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What you really need to know: Yup, kids will love this. And while the collection isn't as strong as some of the other Sesame Street offerings--it's no Elmo Says Boo!--it's got plenty to offer. All of your favorite Christmas standards are here, sung by a large sampling of the cast: Elmo, Zoe, Big Bird, Snuffleupagus, Grover, Cookie Monster, Prairie Dawn, and Oscar, among others. But they sound a little restrained when they stick to the traditional songs, and with no original compositions--and no Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or other non-Christmas songs--Elmo Saves Christmas is surprisingly one-dimensional. --Randy Silver ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Awesome Holiday Fun
My children, ages 3 1/2 & 2 LOVE this Christmas cd. They get very excited when they recognize the monster singing the song. It is great for singing and dancing, and is just awesome holiday fun!

Doesn't Live Up to the Hype
Elmo is probably the most creatively consistent of the Sesame Street gang, however, this particular collection was a bit of a letdown following his brilliant string of hit records. I even went several months without listening to this before a friend of mine talked me into giving it another shot. He claimed it was an underrated classic on par with the famous John Denver/Muppets collaboration. I do not find this to be so, but it is still a good release. There was a rumor in the late-80s that Elmo had converted to Judaism, but this Christmas release seems to say otherwise, unless he is simply cashing in on his celebrity and selling out his religion, in which case I would be very disappointed.

Elmo Saves Christmas ... in my classroom
Nothing like this album, based on the great video, to add the holiday spirit to any playroom or early childhood classroom. During our visit from Santa, Rosita teaching Elmo "Feliz Navidad" really added an upswing to the party for my multiply handicapped kids. And "It's Christmas Again" is a great song to learn to talk/sing with. ... Read more

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As the title indicates, this 27 song collection finds Ella Jenkins and a Union of Friends Pulling Together to have fun, pick and sing, and educate young children on the concept of unions. Broadly defined by Jenkins in the handsome liner booklet, the union is everything from a marriage to a group of like-minded friends to a pack of teamsters or a nation of states. Unity and cooperation, at the heart of all that is unionized, forms the core of this get-together of Jenkins, musician Bucky Halker, and a gathering of adult and child members of her Chicago-based church family. Many numbers come from America's vast folk catalog, such as Pete Seeger's single contribution, "If I Had a Hammer." Likewise, several songs are common children's songs, such as "One Meat Ball" and "Skip to My Lou." Accompanied by simple acoustic guitar and harmonica, the whole gang holds forth with song, story, and rhyming games, the latter for which Jenkins is particularly known. Excellent class source material, A Union of Friends is joyful, spontaneous, and encourages singing and playing right along. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A unique children's recording.
Ms. Jenkins and the musicians who join her for this recording have done a fine job introducing labor music and history to children. Labor music and history seems to be lost on the modern age and it is important that children know of the battles waged to stop the economic exploitation of children and all workers. Jenkins softens this message in a way that is especially effective for kids. The meaning of union thus becomes transformed into something larger than labor unions. Union becomes the joining of all humans in the struggle for a better world! Ms. Jenkins is joined by some exceptional Chicago-based musicians, including songwriter and guitarist Bucky Halker. Halker's guitar and vocals can be heard throughout the recording. ... Read more

Album Description

This collection of thirteen easy to learn songs and physical activities develops fine and gross motor skills, listening skills, coordination, a sense of rhythm, and imagination, as well as introducing children to the sequence of time within a day, good health habits, an enthusiastic feeling for school, making decisions, and a time to wind down. All this encourages young children to look forward to each day, helps them learn and welcome their responsibilities, and develops a daily routine which gives them a feeling of independence and achievement. Songs and activities include greeting the morning, good eating habits, going to school, imagination, and rest time. Putting the concepts of these songs and activities in motion prepares and leads children toward a responsible, independent, satisfying, and enjoyable life. ... Read more

Album Description

Through these upbeat, easy-to-learn songs and activities, children learn to express themselves, get to know each other, and become aware of the need and support for one another. All this helps each child become a unique, whole individual interacting within a society. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Bobby Susser Is Doing Something Very Right For Young Kids
Like the song on this CD "We Must Be Doing Something Right", Bobby Susser has done something very right throughout all of these rhythmic songs that teach the need for one another. All of the songs have choruses that are very easy to follow for my preschool class that I teach. The beats and flavors of the music are accented so the children clap and sing along. So many different sounding instruments are incorporated in these simple songs which keep the kids attentive and interested. After eleven great songs and activities, this collection ends with the song "We Deserve The Best", which sums up this entire work by Bobby Susser. It's the best.

Bobby Susser Figured It Out
Everytime we get a new Bobby Susser early childhood CD, it becomes one of our favorites in our nursery school. This CD that is filled with such good things like great catchy songs and activities to match, easy to follow lyrics, wonderful sounding music, and interesting stories for children is a perfect example of Susser's formula. He produces song after song entertaining the children, and teaching them such important things. The theme of this collection of songs is, the importance of getting to know each other, and it works in a beautiful way. Like the title of one of the songs "We'll Figure It Out," that is exactly what Bobby Susser has done, and our children are the ones who benefit from this. Get it and your children will benefit too.

A Children's Treasure Of Songs For Learning And Singing
From the opening song "Is Everybody Ready" that is so inviting, to the various rhythms on this clever collection, this CD "I Need You And You Need Me" is a favorite with the children in my preschool class. Songs like "We'll Figure It Out" and "We Deserve The Best" are great examples of how these songs teach in such a positive way, and encourage the children to sing, clap their hands, and participate in the activities.
This collection is undoubtedly one that should be in every early childhood classroom, library, and home. You can't miss with this Bobby Susser collection that will teach your kids why we need each other in the most entertaining way.

Bobby Susser Made Another Great Album For Children
I have a nursery school and utilize a lot of music to educate the children. This CD was a great big hit from the moment I played it for the children. The rhythms and beats vary from pop, rock n' roll, rhythm n' blues, and country to reggae. The songs have easy to learn lyrics for children, and the melodies are easy to sing. The activities and lessons that apply to the songs are fun, simple to grasp, and teach the children all about the need for one another. The singers and arrangements on each song are absolutely great. Bobby Susser made another great and very meaningful album for children, "I Need You And You Need Me."

Children's Songs Don't Get Better Than These
While my children at the day care center that I supervise learn about supporting and getting along with eachother, they have fun. The songs on this CD are so simple for the kids to learn, and the ways they are produced, the sounds that hold the kid's interest, the great singing performances, the different rhythms, the great arrangements, and the very positive and friendly feelings make this Bobby Susser collection one of the most outstanding we have heard from him. He keeps getting better and better, and we will definitely add his next collection to all of the others, whenever he produces it. Anyone who has not had a taste of Bobby Susser's work should buy this children's CD. It's a great way to start a Bobby Susser collection because it's a great CD as all of his are. You and your children will positively love this as the children in my day care center do. It's a wonderful investment for your kids because children's songs don't get better than this, at least until Bobby's next release. ... Read more

Album Description

OOOO! Yuck! Kids are sure to sing along and laugh together with this all-new collection of gross songs! Even adults will wrinkle their noses and smile at the thought of "Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts!" Over 30 minutes of musicadd up to hours of fun at home, school, and camp. BONUS! Includes 50 fun things to do with kids! ... Read more

Album Description

Household noises to keep baby sleeping through the night —because when baby sleeps, everyone in the house sleeps, too!

Many exasperated parents attest to finally lulling baby to sleep with the low hum of window fan, the rumble of a vacuum cleaner, the pitter-patter of running bathwater, the quiet drone of a clothes dryer, or a long ride in the car. Now these AUTHENTIC sounds are captured in one convenient collection.

Using your own music CD player, Soothing Sounds is an affordable, convenient alternative to the costly sound conditioning machines often recommended by mothers for their children, by doctors for their patients, by professionals for their offices, and by restless sleepers themselves. Ideal for home, travel, nursery! Shift workers, too!

Discover the Soothing Sound you or your baby prefers and program the CD player to repeat that track throughout the night. ... Read more

Album Description

Studies show that babies prefer their parents' voices over anyone else's. Daddy's Lullabies is an all-new collection of twelve beautiful lullabies for every new dad to sing to his baby. Tracks 1-12 feature soothing vocals to help him learn the lullabies. Tracks 13-24 are instrumental so that baby may hear only Daddy's voice. Baby is certain to be Daddy's most adoring audience, no matter how Daddy sounds ...or how he thinks he sounds! ... Read more

Album Description

With subtle elegance, this album of twelve original songs harmonizes contemporary digital sounds and lush classical arrangements.These soothing melodies make LULLABIES FOR A NEW AGE as tenderly uplifting for adults as it is for young children. ... Read more

Album Description

Doggone Math/Songs for Learning Volume III joins Harry Guffee's other popular recordings Got Math? and Do the Math! All of the Songs for Learning fuse math and music into clever and playful tunes that inspire children of all ages to embrace learning with enthusiasm and joy. In fact, miracles can happen when music and learning are brought together. Music stirs emotion, and emotion has a powerful effect on memory; children have been using the "Alphabet Song" for generations to learn their ABCs. Now students can enjoy the same results singing about math. These lyrics and melodies will become part of any child's life anywhere - in the classroom, at home, even in the car! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A differnet CD of Math Songs
With so many Math CD's out there, you may want to take a listen to what his words in the songs mean. Some can be quite difficult to understand if you are a visual learner. If you are a parent in search for some help with math skills then this CD may not be the best choice however, if you are someone wanting to get a little more "ump" out of math and understand a little more about the skills then give it a listen. It could be right up your alley. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great for a variety of ages
My boys are 5 and 9, and like many, are exposed to a lot of pop music via TV. YUCK. I love this CD because it is geared to children who are still children, not mini adults. I also love it because the songs are so "singable"! After only a couple of times listening to the tape in the car we were starting to catch on to the tunes and sing along. Having music we can all enjoy while en route is very nice. I will say that my 9-year-old enjoys the lyrics more than my younger son, but he'll soon grow into the songs. We LOVE "Harry the Hat" -- "Da Baby Sitter...

Catchy songs with clever lyrics for the elementary crowd
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.

Great Family Entertainment, for ALL ages (even grown-ups!)
We hadn't seen a new Tom Chapin CD on the market in quite some time, and were getting a little antsy. Then, my husband found this new one, "In My Hometown". While the themes of Tom's music are aimed at children, the style isn't at all juvenile. They're funny, touching, rousing, and raucous, by turns. He and his co-writers also use very different musical genres on each recording, which never happens in mainstream music. So far, our favorite song on this CD is "Da Baby Sitter", about the new sitter - an ex-con named Harry the Hat! We also loved "Dog Rules", the third of Tom's songs about his Golden Retriever. This Be-Bop song lists all the things that makes a dog, a dog, like "any food that falls on the floor is yours." Wonderful artist, wonderful songs, and a wonderful new recording! We look forward to memorizing all the songs, and can't wait for the next one! If you had more stars in your rating system, this CD would get them all!!

Another wonderful collection of family music from Tom Chapin
This brand new collection from Tom Chapin reflects the warm feeling we all have for home, no matter where home may be. Chapins own hometown in the beautiful Hudson Valley region of New York is noted by the song "Muhheakunnuk" (the Native American name for the Hudson River). As always the lyrics reflect a humor appreciated by adults as well as understandable to children. Tom is joined by his usual co-writers and musicians John Forster and Micheal Mark as well as his very talented daughters. The songs on this piece would appeal to children 6 and over, though the younger ones will enjoy dancing to the bouncy tunes of "Don't Miss the Bus" and "Gerties Birdseed Diner." "Homemade Lemonade" is a tribute to all young entreprenours with a lesson in good business practices woven in. "Our Next Door Neighbor, The Moon" is a rich and beautiful tune guarenteed to be sung over and over again while putting your children to bed. In a category of music that gets little recognition and no airplay, Tom Chapin is king and this CD is more proof of that. ... Read more

Album Description

Eight-time GRAMMY nominees, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer perform with exquisite vocal harmony and instrumental virtuosity while covering a wide range of musical styles including contemporary and traditional folk, swing, new and old-time country.From the Woody Guthrie/Billy Bragg song "Birds and Ships" to the song Cathy co-wrote with Tom Paxton, "Survivors of the Storm", the classical Boswell Sisters' "It's the Girl" and Ola Belle Reed's "Hopelessly in Love", the songs are rooted in their twenty-plus years of performing together around the world.Think of them as musical postcards from the journey so far.Postcards is a 2003 Grammy nominee in the "Best Traditional Folk Music Album". ... Read more

Album Description

Everyone will giggle, smile, and sing along with this super new collection of silly songs. Get the wiggles out with action movement songs and laugh together with classic nonsense songs! Over30 minutes of music add up to hours of fun for kids and families. Perfect for home, classroom, sleepovers, parties, rainy days, traveling--anytime! BONUS! Includes 50 fun things to do with kids! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

When your little ray of sunshine has a cloudy day, what better way to lift his or her spirits than with a few catchy ditties from Oscar the Grouch? How could you not love a grumpy monster who croons an ode to the cacophony of city sounds in "Noise" and imagines a perfect land where "you won't see smiles flash and there's great piles of trash" in "Grouchelot"? Though Oscar may delight in maintaining a perpetual bad mood, these quirky tunes, such as "Let a Frown Be Your Umbrella" and "I'm Sad Because I'm Happy," are sure to bring smiles to the most disagreeable of days. --Deborah Moore ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great cd...
Whether child or adult, you will enjoy this cd. You have to love the grouch who has made his living promoting his love for trash, mud, rain, and sounds that grate on everyone elses nerves. The songs are well arranged and the lyrics clever. Oscar is at his trashy, obnoxious best with songs like "I Love Trash", "Let a Frown be Your Umbrella", and "I'm Sad Because I'm Happy." His unique outlook on life is bound to put a smile on any kids face from two to one hundred and two! ... Read more

Album Description

Through these original, catchy, rhythmic songs and fun activities, children begin to feel the feelings, and learn the meanings and importance of self-respect and self-confidence. They also learn the values of having respect for others and confidence in others. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Bobby Susser Is Spectacular With Respect And Confidence
At our library in Los Angeles, we utilize every musical children's collection that Bobby Susser has created for our preschoolers. His songs are magical vehicles that teach and entertain our children. In this collection, while the easy to learn songs and activities are here as in all other Susser collections, and he has covered, as usual, an extremely important subject, he added a fantastic Mass Choir to some of the songs that brings the excitement, rhythm, and lessons to the children. The rhythm of the song "Respect And Confidence" is so thrilling, it draws the children to it. The productions, deliveries, and stories in "My Shoelaces", "I Like To Be Me", and "Charlie Lika And Bobby", are nothing short of great. The librarians in our children's section cherish this collection as we do all the Bobby Susser collections, and anxiously await more to come in the future.

Children Will Feel Alot Of Respect And Confidence
My wife and I are early childhood school teachers. I teach first grade, and she teaches kindergarten. This week, we both got the opportunity to play this CD for our classes. As usual, Bobby Susser delights and educates the children with his fantastic songs that are easy to learn, and different, but always interesting arrangements. His own style with each song gets right to the heart of every child. The messages are thoroughly understood, and the music is thoroughly enjoyed. The suggested activities are wonderful. This album for children is exceptional, and was handled with "Respect And Confidence." We are going to get an additional copy for our three year old daughter.

A Collection Of Great Songs With Great Ideas For Children
Using easy to learn lyrics, with extremely catchy melodies and choruses, and various singers including a New York Mass Choir, Bobby Susser created a sensational collection of songs for my preschool class to sing about "Respect And Confidence." The children can't wait to sing along, and clap their hands while they learn about these important subjects. We all know how serious it is for our children to know all about respect and confidence, and Bobby Susser put these ideas into great great exciting songs that have taught my class the importance of these songs as they are being entertained and enjoying themselves. It's a wonderful collection, a wonderful and unique way these subjects are being taught to young children, and a wonderful experience. All young children should experience this collection.

This Album Is Exceptionally Important For Young Children
This Bobby Susser collection that I use regularly with young children in the library where I'm a librarian in the children's section is so great that it surpasses clever, and goes way beyond. The lead singers are fantastic, and the back-up singers that vary on the songs from a few to an entire Mass Choir are delightful and exciting on this important collection of children's songs. The songs are easy to sing, and the rhythms that often change, always grab the attention of the children I work with. The approach to these songs is very innovative, and works in a very successful way to teach "Respect And Confidence" to young children.

My Children Can't Stop Singing These Songs
To write and produce rhythmic, gospel, easy rock, pop, and folk style, easy to learn songs for young children, all on one CD, that entertain and teach "Respect And Confidence" to my class of 1st graders is a big time accomplishment. The prize for this (which is no surprise) goes to Bobby Susser who always gets the job done. My class can't stop singing "Respect And Confidence," and all the kids are just as excited about the other songs and activities on this CD as well. The performances are really great. It's great music that teaches little ones the meaning and importance of respect and confidence. This CD is one that your children will have alot of respect for and alot of confidence in. ... Read more