A Sampling of Notable Children’s Recordings

Ho-ho-ho burnout? Try a dash of Fred Penner. Making that long drive to Grandma’s house? Add a splash of Parachute Express. Ears ringing with the dreaded “there’s nothing to do” refrain? Serve up a scoopful of “once upon a time.”

Quality recordings in the burgeoning children’s market offer ample inspiration for quiet times and family moments. The following list is only a small sampling of the worthy music and spoken word selections to be found in record, book and children’s specialty stores and through the mail. Information numbers are given where available, or try the Music for Little People mail-order catalogue firm at (800) 346-4445.

Music

Fred Penner’s “The Season.” A&M; Records. From the uplifting title song to Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” this album resonates with feeling. Holiday songs in English, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Latin and Ukrainian are sung by Penner’s Short Notice Quartet, the Hoosli Ukrainian Folk Ensemble, the Winnipeg Youth Chorus, Zoloti Struny, the Steinbach Octet and the Winnipeg Mennonite Children’s Choir. A treasure. CD: $12.98. Cassette: $8.98. At Children’s Book and Music Store in Santa Monica and other children’s specialty stores. (800) 925-7272.

“Chanukah at Home.” Rounder Records. Longtime local favorites Marcia Berman, J.P. Nightingale, Dan Crow, Uncle Ruthie Buell and Fred Sokolow celebrate traditional and original Hanukkah music in this happy album. Selections include “Oh, Chanukah,” the “Dreydl Song” and “Eight Candles”; “Kindle a Candle of Light” and others. Sing along, dance the hora and don’t forget the latkes. CD: $17.98. Cassette: $9.98. At Children’s Book World, Pages in Tarzana and other children’s specialty stores. Music for Little People: (800) 346-4445.

“Joanie Bartels Christmas Magic.” Discovery Music. For a holiday sing along romp, this lighthearted mix is just what Santa ordered. Bartels, whose other Magic Series albums cover everything from bathtime to bedtime, puts lots of pizzaz in traditional songs (“Jingle Bells”), holiday pop classics (Brian Wilson’s “Little Saint Nick”) and in gigglers such as “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” Cassette: $9.95. At record and children’s specialty stores. (800) 451-5175, (818) 782-7818.

“Shake It to the One That You Love the Best: Play Songs and Lullabies From Black Musical Traditions.” Lancaster Productions. Familiar play songs such as “Little Sally Walker” and “Mary Mack” mix it up with songs from Africa and the Caribbean. Done in musical and vocal styles from classical to jazz, reggae and R&B;, by several singers, including Taj Mahal. The accompanying songbook is as good as the album, illustrated by black women artists in collage and pastel techniques, with background for each song and game suggestions. Cassette: $9.98. With songbook: $16.98. Music for Little People: (800) 346-4445.

”. . . Perchance to Dream, A Lullaby Album for Children and Adults.” Delos International. A beautiful instrumental album for babies on up, with intermezzos, andantes and adagios by Mozart, Schumann, Faure Chopin, and so on, gracefully played by pianist Carol Rosenberger. The booklet that comes with it gives a nicely written short history of each piece. Great for sleepy times and easing jangled parental nerves. Cassette: $8.98. CD: $14.98. (213) 962-2626.

“A Treasury of Earth Mother Lullabies.” Earth Mother Productions. For fans of the Earth Mother Lullabye Series, here’s a collection of some of the best from previous albums. Newcomers to the series can discover the sweet, caressing soprano of Pamela Ballingham singing exquisite traditional lullabies, from the Iroquois “Ho Ho Watanay” to South Africa’s “Abiyoyo” and “Tender Shepherd” from the United States. CD: $14.95. Available in children’s book stores and some Waldenbooks locations. (800) 862-7232.

“Happy to Be Here.” Walt Disney Records. Sophistication is the byword of the Parachute Express trio, but their superb harmonies, melodic lines and polished instrumentals are never at the expense of their target audience: toddlers to older elementary school ages. This blend of nonsense (“Willy Falldown”) and heart songs (“The Changing Garden of Mr. Bell”) ranks as one of the finest children’s music albums ever. In record stores. CD: No list price; cassette: $8.98.

“Footprints.” Walt Disney Records. Canada’s dynamic Norman Foote is a stylish singer with a terrific sense of humor working on all age levels. The irony in such songs as “His Majesty the Baby” and “Dinosaur & the Progress of Man” speaks to adults; selections such as “The Eggplant That Ate Chicago” tickle young funny bones. In record stores. CD: No list price. Cassette: $8.98.

“The Rainbow Palace, Broadway Classics and More.” A&M; Records. Linda Arnold, whose pure soprano is complemented by a storyteller’s creative gift, offers terrific renditions of show tunes from “South Pacific, “The King and I” and many more, along with original works. The title song vividly evokes the excitement of going to a live stage show. Arnold is joined by other soloists, a children’s chorus, a dinosaur named Tyrone and other child-pleasing characters, plus a slew of top-notch musicians. CD: $12.98. Cassette: $8.98. In record stores and Imaginarium stores. (800) 925-7272.

Storytelling

Classical Kids. BMG Music. A unique blend of intriguing, child’s-eye storytelling based on the lives of the composers, with beautifully orchestrated excerpts of their music. Choose from “Beethoven Lives Upstairs,” “Mr. Bach Comes to Call,” “Mozart’s Magic Fantasy” and “Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery.” Record stores. CD: $16.98. Cassette: $9.98. (800) 668-0242.

“The Firebird.” Delos International. Natalia Makarova, one of this century’s greatest ballerinas, shows a flair for exotic storytelling in her enchanting narration of the Russian fairy tale over the Stravinsky score. CD: $14.98. Cassette: $8.98. (213) 962-2626.

Among Dove Audio’s wide selection of books on tape, look for Walt Disney favorites, Dickens’ classics read by Paul Scofield, William Goldman’s “The Princess Bride” read by Rob Reiner, the original children’s story “Mandy,” by and with Julie Andrews, and the seasonal “The Presence of Christmas,” an anthology with music by Harry Nilsson.

For young children, try this gentle gem: “The Summer Friend” from Dove’s “Special Stories for Special Children” series. In it, Julie Andrews, Michael York, Elliott Gould and author Mary Sheldon read evocative short stories about friendship and feelings. Cassettes: $10.95 up. In bookstores. (800) 328-DOVE or (800) 345-9945.

The captivating “Time for a Tale, Storytelling for Children” series from High Windy Audio offers not readings, but mosaics of myth, humor and life lessons, told in the timeless cadences and rhythms of master American storytellers.

Titles include David Holt’s “Hairyman” folk tales and his ghoulish “Tailybone” (for older children) and Pete Seeger’s “Stories & Songs for Little Children.” Jay O’Callahan’s seamless marriage of fantasy and natural science is sheer pleasure. In “The Boy Who Loved Frogs” and “Little Heroes,” he weaves magical tales of animals, insects, children, cookie dough lands and witches. Cassette: $9.98. (800) 63-STORY.

You can’t go wrong with Rabbit Ears’ “We All Have Tales” and “Storybook Classics” series on the Windham Hill and Kid Rhino labels. A host of stars such as Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Cher and Robin Williams have contributed their vocal talents to classic children’s literature, from “Br’er Rabbit” to “Jack in the Beanstalk.” CDs and cassettes are widely available at record and children’s specialty stores; animated versions can be found at video outlets.

Next week: Children’s videos.