‘American Presidents’ Skims the Facts About Chief Executives

Video

Just the Facts Learning Series: American Presidents. Goldhil Video. 50 minutes. $25. Ages 8 to 14. (805) 495-0735. https://www.goldhil.com/.

There’s no delving deep here, and the facts are superficial and selective; still, if you want help remembering who was president when, from George Washington to William Jefferson Clinton, this visual guide, using historic paintings, photographs and film clips, works.

Tidbits offered include which presidents were West Point grads, what university and what state can boast the greatest number of presidential alumni; it offers stats on political party, birthplaces and burial sites. It skims through political achievements and, yes, makes fairly subtle reference to Clinton’s troubling peccadilloes, illustrated unsubtly with photos of the women involved.

Audio

Celebrating Children. Mrs. Music and Members of the West Los Angeles Children’s Choir. Mrs. Music Ent. CD: $11. (310) 472-6875. https://www.amazon.com/https://www.etoys.com/.

Sweet, natural charm suffuses this collection of poetry set to music, sung by well-schooled child choristers under the direction of Mrs. Music: Barbara Klaskin Harris, a traveling music teacher for Los Angeles city schools.

With Harris’ music, arranged by Bonnie Janofsky and played by jazz pianist Joyce Collins, the young singers are a beguiling match for poems about baby-sisters, new dogs, wishes and dreams. Among the 10 tracks are “Good Luck Gold,” by poet Janet Wong; Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Roadside Fire”; and Stan Lefcourt’s heart-full “Celebrate the Children.” Lyrics are provided and listeners can sing along with their peers, or solo with the CD’s 10 additional, all-instrumental versions of the songs.