Old-Fashioned Music

We need more Mr. Slingers!

2010-08-04T20:48:00.001-07:00

Have you been following the mouse books featuring Owen and Lilly by Kevin Henkes? Our first was Owen and the Marshmallow Chick. My wife bought it because the little mouse had my name. Well it was a huge hit with our young son and became a favorite of ours. My daughter, the one with the 'Fancy Nancy' room, has lately been demanding serial readings of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. Like Owen in Marshmallow Chick, Lilly develops an obsession with a possession. Not at all like real kids. Right? This time it is a probably cheap fashion accessory that plays a silly tune when opened and holds an assortment of essential kid items: loose change, sunglasses, school supplies, etc. Not at all like my wife's real purse. Right? Anyway the star of the story turns out not to be Lilly but Lilly's school teacher whom Lilly, along with all the other kids, adores. "I want to be a teacher when I grow up." says Lilly. Who is this kid magnet? A quiet but highly creative school teacher named Mr. Slinger, the kind some of us are lucky to have had and remember so well from our own school days. As in real life, Mr. Slinger probably doesn't make very much money, puts up with a lot of carp, as we say around our house, but knows exactly what he is doing and enjoys it. "Do you think you rodents can handle a semicircle?" asks Mr. Slinger? In addition to using imaginative teaching methods, Mr. Slinger also demonstrates that classroom discipline can be firm, loving and respectful. Even after Lilly throws a huge tantrum over not being able to play with her purple plastic purse all through the class, Mr. Slinger handles the situation with calm assurance, even love. As a result we all end up loving Mr. Slinger and wishing there were many more like him, and wishing that some day he and all the Mr. and Ms. Slingers out there will be repaid for all they have done for the benefit of our children's education and moral character.

Technorati Tags: kevin henkes,creative teaching,kids' books

The old-fashioned music hall of fame

2008-10-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

Rocking my two-year-old daughter to sleep and listening to Sarah McLachlan's dreamy version of "Rainbow Connection", I am struck by how old-fashioned songs have power to improve our mood. The listening experience can take us out of ourselves and land us in a completely different place. Kermit the Frog, original artist of "Rainbow Connection," and velvety-voiced, multi-platinum alternative music star Sarah are worlds apart. Yet the same stuff seems to flow through their veins--childlike hope.

We can lose ourselves in great kids' books too. My two-year-old daughter's latest favorite bedtime stories right now are Kisses by Nanda Roep and Marijke ten Cate (Boyds Mills, 2002), about an imaginative raccoon dad who comes up with sweet and silly ways to give his daughter a goodnight kiss, and Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser's Bonjour Butterfly (HarperCollins, 2008) from the Fancy Nancy series. In Bonjour Butterfly I love it when we get to see Nancy's friend Bree's froufrou bedroom, complete with gingerbread-style furniture. Every time we arrive at this one page my daughter exclaims, "That's my bedroom!" Sadly it's true. Also fun is when Fancy Nancy's grandpa is dancing the cha-cha with Nancy. Whenever we read it, no matter how many times an explanation is given, my daughter croons to me in her musical voice, "What's a cha-cha?!" I think she just likes to say it.

Reading, singing, telling and hearing stories may be one of the greatest pleasures in life. In a world gone mad, old-fashioned songs and books can be a balm that calms. I should mention that Sarah McLachlan's "Rainbow Connection" can be heard on several albums including a collection that my children, wife and I love called Gather Round (Hear Music, 2004).

The album is a collection of popular kids' and folk songs by Bob Dylan; Peter, Paul and Mary; Willie Nelson; Tom Paxton; Carole King; Ella Jenkins; David Grisman; etc., what I would call the old-fashioned music hall of fame.

Technorati Tags: kids' music,rainbow connection,Sarah McLachlin,Bob Dylan,Peter Paul and Mary,Willie Nelson,Tom Paxton,Carole King,Ella Jenkins,David Grisman,Nanda Roep,Jane O'Connor,children's books,old-fashioned music

Old is new and new is old

2008-06-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

Old-fashioned music appeals to all ages and cultures. After hearing an old-fashioned song you want to play it over and over because it makes you feel good, lifted with a touch more optimism. I'm not just talking about dusting off those old Harry Belafonte vinyls. The question is can new songs be old-fashioned too? Of course. The first time you hear one you say, "I've heard that before. It reminds me of . . . "

Leon Thomas, a multi-talented (Broadway) child singer-actor, has a new music video out called "Duck 4". The song has the same gotta-smile 60's pop r&b sound of the Jackson 5 and Little Stevie Wonder, and the words are a classic fable, "The Ugly Duckling". Old is new and new is old. My six-year-old son loves the kiddie band. (Noggin.com has the best picture and sound for viewing online. See link on sidebar of this blog. A hint when watching videos on line: Press the pause button and wait till the entire piece downloads, then press play and enjoy!)

Children's books also help us get that old-fashioned feeling. I am thinking of the adorable poems and pictures of Sandra Boynton (Pajama Time and Hippos Go Berserk) or the zany, repeating style of Audrey Wood (The Napping House and Silly Sally). Devin Scillian's clever wordplay in Brewster the Rooster holds the attention of everyone. Too many big words for young ones? Not so. My two-year-old's response is, "Again, Daddy!" Scillian's illustrator Lee White throws in a smatter of none other than Picasso. Very old-fashioned.

Please share any 'old-fashioned' children's music or books you come across, especially the ones you enjoy with your entire family. Thanks.