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Magical Earth by Sarah Pirtle

Listen. You can hear the lives and dreams of children from many cultures dancing through these bouncy international rhythms. Sarah's joyous songs touch the place inside that makes us strong and connects us to each other and to our wonderful, magical Earth. Dance along to "The Journey Dance" (a perfectly silly movement song that invites you to pretend you are dancing through peanut butter, applesauce and marshmallows); learn to "Talk It Out" (a catchy zydeco tune about making up after an argument with your best friend); visit the ocean and rainforest with "White Whales" (based on a true story) and the "Mahogany Tree"; meet and make friends with children from all over the world and learn about other cultures in the "Other Side of The World" and "Walls and Bridges". Magical Earth is a triple Award Winner.

Faeries Dreams & Other Friends by Elaine Silver

Celtic Twilight, Vol. 3: Lullabies by Linda Arnold

By turns mournful and mystical, these 14 Celtic lullabies performed by musicians from around the world give voice to the experience of mother and child in haunting, evocative folk songs. "More often than not," veteran Irish singer Nóirín Ní Riain writes in the liner notes, "a true lullaby is more indicative of the mental state of the mother than of her wish to lull her child to sleep, and so often her frustrations find a legitimate voice through song." Celtic Twilight 3: Lullabies will become a bedtime favorite, both for its lulling pull to sleep for baby and the numinous, soothing tones of old-country songs for parents winding down at the end of the day. --Stefanie Durbin

When I Was Young: Children's Songs From Ireland by Various Artists

Vocalists Len Graham and Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin are accompanied by a number of musicians and the multitalented player and producer Garry Ó Briain on a collection of songs that kids will appreciate and love and that parents will both remember on occasion, and enjoy throughout. It's never cutesy or cloying and offers both the repetitive songs that younger children love and some clever (and once or twice scary) songs that grab the older kids' attention. Throughout the album the musicianship is high, with a special nod to accordion work of Mairtin O'Conner that's quite impressive. When I Was Young is a step above the current bumper crop of preachy or New Age children's records that masquerade as "Celtic." This one will actually have them clamoring for some of the real (adult) thing in a few years. --Louis Gibson

The Singable Songs Collection by Raffi

In 1976 a young Toronto musician released a fun and lively record called Singable Songs for the Very Young. The artist was a fellow called Raffi, and in the liner notes he wrote at the time that "there are very few good children's records." True as that was in the '70s, Singable Songs became the No. 1 bestseller in its field and set the standard for today's greater volume of high-quality material. The Singable Songs Collection reissues the classic Singable Songs for the Very Young and its superlative successors, More Singable Songs and Corner Grocery Store, as a set. Raffi's exhilarating acoustic musicality and sense of humor shine brightly through. Single-digit-age kids and their parents will get a kick out of these silly, educational, and joyful songs, which range in subject matter and tone from shared peanut-butter sandwiches and instrumental ragtime to standards like "Goodnight, Irene." --Paige La Grone

Baby Beluga by Raffi

Baby Beluga is a fun-filled collection of favorite children's songs and Raffi originals, all performed in the singer's folksy, expressive style. Beluga begins with the sounds of whales communicating in their high-pitch squeaks (which presented here come across as cute and sweet) and features melodic lines that evoke vivid pictures of gentle waves and a frolicking whale. An illustrated sing-along book that is published separately is a nice companion to this first track, giving young listeners visual images of the song's narrative. The rest of this varied album blends traditional songs like "Oats and Beans and Barley" and "This Old Man" with four original pieces by Raffi, including the instrumental "Water Dance." Liner notes have the complete lyrics, a description and history of beluga whales, and explanations of Raffi's inspiration and ties to each song. This is an excellent album with catchy tunes that's sure to become a household favorite. --Tami Horiuchi

Angel Love for Children by Aeoliah

Angel Love for Children was conceived as a musical offering to expectant mothers, babies and children. This musical lullaby is very relaxing and soothing as it harmonizes our bodies and emotions. This music is also recommended for adults who wish to enhance their relaxation, meditation, massage work or any other healing art.

Return to Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins

The appeal of this album isn't limited to children--though the gentle repertoire and soft acoustic musical accompaniment will surely soothe little ones at the end of a long day, adults will find the silky-smooth vocals, beautiful harmonies, and creative production just as engaging. Parents will enjoy listening to the metamorphosis of Loggins's 1969 Top 40 hit "House on Pooh Corner" to the updated '90s version. And with titles like the traditional "All the Pretty Little Ponies" and "To-Ra-Loo-Ra" and covers of Paul Williams's "Rainbow Connection," Jimmy Webb's "The Last Unicorn," and John Lennon's "Love," Mom might find herself borrowing this CD from the nursery when it comes time to kick back and relax after the kids are asleep. --Deborah Moore

Sweet Dreams by Jim Weiss

Enchanting story visualizations with sleepy time music.

 

Who would ever suspect that a tiny little mouse could wear out an energetic young boy? Well, if you're going to go around giving an exuberantly bossy rodent a cookie, you'd best be prepared to do one or two more favors for it before your day is through. For example, he'll certainly need a glass of milk to wash down that cookie, won't he? And you can't expect him to drink the milk without a straw, can you? By the time our hero is finished granting all the mouse's very urgent requests--and cleaning up after him--it's no wonder his head is becoming a bit heavy. Laura Joffe Numeroff's tale of warped logic is a sure-fire winner in the giggle-generator category.