Tell Me A Story 2: Animal Magic
In the same high quality and magical tradition as her last CD, Tell Me a Story, Amy Friedman has taken the art of storytelling to a new height with the follow-up, Tell Me a Story 2: Animal Magic. Already lush and lyrical tales are given new light by a pairing of the perfect music and narrator with the traditional tales. Listeners are not simply introduced to the words and ideas of a particular culture, but also instruments and musical styles and even regional accents. With this CD, kids can go around the world in 60 minutes, while staying in the comfort of their homes, cars, schools or local libraries. A stand-out from among the seven stand-alone stories is Kerplunk, an Australian story, and talk about animal tales, this one introduces more of this country and continent s unique wildlife than an Australian tour guide. If you ve never heard the sound a Kookaburra makes, turn this one up loud and join Gideon Emery in the laughter. A fun romp that encourages little ones to think before acting and to be wary of rumors. A stark contrast to such fun and chaos is seen in the soft, mystical and romantic The Poet and the Dragon. With images so strong you can nearly smell the orchids, this tale of trusting your heart doesn't just speak of poetry, but creates it. More sorrowful and poignant that the other tales, this one alludes to the reality of both the sweet and the sour sides of life. With themes of peace, love, working together, working hard, sharing and more, this CD is a catalyst for group discussions and calm conversation. --Tracy Games McCafferty, Vienna Austria LibrarianK-GR 6 These seven multicultural folktales have been selected from Amy Friedman's long-running newspaper feature syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate. These timeless, captivating tales span the world, from Nigeria to China, France, Guatemala, and Australia. Each story is introduced by Eva and Ruthie Hall, and narrated by stage and screen actors such as Tony award-winner Len Cariou. Follow the magic drum with a corrupt tortoise, plunge into the sesa with a Chinese poet, and sing a song with a Guatemalan cricket who finally finds his way home while learning lessons of greed, faith and love. A Native American tale about the coyote and how fire was brought to man tops off this amazing collaborative effort of musical talent, mystical storytelling, and intriguing illustrations by Jillian Gilliland. Music for these tales was composed by Laura Hall, and listeners will be enthralled by the keyboard, string and percussion accompaniment. These moral lessons from faraway lands can serve as a springboard to understanding diverse cultures and will enchant listeners. An essential purchase for school and public library folklore collections. --School Library Journal, April 2008K-GR 6 These seven multicultural folktales have been selected from Amy Friedman's long-running newspaper feature syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate. These timeless, captivating tales span the world, from Nigeria to China, France, Guatemala, and Australia. Each story is introduced by Eva and Ruthie Hall, and narrated by stage and screen actors such as Tony award-winner Len Cariou. Follow the magic drum with a corrupt tortoise, plunge into the sesa with a Chinese poet, and sing a song with a Guatemalan cricket who finally finds his way home while learning lessons of greed, faith and love. A Native American tale about the coyote and how fire was brought to man tops off this amazing collaborative effort of musical talent, mystical storytelling, and intriguing illustrations by Jillian Gilliland. Music for these tales was composed by Laura Hall, and listeners will be enthralled by the keyboard, string and percussion accompaniment. These moral lessons from faraway lands can serve as a springboard to understanding diverse cultures and will enchant listeners. An essential purchase for school and public library folklore collections. --School Library Journal, April 2008