Laugh 'N Learn Literacy Songs

Parents and young children/grandchildren will love this fun-filled 2004 compendium of "Silly Songs" which, as aptly described in the opening page of the insert, emphasizes the "effect of humor on learning."

Political correctness aside (one reviewer gave the entire 22 tracks 1 star due to what was perceived as "cruelty to animals" in one track - completely missing the point of the tune), this is the perfect disc to throw into the player when on long drives with children old enough to appreciate the humor and gleefully sing along.

The rest of the multi-page insert provides the lyrics to each tune, accompanied by suggestions for games, recommended books, and how to use the songs to broaden their literacy.

Highly recommended.

My little 3 year old loved this CD especially the songs Tiny Tim and Katalina Magdalina. I heard him playing in his room the other day singing some of the words to a song from the CD then stopping to laugh and say, "That's funny!" The songs are delightful and full of cute lyrics kids love. The Grouch song Patricia Foster speaks negatively of is an old familiar song from Sesame Street sung by Oscar the Grouch. I remember it from my childhood days. The message in the song is don't be a grouch. My 3 year old thought it was silly and I used the song as a teachable moment. Life is full of those moments, use them!

I was enjoying this cd and looking forward to passing it along to my grandchildren, until I got to the "Grouch Song", which completely spoiled it all for me. It was a standard song about being grouchy, until the line: "If you can't stand a cuddly little kitten and you'd like to chase her up the nearest tree". I think a song that encourages small preschool children to chase kittens (if they think they are grouches) is very insensitive. I don't want children to hear this song and have them think it's okay to frighten a live animal. I have seen too much animal abuse to condone a song with a line like this, particularly since it's supposed to be an "educational" cd used with groups of children, and its main purpose is to nurture and encourage a good sense of humor! I am surprised that this line was included, since these are all original songs. It would have been much better if the line had been about a cuddly teddy bear, instead of a live animal. Bad judgment call- shame on you, Kimbo! Don't buy it!