School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-This collection includes 42 energetic and professional renditions of popular children's rhymes, songs, and chants performed and sung by adults, including Dave Townsend, Paul Downes, Charles Spicer, and Caroline Butler. The songs are played to the accompaniment of the guitar, banjo, concertina, whistle, fiddle and oboe. The collection is intended to be a companion to Clare Beaton's book, Playtime Rhymes for Little People (Barefoot, 2001). A booklet accompanies the CD with notes for parents and caregivers on how to use the songs to interact with their child. However, the lyrics are not provided, and adults may be confused by some of the directions if they don't have access to the book. For example, in "Five Little Peas" the directions are: "Clench the fingers of one hand and open them out slowly. On the third line stretch all the fingers, and on `pop' clap hands together." Parents new to rhymes for young children may be unclear as to what the third line is. The songs are quick-paced, and caregivers would benefit from having the book handy. Some of the more familiar titles include "Round and Round the Garden," "Two Little Dicky Birds," and "The Wheels on the Bus," The CD comes in a cardboard case where the booklet is actually glued into the cover, so it can't be transferred to a jewel case and may be difficult to shelve and maintain. This collection would be an enjoyable additional purchase for public libraries, especially those who already own the book.-Maren Ostergard, Bellevue Regional Library, Kings County Library System, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a companion volume to her Mother Goose Remembers, Clare Beaton combines 40 classic nursery rhymes with her sumptuously sewn collage to create Playtime Rhymes for Little People. Easy instructions encourage active participation through finger play and body gestures. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved