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"WORLD

PLAYGROUND - A MUSICAL ADVENTURE FOR KIDS"

PUTAMAYO WORLD MUSIC

The minute I turned on this CD, my 5-year old’s eyes lit up with excitement and my 1-year old got up and started twirling in circles, doing her 1-year old dance. Not much more needs to be said, does it? This CD will excite and bring joy to your kids, while at the same time educating them on some music from around the world. With music from Senegal, Chile, Jamaica, Australia, Canada, the USA, Greece, France, Congo, Latin America, Brazil, Israel, and Ethiopia, your kids will certainly get a taste of the world of music. Playing unique renditions of traditional kids songs as well as some new compositions by the presenting artists, all are composed with upbeat, bright, kid-friendly sounds. There are also a couple "adult" songs, like Bob Marley’s "Three Little Birds," that are re-orchestrated for the kids. All are consistently warm and festive.

The CD liner contains the words for each song as well as some background notes about the music, culture and country from which it originates. Of course, these are meant for you to read to your kids while they’re listening, but I certainly found the information to be educational for myself as well. How much do all really know about countries other than the USA? And even for the songs from the USA, there’s a lot to be learned - there are certainly different cultures throughout the USA from State to State. For the songs from countries where English is not the primary spoken language, they are sung in the native language. The CD liner booklet provides the words in the country’s language and the English translation. The CD certainly proves to be a positive experience and an education for all ages. Though aimed at kids, adults should enjoy this also - playing it at home or in the car for that long car ride won’t be one of those sacrifices for the kids.

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