Tapes for Fun and Quiet Times

By LYNNE HEFFLEY

Nov. 20, 1997 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

A sampling of video and audio treats for toe-tapping sing-alongs, giggles, family fun and quiet time.

AUDIO

**** TOM PAXTON, “Goin’ to the Zoo,” Rounder Records. CD: $15; cassette: $9.50. Ages 2-8. (800) 443-4727. A collection of acclaimed folk singer-songwriter Paxton’s children’s songs, from ‘60s classics like the delightful title song to the gentle 1992 lullaby “Let the Wild Wind Blow.”

**** CLASSICAL KIDS MUSIC BOX: VOLUMES 1 AND 2. The Children’s Group. 3-CD boxed set: $49.98; 3-cassette boxed set: $27.98. Individual CDs: $18.98; cassettes: $10.98. Ages 6 to 12. (800) 668-0242. These enthralling recordings weave the works and lives of such composers as Beethoven, Vivaldi and Handl into vivid, youth-oriented tales.

**** RAINBOW TALES AND RAINBOW TALES 2. Rounder Records. CD: $15; cassette: $9.50. Ages 6 to adult. (800) 443-4727. Two collections celebrating the art of tale-spinning by such world-class performers as Garrison Keillor, Jay O’Callahan and Donald Davis.

**** THE PLANET SLEEPS. Sony Wonder. CD: $17.98; cassette: $8.98. (818) 34BOOKS; (800) 221-8180. Discovered treasure. Gorgeous lullabies from around the world that illustrate the universality of familial love.

**** CAROL ROSENBERGER, “ . . . Such Stuff as Dreams . . . ,” Delos International. 2-CD set: $14.98. (800) 364-0645. A lovely sequel to classical pianist Rosenberger’s hit “Perchance to Dream” lullaby album, with soul-soothing music for children and frazzled adults by Schumann, Mozart, Kabalevsky, Ravel and more.

*** ART GARFUNKEL, “Songs From a Parent to a Child,” Sony Wonder. CD: $13.98; cassette: $9.98. (310) 559-2665; (800) 221-8180. Garfunkel’s tender Valentine to his young son resonates with a parent’s joy of discovery in songs by pop and country artists.

*** JOHN DENVER, “All Aboard,” Sony Wonder. CD: $13.98; cassette: $9.98. (310) 559-2665; (800) 221-8180. A poignant last work by the folk singer, whose clean vocals, along with top-line instrumentalists, do justice to country, bluegrass, swing and folk train songs for all ages.

VIDEO

**** PADDLE TO THE SEA. Lightyear Entertainment. $12.95. (800) 229-7867. This exquisitely made short film, an Academy Award nominee based on the Caldecott-winning book by Holling C. Holling, chronicles the fate of a Native American boy’s carving of a little man in a wooden canoe.

**** INCLUDE US! TiffHill Productions. $14.95. Ages 2-11. (888) 462-5833. Hollywood writer-producer Lou Shaw’s sunny, live-action musical featuring kids at play, some of whom happen to have disabilities. With terrific animated bits and tuneful songs by Shaw and composer Norman Sachs, the film’s unspoken message is acceptance and inclusion.

**** HOW DO YOU SPELL GOD? HBO Home Video. $12.95. (888) 442-6843. HBO’s deeply felt exploration of faith, based on the book by Rabbi Marc Gellman and Monsignor Thomas Hartman, features the thoughtful beliefs and questions of children. Maya Angelou, Chris Rock, Marlo Thomas, Alfre Woodard and others narrate animated versions of resonant multicultural works.

*** BEAR’S BIG SKY. Southwest Broadcast Video. $14.95. Ages 2 and up. (800) 259-0957. Majestic vistas, stunning wildlife close-ups, comic voice-overs and Cheyenne flute music highlight this beautifully filmed, real-life outdoor video about a furry canine named Bear and his quest to understand the circle of life.

*** WILLIAM WEGMAN’S MOTHER GOOSE. Sony Wonder/Sesame Street. $12.98. With artistry and sly humor, noted artist Wegman and his canine muses--Weimaraners Batty, Crooky, Chundo and Chip--bring nursery rhymes to hilarious life.

*** WILBUR GOES TO THE FARM, WILBUR SINGS THE CLASSICS, WILBUR TEACHES PARTS OF THE BODY. EKA Productions. $14.95 each. Ages: 6 months to 4 years. (800) 945-2875. Puppet Wilbur the Calf hosts these happy, colorful videos that are loaded with real charm, puppets, simple songs, activities and footage of frolicking animals and kids.

*** I LOVE TOY TRAINS 4. TM Books Video. $12.95. (800) 892-2822. Impressive real and toy train footage, clever train songs, humor and even some dinosaurs for train fans young and old.

Albums and other items in Gift Guide are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).