Album Description

An actual human heartbeat is the rhythm (drums) of special arrangements of traditional Christian children's songs. The songs on this CD actually stop babies from crying, soothe symptoms of colic, and help parents get their children to sleep through the night - without having to let them cry! Each CD includes a Parents Guide - An Introduction to Heartbeat Musical Therapy booklet with common-sense suggestions for bedtime routines that work. Satisfaction is guaranteed or the manufacturer will refund the full purchase price direct to the consumer. These recordings are used medically in over 8,000 hospitals and special care centers to calm listeners, induce sleep and assist in healing. They are also used in over 1 million homes to help establish regular healthy sleep schedules for children and to help families get the rest they need. They are effective for listeners of all ages - from prenatal to elderly - but are recommended for prenatal to 6 years. They can be started at any age. They can even be used during the last trimester of pregnancy to help both mom and baby get a good night's sleep. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great CD!
My 3 year old and 8 month old love this CD! They listen to it to fall asleep for naps or for bedtime. We even played it in the middle of the night when our 8 month old used to wake up many times a night, and it helped a lot! We play it after our 3 year old has a nightmare and it helps calm her down and even fall back asleep quickly (and she doesn't have another nightmare after that for a while)! We love it! It's Christian, too, so that makes it even better!

Wonderful CD
I received the tape version of this CD when my son was born back in 1995. I played this for him every night and he slept peacefully. It calmed him and relaxed him. I went thru two tapes and now I am buying the CD. He is 9 years old now and he loves to fall asleep to this music. I would recommend this to anyone with children.

Parent in Washington who thinks its great
We got the earlier version of the CD when our 7 year old was a baby. When she was fussy this tape calmed her enough to get to sleep.

I am now buying the CD for her. She has worn out the tape and still likes to listen to it when she is trying to fall asleep and needs some calming.

I appreciated the fact that there is a Christian version, to not just calm, but to instill values.

This CD saved our sanity!
Our son was very colicky for the first two months. He cried to be held all of the time and would scream if we put him down at all. We bought the "Baby/Jesus Go to Sleep" series and played it for him. It calmed him down, helped him sleep , and gave us some down time! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gifted with a gracefully pliant midrange soprano, stellar recording artist Maria Del Rey here turns her attention to lullabies and to an immersion of culture and language with Latin American poems adapted and translated for this purpose. Del Rey delivers the first half of Lullabies of Latin America in the gently fluid tones of Spanish, then follows up in the second half with a repeat of the same songs sung in English. Del Rey's cello, piano, and acoustic guitar figure prominently, and she is also accompanied by a talented group of musicians on percussion, strings, flute, and oboe, as well as on Peruvian harp, panpipes, and other traditional Latin American instrumentation. "Duerme Clave" and its English counterpart, "Sleep Rosie Flower," are particularly engaging, featuring soft piano and elegant lines of Spanish classical guitar. "San Augustine" and its correlation are gorgeously slumber-inducing duets. With their unhindered capacity for linguistics, wee ones will be sweetly singing along with both versions in no time. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Latin Grammy Nominated CD!
Maria Del Rey received a nomination for a Latin Grammy for this work and it was well deserved. Even if you don't speak Spanish, this album relaxes your soul and lifts your spirit. A well-researched piece of work that brings together latin traditions from all across the world and presents them in a way both Latino and non-Latino listeners will appreciate. My daughter and I have found it very educational....a good addition to the many Spanish/educational tapes and videos on which Maria Del Rey has either performed or produced. We look forward to her next children's CD (we already have Universe of Song).

Wow what a voice!
I am a grandmother who has given Maria Del Rey CDs to everyone in my family and to friends who have young children. It a gift that I love to give. Maria has an amazing and tender voice. I can feel her heart in every note. She is rare gem to have that kind of talent and share it with our children.

Maria Del Rey's Lullabies are great for nap times
As an Educator and mother, I highly reccomend Lullabies of Latin America. In my family we have a long tradition of
handing down music, books and stories. Maria has totally captured the beauty and warmth that I remember my mother and my abuela singing to me as a child. These are the classics, these beautiful lullabies brought such tender emotion in me when
I first heard them. When I taught preschool for a few years
the children always loved Maria's voice. The whole atmosphere was so peaceful in class during our nap times. When you work in the trenches with children everyday you need materials that work and I trust Maria Del Rey's work, she is just wonderful.

Not many lullabyes in Spanish
As others have noted, this turns out to be only a handful of lullabyes in Spanish sung by Maria Del Rey, plus nursery rhymes spoken by children and men (not very good for putting a baby to sleep), plus the whole thing repeated in English. In addition, I had been looking for traditional Latin American pieces and apparently all of these are contemporary. Don't waste your money...I'm planning on giving my copy away if I can figure out someone I know who could actually use it.

Not as good as I had hoped
I had high hopes for this CD based on its rave reviews, but I was disappointed. Though the musicianship is excellent, a few of the songs are not lullabies, but rather are upbeat rythmic pieces that aren't helpful when we're trying to get our baby's eyelids to finally shut. Also, since the songs are repeated in English, you then get two doses of the same songs. This CD isn't bad, but for anyone looking for lullabies in Spanish, I'd recommend the "Latin Lullaby" CD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With 20 tunes in around 38 minutes, this CD is ideal for listeners in its targeted audience: kids from 2 to 5 years old. The songs (and rhymes) are all classics, and each is taken at a slack enough pace that the artists stand out. And who are the artists?Kids themselves, all in the targeted age range. They get an acoustic folk accompaniment for "I'm a Little Teapot" and a faux R&B backing for other tunes. Loosely gathered in, the lyrics for the songs delight children's ears and are tremendously cute, full of offhand mirth and glee. There are moments of in-studio laughter that make the final CD, and if that weren't enough, there are also what sound like impromptu recitations, from "Peas, Porridge Hot" to the quick "Fuzzy Wuzzy." In addition, the CD includes a great "Happy Birthday" and numerous examples of call-and-response singing that make adults happy merely to hear something so unhampered by excessive scripting, structure, or controlled forethought. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (23)

No more fussy car rides
A friend gave this CD to my 11 month old daughter. Every time we put it on in the car, she stops fussing and starts smiling. We never hear a peep from her after that. While it is cutesy, my husband and I much prefer to hear these young toddler voices rather than professional sounding 10-11 year olds on other CD's. She knows all the songs now and loves to listen to us sing them to her during bath or changing time. The fussing stops there, too.

Great CD
I bought this CD and played some songs I liked.
I understood their words. It sounded like Apee Borte 2 U . What?????

EXCELLENT!!
I drive my toddler to and from school every day. Before this CD I would arrive at work with a dry mouth from singing with my toddler. Now, I just pop in the CD and let her sign along. She loves it (sometimes I find myself singing along too). The songs are all great. The children singing are incredible and my toddler has learned most the songs. I definitely recommend this CD to any parent.

Fabulous CD - Excellent for the Car
I bought this cd 3 years ago when my first child was 1 1/2. He loved it. He loved to sing along with the kids on the cd. He laughed when they laughed! I pulled it out the other day for my second son who is now two. He also loves it. He wants to hear it all the time! It was definitely a great investment for me!

I'm with the 5-star reviews!
I bought this as a cassette for my older daughter a few years ago, and it's been a wonderful, reliable car tape ever since. I guess any children's music can have an adult annoyance factor (some Raffi is *really* weird), but the people who are freaked about bad pronunciation and unclear words are off base. My younger daughter (at 21 months) loves this more than her sister ever did and can sing most of the songs on it outside the car, even Frere Jacques in French! True, she doesn't have good pronunciation, but she doesn't say anything else really clearly either. She seems well able to pick out the main melody and words from all the goofy mistakes and asides of the toddlers. Her sister never started lisping or doing baby talk as a result of heavy listening to this tape, so I have no fears about it. It truly grabs the little ones' attention and sinks right in. And the mixes are really quite fascinating--you wonder how they magically wove together all the fragments of songs and music and sound effects. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A Child's Celebration of Broadway is a tasteful treat for grownups and almost-grownups in addition to being the typically kid-friendly fare brought to the listener by Music for Little People. The classy compilation, rather than being made up of chirpy, dumbed-down renditions, is composed of music from the original cast recordings of such beloved shows as Oklahoma!, The Music Man, and The Sound of Music. Mary Martin brightly sparkles, singing numbers from both Annie Get Your Gun and Peter Pan, and the ever dear Julie Andrews contributes a duo as well, including the classic "The Lonely Goatherd" from The Sound of Music. With a particularly heavy emphasis on Rodgers and Hammerstein, noted composers in absence are Rodgers and Hart, Sondheim, and Porter. While by no means a complete collection, A Child's Celebration of Broadway is a perfectly sound starting point for little divas and future showboats. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Buy this!
One after another these songs by original artists are outstanding and deliver a positive message as well. Our 2 year old's favorite cd, and we love it too!

I love this CD!
omg, I love this CD, I listen to it all the time! I don't know why it's called a 'child's' celebration of broadway, when it's really for everyone! My fav songs are come Follow the Band and You've Gotta Have Heart.

Fabulous music for kids!
I love this CD and listen to it even when my toddler isn't around. Mary Martin's version of 'I Got the Sun in the Morning and the Moon at Night' is just fantastic. It's the kind of music you WANT your kids to grow up listening to! Listen to all the Music for Little People CDs ... you can't go wrong with them.

The Wave of the Future
I think complilations like these are really what people want to listen to . With attention spans so short these days, there's nothing like being able to sample delicious treats from bygone eras. Hurrah.

great childrens music!!
I work at a daycare center and this is one of the kids favorite tapes. I feel great that they enjoy it as mush as I do because I enjoy sharing my little part of broadway with them. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You've seen kids who are too cute for their own good? Or really proud parents (usually really new parents) who think that every new trick little Johnny or Maddie performs is so adorable that they could die? Well Toddlers Sing Playtime is the audio equivalent of both. Eighteen tracks long, Toddlers covers many of the popular kid songs you'll hear on Barney ("A Sailor Went to Sea," "Bingo"), the old war horses ("She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain," "Hokey Pokey," "London Bridge"), and some lesser known original ditties ("My Little Playmate," "Jump Rope Medley"). Toddlers will cotton to this playful, sing-songy sweetnessfest. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Good song selection, but annoying singing
We received this CD as a gift when expecting our baby. While we certainly appreciate the thought behind the gift, as the songs on the CD are good and the idea of children singing the songs is good, the CD is unfortunately quite annoying. First, the children do not sing with their natural singing voices. Instead, almost every one of them affects an annoying, Little-Rascals-Alfalfa-like voice. Second, ninety-nine percent of the solos are sung by children with real or affected speech impediments. I have nothing against children with speech impediments, but I don't think their singing is any cuter than that of children without speech impediments. In fact, since my child is just learning to speak and sing, I would prefer that he hear the singing of children without speech impediments, so that he is not confused about how to say or sing certain words. I would think that this would be helpful for children with speech impediments, as well. It is too bad that these two things make the CD so annoying, because the songs selection is good otherwise.

Toddler Sings - Our kids loved it (and so did we)
We got this tape in a library pack for a long road trip. We had a geat time singing all the songs - they are really wonderful. The little kids voices can be pretty irritating (really irritating at times!) but the fun wins out.

Vapid lyrics will leave you wanting to push eject!
Vapid/obnoxoius lyrics which in some cases are NOT age appropriate for young children. One exapmle:

Cindarella, dressed in yellow
Went upstairs to kiss her fella
How many kisses did it take?
1,2,3,4,5,6,7, more . . .

Please do yourself a favor ans skip this tape. do the rest of the world a favor and buy and destroy any copies you find at retail. It really is that annoying!

Loads of Fun!
We love this CD! My one-year-old son and three-year-old daughter have a great time dancing every day to it. My daughter knows all the words. The kids on the CD are so funny and still make me chuckle. I would recommend Toddlers Sing Playtime to any one who has energetic kids who love to dance.

Sounds of joy
I bought this tape for my 16 month old not knowing what to expect. This was to be an alternative to the television that finds itself on all day long in my house. My little girl loves this CD. The kids on the tape can be annoying but they do sound so cute and the songs are just long enough that when they start to grate on the nerves (and believe me listening to this CD over and over and over will get on your nerves) the song is over and the next one starts. This is a good buy if you want a distraction while you are making dinner. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Children celebrate the world through calypso, Cajun, an Irish ballad, and even a spunky breakbeat Latin rap. Ninth in the Child's Celebration series from Music for Little People, A Child's Celebration of the World is a virtual Epcot for the ears. This is a fun, funky, parent- and kid-friendly education. Longtime family favorite Raffi sings "Just Like You and Me," which teaches commonality in diversity. The Chenille Sisters' "On a Vacation" teaches kids how to speak funny phrases in German, Japanese, and Spanish: "I forgot to pack my underwear," "My sister needs a diaper change," and "Beans certainly are a musical fruit," respectively. Sweet Honey in the Rock count in French, Japanese, Swahili, and Spanish. Kids are bound to giggle through countless playings and will surely put their newly acquired linguistic skills to the test. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A CD the Whole Family Will Enjoy
Don't let the title of this CD fool you. This is one of those "children's" CD's that parents won't mind listening to again and again. "A Child's Celebration of the World" includes a variety of songs -- from the a great recording of Miriam Makeba's "Pata Pata" (my favorite) to the super-silly "On a Vacation" (learn how to say "My sister needs a diaper change" in Japanese), from the gentle "Anishanabe" to "Fiesta Musical" (a sort of rap song in Spanish). This is both educational and enjoyable -- a rare combination in children's music.

Recommended! Good Language Exposure. Fun. Not Commercial.
My children have listened to this CD for two months now, and we recommend it. We rank this much higher than most of the commercial children's music on the market, like Disney and various pop music CD's for kids.

This collection has some outstanding songs your children will love that you would have a hard time finding otherwise, like "The Unicorn" and "On a Vacation," which is very funny. You even get the wonderful "Like Me and You" by Raffi.

This CD is not perfect. Some of the songs are not good. The recurring "Sweet Honey on a Rock" is extremely annoying.

But the rest of the good songs make up for it. Get it for the language exposure and the handful of excellent songs.

I also highly recommend any CD's by Raffi if you are looking for the highest quality and most fun children's music. Raffi is the best of all.

My daughter can't stop celebrating!!!
I first bought this CD because I wanted my daughter to be accustomed to hearing different types of languages. She immediatly fell in love with this CD and doesn't want to hear anything else. I recomend it for all children, of all ages, esspecially adults, I love it as much as she does and love to sing along. The tunes are just too catchy :)

Excellent CD - Highly Recommended!
This CD is full of songs specifically for children, many with children singing and/or encouraging interaction. My 5 year old especially loves the counting songs. I love that it introduces my children to unique cultures from around the world. And, it makes for great listening for a parent too - and I say that after listening to it over and OVER in the car!

Great music for little people
This is a fabulous compilation of songs in many languages from all over the world. My favorite is "on a vacation" ... I'm learning new languages and words right along with my toddler! Highly recommended ... along with anything from MFLP! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Music for Little People has been living up to its moniker with a cornucopia of remarkable children's music releases since the mid-1980s. Its 15th Anniversary Collection is something of a greatest-hits package, with such notable "adult" performers as Taj Mahal (doing "Shake a Tailfeather"), Los Lobos, Michelle Shocked, the Persuasions, Maria Muldaur, and others. But it's the forever-young Raffi with "Baby Beluga" and Ladysmith Black Mambazo's "Mbube (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)" that will especially appeal to the little folks. Throw in Buckwheat Zydeco's rockin' Cajun version of an old New Orleans hit "Iko Iko" and Bill Haley and the Comets' timeless blast from the '50s, "Rock Around the Clock," and you get a party record the whole family will enjoy in the car or at home. Did somebody say Music for Little People rocks? Yes, and a whole lot more, too! -Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Overall, This CD is More for Adults than Children
Naturally, that is my humble opinion. Many of the tracks, as you can see from the listing of songs/artists, are well-known recordings, and not geared towards children. "Monster Mash" and "Wooly Bully," while great and fun music, just aren't the kinds of songs my three-year-old, one-year-old, and I enjoy rocking out to together. Give us the traditional kids fare, like that which makes up Music for Little People's "Playtime Favorites"! If you're of like mind, this album may not be for you.

Great CD to engage you and your child
We just recently received our CD and we love it. My son (7 months old) and I play it almost every afternoon and we sing and dance and his little eyes just light up! And sometimes my son just enjoys listening quietly.

I debated on whether to get this or another CD collection by one artist and I'm really glad I decided on this one because it provides such a variety of songs, music, and artists and that's one of the things that makes this CD so good. Plus we now have been exposed to several artists we would not have known which opens up new windows of music opportunities.

I would definately buy this as a gift for friends and will look for additional CD's produced by the same company as well as some of the artists of our favorite songs on this CD.

Great for the car
My daughter and I love this collection of songs. We've learned the words to all of the songs and delight in listening to the music over and over. We particularly like to listen to this when we drive in the car. It keeps us both awake and entertained. The songs are adult versions of classic and contemporary songs, performed by accomplished artists. No annoying out of tune or overly high pitched voices. The album is pleasing to both adult and kids' ears. We like this collection so much that I have purchased other Music for Little People collections.

Music for the Whole Family
While this CD may not be a soothing bedtime elixer, it is just what the Dr. ordered if you're looking for a fun, sophisticated selection of songs which will appeal to the whole family. While the previous reviewer didn't think it calmed her child for bed, the fact that this CD captured her daughter's attention and imagination suggests that these songs do indeed encourage cognitive development and music appreciation. And it doesn't hurt that the parents, grandparents and siblings of these young listeners will also find themselves humming along to this infectious collection of wonderful tunes.

No lullaby
My two-year-old daughter loves this CD, especially the ''Baby Beluga'' song, but except for Raffi, most of the artists featured in this collection are better known for their ''adult'' music. My daughter requests this CD every night, but I'm not sure it actually helps her fall asleep: she's too busy trying to say ''yellow submarine'' and singing along to ''The Little Red Caboose''. A nice compilation, and not as cloying as some music aimed at young children. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Taj Mahal shares the focus on this Grammy-nominated collection of traditional children's songs and classic pop-rock tunes with singer Linda Tillery and a full band. Together, the Tailfeather gang provide some rockin' good times. Kids will love the sing-along style of "Shortnin' Bread," "Draw Me a Bucket of Water," "Loop de Loop," and "Mary Mack."Parents might enjoy the band's renditions of "Land of 1,000 Dances," "Rockin' Robin," and "Willie and the Hand Jive." However, fans of Taj Mahal may be disappointed, since there are only occasional forays into the wonderfully delicate kind of blues music that makes his 1988 outing, Shake Sugaree, an exemplary kids collection. --Percy Keegan ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This ain't folk, this is foot-stompin', finger-poppin' FUNK!
True blues fans will cherish this collection of songs, most of them adaptations of traditional African-American, southern blues music. I grew up on "Little Sally Walker" and the "Name Game" --these songs were part of the rich, cultural stew that made up my life in urban Philadelphia. I am delighted that Taj Mahal has documented these treasures so that I can now share them with my 3 suburbo-kids, who otherwise would not have a clue. Be advised -- this album is not for the feeble, folk-singer fan but for kids and parents with a love for danceable, singable music with soul.

Shakin a tailfeather
I absolutely hated this CD. I found it to be grating and irritating. I have played it once and have never played it again. I adore Taj Mahal, was raised on folk music like Pete Seegar and Woody Guthrie, but I am NOT a fan of the gospel music sound. That is what I would call this album. I heard very little Taj Mahal on it, also, which is bothersome. Get Shake Shugaree. It's awesome.

ONE OF THE BEST CDS I OWN
AS A PRESCHOOL TEACHER, THIS CD IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES!! THE CHILDREN LOVE TO DANCE AND SING ALONG, AND I ENJOY IT TOO. NOW, IF ONLY I COULD GET THEM TO STOP SHAKIN' A TAILFEATHER WHEN IT'S TIME TO CLEAN UP......

THE "NAME GAME" BELONGS IN THE TOILET
Ever since I was 3, I have had a constitutional aversion for that idiotic "Name Game" by Shirley Ellis. It is highly irritating, makes absolutely no sense and is darned annoying to boot. It has no saving grace, nothing to recommend it and makes jackhammers sound soothing by comparison.

I would have given this 4 or maybe even 5 stars, but including the idiotic "Name Game" cost this CD. Everything else on this CD is great, especially "Follow the Drinking Gourd." That is a good history lesson about slavery and about using a sky map. An excellent exercise for children (and adults) is to find the Northern Star and identify other constellations. This is a great teaching tool.

Leave off the vile "Name Game" and you've got a good collection here.

Had our 15-month-old twins dancing immediately.
This is a CD that I can actually share with my children -- I was enjoying many of these songs in my own youth. Check out cuts 9-11: "Land of 1000 Dances," "Jim Dandy," and "The Name Game," which is an all-time favorite of mine. Listen also to the deep funk of "Shortnin' Bread." This may be a children's CD, but there's plenty for an adult to enjoy. Just be careful playing "The Name Game" with kids named Chuck or Mitch. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

This is the only children's music CD we own
Our 15 month old little girl LOVED this CD and started swaying to Lisa's voice the minute we put it on. Unlike most children's music CD, there are no annoying sound effects or overbearing instrumentations on this album - just Lisa's sunny, personable and beautiful voice. Her unique interpretations of the many well-known children's songs are refreshing.

We've sampled tons of children' music CDs from the library and this is the only one we've bought and added to our music collection. If you are looking for a children's music CD with alot of "excitement" and "whizbang", this is not for you. This is a warm and charming album with great listenability for both adults and children.

Simple, Singable, Beautiful vocals
This is a wonderful, basic CD to add to your child's collection. Most of the songs and poems are familiar, or will quickly become so, if you don't already know them. The single soprano voice with acoustic guitar is soothing for a child, but still lively enough for dancing to the more rollicking numbers. My daughter started listening to it as a 4 month old--every time the first song started (Happy and you know it...) she would start kicking and smiling, anticipating the song. She would often be content in her play pen the entire time the CD played.

What can I say? My son loves it!
My 2 year old adores this CD. He sings the songs even when it's not playing. One thing I enjoy about it is that it's low key. All the songs whether faster or slower seem to have the same tempo.
I guess it depends on the temperment of your child if you'd like it or not. Mine is musical with tons of positive ENERGY. Whatever the case, it's no action-adventure. It's more like a cuddly drama.

Not that great
I have to agree with some others in that this CD is very slow. In fact, it puts my kids to sleep rather than provoke a sing along or dance. Lisa Monet doesn't have a bad voice but the CD sounds as though you were back in the 70's with the wiggly voice and single guitar music. If you are looking for a CD that is calming and somewhat boring than this is your CD. I haven't found a great kids CD yet, but this definitly was NOT not even close.

The Positive Reviews must be from Relatives
I tend to rely on the consumer reviews of products when puchasing something that I'm not familiar with. Well, when I purchased this item - there were only positive reviews. (Since then, I see that there are a couple of others who have my same reaction......) A few songs into this CD, I thought that the folks who gave this a positive review must have something to gain from the sales of this release. It's really not a good CD for children. Yes, she has a somewhat pleasant voice, but this isn't the kind of music that captures a child's attention. It's way too slow, too high pitched, and not at all conducive to singing along. "Do you know the muffin man?" sounds like a painful piano bar rendition. I was looking for a good cd to play in the car or at home to sing along with my toddler and have him learn all the classics. This one is really hard to listen to for both of us. I wish I hadn't wasted my money. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The good humor and musical depth of veteran a cappella outfit the Persuasions make On the Good Ship Lollipop an essential kids'-music release. By way of exquisite vocalizing and well-placed asides, the quintet breathes new life into chestnuts such as "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?" and "Teddy Bears' Picnic" while introducing a new song (producer Leib Ostrow's "A Cappella Fellas") and shedding light on the lesser-known gems "My Daddy Do, Too" and "I'm So Glad (I've Got Skin)." Finally, they turn "On Top of Spaghetti" into a doo-wop ballad classic as indelible as "In the Still of the Nite." A perfect addition to the grownup-friendly Music for Little People catalog, which also includes albums by Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Los Lobos. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (20)

The Persuasions reclaim their crown as kings of a cappella.
The Persuasions' long overdue, first-ever children's album,"On The Good Ship Lollipop," must be a shoo-in for best kids' album of the year. I can't imagine another work having more life, joy, humor, wit, heart---and yes, soul---than this disc. These indefatigable champions of a cappella, together for an incredible 38 years, still have their touch. In fact, they sound better on this album than, well, maybe ever. The song selection is varied in style, and full of surprises---from the hilarious "Good Ship Lollipop" and "On Top of Spaghetti" (you almost cry for that meatball)to the earnest and touching "My Daddy Do Too" and a song by Country Joe McDonald, of all people. The album kicks off with a supercharged piece of streetcorner work, as the five Persuasions take turns singing nursery rhymes against a percolating "doo-de-wah" background. If that doesn't get your hands clapping or your feet tapping, then you're in trouble. Lead singer Jerry Lawson's voice seems to grow richer and more expressive (and playful) with age, and basso-profundo Jimmy Hayes reaches wayyyy down to deliver a very charming (and slightly scary) version of "Teddy Bears' Picnic." Truth be told, this album is must for every a cappella fan, whether they have children or not, and a welcome surprise for all Persuasions fans. This group is a national treasure that has been sadly overlooked during the new popularity of a cappella, and amazingly, this kids' album goes a long way toward enabling The Persuasions to reclaim their crown as kings of the genre.

A wonderfully wholesome collection that promotes creativity.
The Persuasions' new album " On the Good Ship Lollipop" is such a wonderful collection of tunes that I just had to share my thoughts. The beauty of the album is that it not only entertains the children , but promotes an appreciation of the human voice that the typical children's album doesn't even approach. The excitemnt of singing along with " On top of Spaghetti" , "Big Rock Candy Mountain" and " Shoo Fly , Don't bother Me " thrills the kids so much more than the dozens of other CD's they have. The fun of singing without music in the background is such an exciting discovery for them. It's so exciting for me to hear them having so much fun with music. I would highly recommend this album to any parent who wants to inspire creativity in their children instead of the usual " Mind Numbing " effect of most children"s albums.

Winter doldrums? This will cheer the entire family!
Not only do I own this wonderful CD, I've purchased it for family members and friends of all ages. The Persuasions give new life to old favorites. My "inner child" never tires of listening to these songs and my adult self enjoys the excellent a cappella collection! It would make a great gift for any family going on a car trip!

Vocal Magic In Candyland.
There's a lot of music out in the market labeled as children's music that's nothing but pure garbage (Radio Disney, and many of these "kiddie" albums come to mind). The best children's music is music that doesn't degrade children by talking down to them; is intelligent, fun, and humorous; and that adults usually enjoy more than the kids. With that sad, children's music doesn't get much better than ON THE GOOD SHIP LOLLIPOP by The Persuasions.

The Persuasions are the granddaddies of a cappela music in America. They've been together as a group for decades and though they use no instruments other than their voices, their songs are more lively and entertaining than the majority of the techno-rap-funk garbage that plays on the radio. The group has been performing for children for years but this is their first children's album.

The range of songs on the album is quite varied. From "Teddy Bears' Picic" to "On the Good Ship Lollipop" to a new take of "On Top of Spaghetti", the songs never stop to entertain and amaze. There really isn't another instrument on the Earth like the human voice.

This CD Saved my Life !
We ( wife , 2 kids) just got back from a fourteen hour car trip. " The Persuasion"s On The Good Ship Lollipop" Saved our lifes! My Kids could not get enough of these great sounds. We adults never mind hearing them " One more time" either. After listining to this disc about 10 times in 14 hours,I feel I can say this is great stuff. " And they stil don't have no band" ... Read more

Amazon.com

A Child's Celebration of Classical Music, like its esteemed peers in the Music for Little People series, is not only of superior quality, it caters to the interest of kids without dumbing down the music. Beginning with the lively Boston Pops Orchestra rendition of "In the Hall of the Mountain King," this collection draws the listener into worlds created by orchestral majesty, powerful buildups, and exquisite narrative. Meryl Streep's buttery tones preface Ravel's magically ruminative "Sleeping Beauty" and Carol Channing is simply marvelous in her telling of the giggle-inducing yarn of "Gerald McBoing Boing," as set to strings and drums, cymbal clashes, and horn accents. David Bowie provides a distinguished narration to Prokofiev's nearly-30-minute-long "Peter and the Wolf" suite, a classic which still thrills and delights audiences half a century after the composer's death. Throughout, children will delight in distinguishing the wide array of instruments and the sounds they represent.--Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A great intro for children to the world of classical music
There are lots of collections that introduce children to the wonders of Classical Music, but "A Child's Celebration of Classical Music" from the Music for Little People series has got to be one of the best. Most of the pieces of "child friendly" because they involve human narration: David Bowie doing "Peter and the Wolf," Meryl Streep doing "Sleeping Beauty," Carol Channing doing "Gerald McBoing Boing" and the wonderful Danny Kaye doing "Tubby the Tuba." But children will be equally fascinated with Bobby McFerrin doing "Music Box" with just the sounds coming out of his talent mouth and the Symfunny Orchestra doing Handel's "Water Music" on toy instruments, both of which are simply amazing to those of us who have trouble just humming along with a CD. The first piece, with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops doing "In the Hall of the Mountain King" is the only traditionally done classical piece on this album. This album is an absolute joy and a nice introduction to the other CDs in this series. Besides, it is not like you have to still BE a kid to enjoy these CDs.

Wonderful!!!
Kids will eat this up! The selection of readers and singers are brilliant. Not only will the stories entertain children but they will learn from a young age that classical dosn't mean boring! Danny Kaye is one of my favorite people. His voice has always captured me somehow. I have seen my siblings listen in amazement to Boby McFerrin's amazing "voice". His portrayel of a music box is highly impressive. The way this CD combines the old with the new, the humorous with the soothing, and the music with the story telling, leaves me feeling up-lifted and calm. A complete must-have for children and adults alike! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In an age when children are expected to meet the seriousness of living with their own early sobriety, a good bit of goofin' seems in order. And lighthearted levity is just what A Child's Celebration of Silliest Songs delivers: campfire favorites like "On Top of Spaghetti" and "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt," schoolyard rhymes such as "Tiny Tim" and "Apples and Bananas," and ticklishly wholesome renditions of "Three Little Fishies" and "Shake My Sillies Out." As with others in this popular series (which includes A Child's Celebration of Dance Music, A Child's Celebration of the World, and A Child's Celebration of Rock 'n' Roll, among others), Silliest Songs gathers material from a rich variety of sources. Highlights include appearances by well-loved children's artists Raffi, Julie Andrews, and Maria Muldaur. Also included are turns by Little Richard, the Persuasions, and comedian Cheech Marin, who steals the show as a singing bus driver. Best suited to toddlers and primary schoolers, this collection stands for the fun in function. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (10)

If you have a child, you might grow to like it!
I bought this (and several other CDs) when I was pregnant to test a variety of music for our baby who was in-utero. In the beginning, I liked a few of the songs right away, the others I did not. Today, we cannot do without it -- our baby would not let us:

After our baby was born (1-8 weeks old) we played this CD for him while he was awake and/or asleep (sometimes he would wake up if we stopped playing it). He responded to it by making little noises and concentrating gestures. Then the CD got put away during a house move and I recently dug it out of the box and replayed it, at this time, our baby has grown into a 1.5 yr old toddler. It immediately became very obvious that he still remembers many of the songs and he is still responding well to certain ones (the turtle song -Tiny Tim, Three Little Fishies, They All Asked for You, Shake My Sillies Out). For example, everytime he finds his stuffed turtle in his bathroom toy drawer or if he sees a turtle in any of his books, he starts waving his hands signaling to us that he wants to hear the Tiny Tim song -- either sang to him (we've herad it so many times we got it memorized) or played from the CD. When this first happened (we did not know what he really wanted since he is still learning to speak), he dragged us to the garage making some kind of music conductor gestures -- it turned out he remembered that the CD was in the car, and he wanted to hear the music before he would go night-night!

Disappointing for the series
I bought this CD for the kids because we LOVED the "Celebration of Song" and "Celebration of Rock & Roll" albums from the same series. This one, however, was a real disappointment. Very few of the songs are good for singing along, and the lyrics of several of the songs are unintelligle. The producers have used a lot of filler (e.g., three tracks of "Be kind to your web-footed friends," none of them good), and some obvious classics are missing. Overall very disappointing! There are a few bright spots, however. My kids love Cheech, the School Bus Driver and there's a great track from Buckwheat Zydeco's children's album.

Cheese with sugar
A big disappointment: too many cheesy, saccharine, patronising tunes in the old Disney style. The odd classic like the Danny Kaye piece is overwhelmed by the material specially recorded for the album, using naff, dated synthesisers.

silliest songs is not engagin
If your 2 year old is a fan of RAffi and Laurie Berkner and Toddlers Storytime/Playtime et al - this will be a ho hummer. It's too bad the compilation isn't more engaging and tends to swing between too wide an age range to be worth the investment. 50% nice songs and 50% blahs

Silliest Songs
Fun cd to sing & dance to with baby! A really cute cd! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In producing a record of hip-hop music for kids--that would also be agreeable to parents--singer Linda Tillery started with songs that appeal to families, and then filled in the grooves. The result, with such songs as "Juba Dis and Juba Dat," from the time of slavery, and funk and pop classics "Everyday People" and "Brand New Key," mostly hits its mark. If "High Hopes" falls flat, the reggae song "Three Little Birds" soars, as does most of the program from Taj Mahal, Sheila E., Maria Muldaur, Eric Bibb, and the Cultural Heritage Choir, the latter turning in a supremely exciting performance on "Cookie Jar." Parents need not be alarmed at the inclusion of rap, which adheres to its original definition (rhythm and poetry) and never offends. All in all, this should have the kids up dancing, digging, and doing their thing, hippity-hop-style. --Alanna Nash ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Singable hip hop for little people
I loved this CD and my infant son does as well. I think we will be listening to this CD well into his toddler years - it can be sung along to quite easily. I am a huge hip hop fan and I got this because I am finding that my collection is inappropriate for young kids. But this CD did not offend my hip hop sensibilities at all.

Can't listen to sample...
I hate to give this a 1 but since Amazon has decided to encode it in a format that doesn't have a decoder for Mac OS X. I can't tell if it is any better. If I have the opportunity I'd be happy to change it. In the mean time maybe some other online store has a sample that I can listen to.

Hippity Hop
Hippity Hop is the best childrens cd ever. It really touches my soul. I feel that all ages can get into this music. .With songs like cookie jar, everyday people, funky nursery rhymes, brand new key and others this cd gives hip hop a new meaning. Try this cd and give it your own opinion. Don't take my word for it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Still a Favorite 6 Years after first purchase!
I first purchased this cassette as a Young Teacher working in Early Childhood Education. The Music for Little People's Series has never failed me, and I love reggae. Many years later, this is still a favorite of mine, and now my daughter's (almost 2)and of My Center's ( 111 children at a NAEYC accreditated facility!) I have tested it on Hundreds of children ages 6 weeks through 6 Years and always seen swaying happy children enjoying the music. You can't go wrong with this one!

True spirit of early childhood music education
The tracks are so well that I never thought that it was really the CD that I ordered,because I ordered it with the Love and trust that I have on the Artist herself not that I heared it play before and its really the right taste for my kid, she is turning 12months on the 19/02/99.

Good rythym, melody and authenticity.
I bought this CD because I want my 16month old child to have an awareness and appreciation for the folk songs of the caribbean. This CD is a good start. Our favorite tracks are Tingalaya, Chi Chi Buddo, Elena, Sweet Guava Jelly, Banana Boat and Brown Girl In The Ring. I would recommend this CD for it's rythym, melody, authenticity and lack of pretense. ... Read more

Album Description

Take a classic pirate story, turn it on its head, add wit, humor and catchy tunes, and behold The Ben Gunn Society. More fun than a barrel of monkeys, this totally unique song cycle celebrates the adventures of a cheese-crazy pirate marooned on Treasure Island (also featuring monkeys, bananas, apples, tropical islands, high seas and more pirates). Igor Koyfman, a Russian-born songwriter, blends the influences of his native music, 60's folk-rock, and grunge to produce very original songs with smart, quirky lyrics. Expertly arranged by Los Angeles musician and educator Elliott Marx, and backed with top notch musicianship, the album is a natural favorite for independent music lovers everywhere! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Swashbuckling delight!
Why should pirates get all the glory? Finally, an album that gives due credit to a scraggly beach bum with the munchies!
"Ben Gunn" is chock full of fun, quirky lyrics and melodies that go down easy and are hard to shake. My 4-year-old really digs it and is getting into the whole pirate thing as a result. (Though I'll have to explain the references to rum and wenches later.) Not since They Might Be Giants' "No!" have we enjoyed listening to a new CD together. It certainly satiates a craving for indie rock that doesn't take itself too seriously, while keeping my little buckeroo happy, too. Great for car rides, a bad day at work and chillin' out with a bottle of Captain Morgan's.

Is This For Real???
I found this CD sort of by accident. I was looking for the old Treasure Island DVD (the one from the thirties, not the Disney flop) and some how I reached this disc. After hearing the downloads, I couldn't stop laughing, so I ordered it. Is this a real society? The whole CD is so much fun and wacky. I noticed that someone said it's great for children, it is, but I love it myself. The guy singing is so serious, yet he's talking about cheese (lots of it), bananas, monkeys, wenches, grog. In one song there is a list of different apples. Anyway the address on the CD is in California. Treasure Island is my favorite book, I've read it many times since I was a little boy, and even I didn't really remember the character Ben Gunn. Thanks to this strange CD, I went back and read it once more. Okay, that's it.

Great for kids
My sons are huge fans of Treasure Island and LOVE this CD. They are 6 and 8 years old. The songs are catchy and fun to sing along to. They have been palying it non-stop since we got it. It is a big hit in our house! ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you want to scare the pants off your 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds, but then make them merrily sing along, this Halloween collection could be for you. A generous 18 tracks deep, Spooky Favorites covers the familiar creepy-crawly terrain of "Cockles and Mussels," "Spider on the Floor," and "There Was an Old Woman" with all the right affects. Favorites also trades in Christmas tunes, reworking "The 12 Days of Christmas" as "12 Days of Halloween," while "Green Gremlins" reprises the "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" theme in a halting tempo with a tasty rock guitar solo. And in another ironic twist, the players turn "Bring Back My Bonney" into "Bring Back My Neighbors to Me" and rewrite "If You're Happy and You Know It" as "You're Scary and You Know It." Highly theatrical and leaning on a good interplay of English folk melodies and music-hall styles, Spooky Favorites is proof that you can spoof just about any song for Halloween as long as you dress them up real spookylike. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (7)

My child loves this CD!
I bought this CD for my son who was 4 at the time and he loves it! We listened to it all year long. Even as a parent I enjoy this CD and find myself sometimes listening to it when I'm in the car alone. My child didn't think it was too scary.

SCARY!!!
This cd is too *#@%# scary for me and I'm 38 years old!! If you are really into scaring kids, this will do the trick.

Very Disappointed
The reviews for this CD were misleading as the CD is not appropriate for 3 year old children. There are only one or two songs near the end of the CD that would not be scary for this age group. Most of the songs had howling and haunted house-like sounds that would be scary the average pre-schooler. None of the songs on the CD had the whimsical feel that would be fun and enjoyable for this age group. I would recommend saving your money and purchasing a Pooh Halloween CD.

Lots of Fun!!!
This is a great album! I use it every year with my pre-kindergarteners and they always love it!

Spooky Favorites
This cd is not as much fun as I thought it would be. The songs have way too much dialogue & are just not enjoyable. Maybe an older child would like this, but overall this cd just is not that good. ... Read more

Album Description

An actual human heartbeat is the rhythm (drums) of special arrangements of traditional nursery songs. The songs on this CD actually stop babies from crying, soothe symptoms of colic, and help parents get their children to sleep through the night - without having to let them cry! Each CD includes a Parents Guide - An Introduction to Heartbeat Musical Therapy booklet with common-sense suggestions for bedtime routines that work. Satisfaction is guaranteed or the manufacturer will refund the full purchase price direct to the consumer. These recordings are used medically in over 8,000 hospitals and special care centers to calm listeners, induce sleep and assist in healing. They are also used in over 1 million homes to help establish regular healthy sleep schedules for children and to help families get the rest they need. They are effective for listeners of all ages - from prenatal to elderly - but are recommended for prenatal to 6 years. They can be started at any age. They can even be used during the last trimester of pregnancy to help both mom and baby get a good night's sleep. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Heatrbeat Music Therapy Really Works!
I recieved this as a baby gift and was amazed on how it really helped my son sleep and stop crying. As a first time mom it even helped me fall asleep at the same time. It is a wonderful gift idea.

Incredibly smothing for everyone
Since I received volume 1 and 2 Stops Crying Cd as a gift I can't believe that our life isn't the same anymore. My kids are so use to sleeping with the Cd on everynight that it has become a routine for our family to play it while we asleep the smothing sound of heart beat thumping with the mixture of the lullabies is a marvelous therapy music to sleep with. We recommend it to everyone that has kids and want a fantastic night of sleep. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Toddlers, like most anybody, appreciate being put in touch with music that connects them to their peers, and that's precisely the point of Toddlers Sing Storytime, the third release in the Music for Little People label's Toddlers Sing series (following the debut and Playtime). The CD culls classics like "Hot Cross Buns," "The Three Little Kittens," and "The Owl and the Pussycat," but dry recitations don't cut it here. The approach, rather, is to let a handful of frothy toddlers run with this stuff, often to hilarious effect. "Yolking," for instance, about Humpty Dumpty's famed fall cracks the kids up, and instead of passively pondering the location of the wayward pup in "Oh Where, Oh Where (Has My Little Dog Gone)," they take a breather toward song's end to set up a silly search party. Along the same lines, the little girl who breaks into "Baa Baa Black Sheep" confounds her fellow singing toddlers by intimating, adorably, that the sheep in question may in fact be pink, and the Muffin Man, always sort of a mysterious figure, finally gets a formal introduction by the young fellow who tackles his namesake tune. Each performer defies expectations on these ditties, but the English-accented tot who takes on "The Grand Old Duke of York" deserves special mention for his determined tone, as does the sweet-voiced singer of "Bow Bow (On My Violin)." Otherwise, the kids' off-the-cuff banter, sublime in its silliness, is this record's main selling point; it's bound to make 2- to 4-year-olds feel like flies on the wall at a play group for particularly precocious, fun-loving friends. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Warning: This kid's album has kids singing kid's songs!
This is certainly a cute collection of children's songs sung by children who are actually a bit older than "toddlers." I would have liked to have seen how they edited these songs together, because clearly some of these are mixes and matches of various takes of different kids singing the same song, like "Itsy Bitsy Spider." I have no doubt that children will be totally entranced by listening to the songs on this album being sung by kids just like themselves. Many of these songs will already be familiar to them, such as "Baa, Baa Black Sheep," "Muffin Man" and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," while a few should be new to them and their parents, such as "Bow, Bow (On My Violin)" and "The Grand Old Duke of York." The instrumentation is appropriately simple: a recorder, clarinet, sax, guitars, bass and keys, plus some impressive harmonica playing by Mischa Rutenburg. However, I must also admit that I had to listen to this particular album in measured doses and I suspect that this album is going to drive some parents up the wall, especially when their kidlets insist on playing it over and over again. I basically rated this CD as a 4.5, but because it is from the Music for Little People series, the most impressive I have discovered over the course of my most recent second childhood, it gets rounded up.

GOOD STUFF
This is a big favorite of our 3 year old during car trips. It keeps her occupied, and singing along. She probably is more inclined to sing along as the singers on the CD are children, rather than adults.

Entertaining for the tots
Our son, who is 7 months old, is mesmerized by this CD. The first day we received this CD I played it in the car while we were out running errands and he was quiet the whole time. Just last week while driving home our son was getting fussy (because I was listening to talk radio) so I popped in the CD and he was quiet the rest of the way home - this alone would motivate me to buy another one.

The songs are fun, after playing it non-stop most everytime were in the car, I'm still not tired of it. I enjoy listening/hearing the different dialects of the children and the songs are fun and entertaining.

I envision, as our son gets older, we'll sing these songs together in the car and that will make the CD even more enjoyable for both of us. But right now, anything that keeps him happy and entertained in the car gets an A+ in my book.

Toddler Rock
My 2 year old daughter loves this CD. The songs are fun and easy to dance to. The nursery rhymes are familiar and my daughter enjoys reciting the lyrics and hearing them over and over and over again. This is definitely a great alternative to television and makes playtime much more fun! Your kids will love it.

Children love it!
This CD is packed with all the familiar songs that we have grown to love. What makes it different from the rest is that there are children themselves singing the songs. I teach dance classes for children and my little ones (3 and 4 yr. old) love this CD. I would recommend this one for the younger children that enjoy music and want to sing along. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

LOVE IT!
I have had this tape for years! I just bought a copy of the CD, too. The music is wonderful. The children in my class love it. We have learned parts of several of the songs to sing in group time. The performers are wonderful- each of them amazing artists in their own right and this compilation is great for children from birth to 99. It is a very often requested part of our classroom collection. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Disappointment
I have been very disappointed with this album.The biggest problem is the introductory material.Each track starts with an introduction, first in English and then in Spanish.While it is nice to know something about the songs, it is a long span of talking before each track and it quickly (like, the second time through) becomes very irritating having to wait for the end of the intro to hear each song.If they had only made the introductions into separate tracks it would have been much better-- you could skip over the intros when you didn't want to hear them.The other problem is a matter of personal taste-- after wading through the intro material, most of the songs are just not appealing to me.Yes, there are some fun instruments and unusual sounds, but for the most part the songs themselves just don't move me.For kids Spanish songs, I much prefer the Sesame Street "Fiesta Songs!" album and the Jose-Luis Orozco albums