thumbs up!

RECOMMENDATION: I suggest that parents start with CD's by Raffi. Then consider this CD. Hap Palmer's music is especially valuable if you use it to interact with your child, such as moving and thinking. Palmer's music is quality.

Can A Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet?
I am a volunteer storyteller for two year olds at the local library. After story time we danced to "Everybody Dance" and "The Bean Bag". The children and the parents were so excited when we finished that they broke out in cheers! I'm ordering my own copy of this CD today and so are a half dozen other parents and caregivers! ... Read more