Songs from the Garden of Eden: Jewish Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes
Grade 3 Up—Contrary to its title, the songs here are neither about the Garden of Eden nor taken from biblical literature. This collection of 28 Jewish nursery rhymes, lullabies, and songs represent the diverse Jewish musical experience with classic selections in Hebrew, Yiddish, Judeo-Spanish, and Arabic. Starting with the haunting Hebrew love song "Erev shel Shoshanim" (Evening of Roses), the CD includes familiar songs for Hanukkah, Passover, and the Sabbath; rhymes; lullabies with a Spanish flavor; and songs from Morocco and Algeria. The sound quality is excellent, and the arrangements highlight the different musical modalities of each region without overpowering the lyrics. The CD comes tucked in the back of a 52-page book that includes the words to each song in English, in transliteration and, where appropriate, in Hebrew, Yiddish, or Arabic. The imaginative mixed-media illustrations complement the lyrics and add context. The end materials include information about the different languages, the origins of the songs, and how they related to different customs, Jewish communities, or events. A few of the descriptions of Jewish customs are not entirely correct (Afikomen is the name of the matzo reserved for the end of the Seder, the part of the Seder where it is separated is called Yachatz; using a white tablecloth on the Sabbath is a custom, not a steadfast rule). This is a worthwhile addition to libraries that collect world music and Jewish libraries with music collections.—Kathe Pinchuck, Montclair Public Library, NJCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.