Read, sing, play with The Brothers Foot

The Brothers Foot: A Hare Raising Story written by Steve Cormey, illustrated by Ronda Eden; published by AuthorHouse, Bloomington, Indiana; 2009.

Three brothers frolic wildly as rabbits will do.  But unlike most rabbits, these boys named Foot, Foot-Foot, and Foot-Foot-Foot also like to sing and dance.  One day, three hunters carrying guns spot the trio.  The Brothers Foot are so entertaining, the hunters drop their guns and joined in the fun.  And they all live happily ever after.

author/singer/songwriter Steve Cormey; http://bit.ly/jWFbir

As a read-aloud, the rhythm of this book is a natural.  Cormey adapted the story from an old children’s song.  ”The Foot Foot Song” was penned by Sid DeMay, Lee Tully and Sid Bass; the silly names, short storyline, and catchy rhythm make the song perfect for a picture book adaptation.  Eden’s illustrations express the joy the Brothers Foot get from singing and dancing; I couldn’t help feeling like tapping my feet just looking at them!

illustrator Ronda Eden; http://bit.ly/lFCnkm

Along with the picture book, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a CD of the song and a DVD.  The CD was helpful as the story encourages singing along with the brothers but I am not familiar with the tune.  The DVD is a nice production that incorporates joyful background music, illustrations from the book, and a singer singing the song at the appropriate moments to assist the narrator as he tells the story.  Including the CD and DVD makes this a complete package that public, school and home libraries should include!

All that being said, I have to say that the timing for reviewing this book could not have been better.  I recently participated in some early literacy webinars and have more early literacy training coming up this summer.  One thing I’ve learned is just how important singing and playing are in developing early literacy skills in youngsters from birth to about age 5.  We all know that we should read to our kids, but singing and playing are key components to learning the skills necessary to be readers later in life.  The playfulness of this story encourages caregivers to get up and dance and sing along with the littlest listeners.  The illustrations and the story are open to caregivers asking questions of their listeners.  Again, I am happy to see this complete package being offered and encourage its use in developing early literacy skills (at library story times and at home).

Learn more about the author and illustrator by following their blogs; rumor on both seems to be that there’s a sequel in the works!  Ronda Eden’s blog: http://rondaeden.blogspot.com/; Steve Cormey’s blog: http://www.stevecormey.blogspot.com/.

Rockabye Baby puts the rock in lullabies

Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of the Beach Boys; produced and performed by Michael Armstrong; Baby Rock Records, Los Angeles; 2006.

Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Green Day; arranged, performed and produced by Mike Baiardi; Baby Rock Records, Los Angeles; 2007.

Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Led Zeppelin; produced and performed by Michael Armstrong; Baby Rock Records, Los Angeles; 2006.

While gathering CDs for creating mock storytimes for a couple of job interviews, I stumbled upon these three titles.  Intrigued mostly by the lullaby renditions of Led Zeppelin, followed closely by Green Day, I brought them home.  I joked about them on Facebook with my niece, who happened to be bragging about playing Green Day tunes on the ukulele at the time.  Then I popped the Led Zeppelin into my laptop.

Oh. My. Goodness.  Why didn’t I think of doing this?

“Stairway to Heaven” was intended to be played this way, I swear!  All tunes on the Rockabye Baby! sets are played on vibes, bells, glockenspiel, and other instruments that are non-jarring but melodic.  The renditions of all the songs, across all three CDs, are hypnotic and reverential; the intent of the artists is respected as the tunes are toned down for little ears.  I have listened to all three CDs over and over and over as I’m working; they provide perfect background music without distracting.

I remember walking my kids in the double stroller one early spring morning so many years ago.  I remember this moment too vividly.  I stopped pushing and started laughing and crying at the same time (blame it on cabin fever) because I realized that while I walked, “Barney” songs and insipid bedtime songs were looping through my head where Clapton and U2 used to live.  It was a turning point as I started playing “oldies” in the car and at home rather than nonstop banal baby music.  What I would’ve given to have these CDs to play at naptime and bedtime!

For a complete list of artists that Baby Rock Records has covered, please visit their website: http://www.rockabyebabymusic.com/.  You can listen to streaming excerpts from their collection as well.

Let me tell you about the liner notes.  The CD insert includes bright shapes to cut out and hang on a mobile.  All of the liners included a template to add a picture of baby to the mobile.  The colors and graphics corresponded to the cover art for each CD and did a great job of complementing the band and music genre.  In addition to the traditional list of songs and copyright information, the liners all included space to answer such pressing future-rocker questions as “first influential rock song,” “first time to play air guitar/air drums,” and “favorite foods that will be demanded in future dressing rooms.”  What a great way to record some of baby’s firsts in a way that is less mushy and more appealing to some of today’s parents (and even grandparents).  Let’s face it, we’re talking about legions of Guitar Hero players having babies (OK, and grandbabies) and this packaging totally caters to them.  After buying (or receiving) one CD, I would stake the house that more CDs will follow, especially given the rather extensive list of artists that have been “rockabyed.”

Aside from adding these to lists of lullaby or bedtime materials, I think it would be interesting to use as background music for craft activities, or even just as calming music in the play area of the children’s room.

Leave Your Sleep proves that poetry rocks (and pops, and lullabies, and folks around the world…)

Leave Your Sleep by Natalie Merchant; audio CD published by Nonesuch; 2010.

Inspiration comes when it is least expected; perhaps that is why some folks keep a pad of paper and a pencil on nightstands.  In the case of Natalie Merchant’s latest musical endeavor, inspiration came from within books.  Poetry books.  Poets from anonymous to Ogden Nash; Robert Louis Stevenson to Jack Prelutsky and e.e. cummings; Merchant heard melodies while reading poetry.  The result is a hypnotic, family-friendly 2-disc set, Leave Your Sleep. Please don’t let the name fool you: this is not a compilation of lullabies and nursery rhymes.  Yes, there are plenty of those bedtime-friendly songs to add to a naptime mix, but there are treats for all occasions.  There are songs to appeal to all members of the family and their unique musical tastes: reggae, rock, pop, and folk songs flavored by the whole world.  Some tunes that stand out for the early elementary school set include “The Sleepy Giant” (Charles E. Carryl), “Bleezer’s Ice Cream” (Jack Prelutsky), and “Topsy Turvey World” (William Brighty Rands) which is currently playing on NPR while I write this.

Each song enchants, as Merchant’s genius perfectly matches poem to musical genre.  The tone of the poem is expressed in the music and is also paired with its intended audience.  Somber, brooding Russian folk music sets us in the old world where “The Dancing Bear” runs away with me.  A fiddler accompanies Merchant’s vocals in the folk song version of “Calico Pie.”  Reggae riffs carry us through a “Topsy Turvey World.”  Lullabies and dance tunes grab the hands of the poets and the audience and lead us on an adventure.

As a librarian, I was taken with the packaging.  The CDs and liner notes are combined in a book of its own.  The cover shows the spines of the many poetry sources used.  Inside, the end pages hold the two discs and the body of the book contains the poems/lyrics and biographies of the poets.  Best of all, Merchant describes why she selected the poems and her connections to the poets themselves.  Photos help us put faces with the sources of her inspiration.  The “liner notes” themselves are a literary work worthy of a read, whether or not you listen to the music (which I highly recommend you do as well!).  Merchant’s website includes a link to Leave Your Sleep with links to read, watch, and listen.  All of the poems are included, as well as videos of the production process and audio clips of every song.  You can explore that here: http://www.nataliemerchant.com/p/leave-your-sleep.

Teachers should be using this to introduce poetry to even the youngest students.  Older students can study the original poetry before listening to the music.  Perhaps they can discuss whether or not they agree with the musical style used for each poem.  At the very least, this CD has to be used during National Poetry Month and included on a pathfinder about poetry resources.  What a fascinating way to encourage interest in some of the older poets and their body of work.  And I think we all needed the reminder that lyrics are simply poems set to music after all.

Maybe children would like it better?

United We Stand: Songs of America by various artists; published by Direct Source; 2001.

Well, there must be something to be said for children listening to other children singing.  For me, it was sometimes painful to listen to (like the a capella version of the National Anthem).  But other songs were uniquely arranged (such as “God Bless America/Pledge of Allegiance”).  Given the publication date, I’m guessing this was put together quickly in response to the 9/11 attacks, and the haste shows in the quality.

Overall, I know there are better patriotic compilations for children, but I can imagine a K-2 teacher using this in the classroom.  Perhaps I would include it in an Independence Day display.

Curl up with hot cocoa, a good book, and this CD

John McCutcheon’s Four Seasons: Wintersongs by John McCutcheon; published by Rounder Select; 1995.

Although I originally wrote this review for a class in the summer, it is appropriate to revisit as I sit bundled on the couch, buried by Lake Erie’s wonderful lake effect snow!

I have worn out McCutcheon’s Family Garden and Summersongs. On this hot and humid July afternoon, I was thrilled to listen to Wintersongs.  As expected, McCutcheon explores wintertime in a variety of musical formats—from folksy to rock-n-roll, Caribbean to lullaby.  His lyrics are funny, poignant and seasonally spot on.  Remarkably, McCutcheon never condescends to children, not in his musical stylings, and definitely not in his lyrics.

I would play this as background music for winter programming.  I would also include it in winter displays and winter-themed kits.