Juanita the Spanish Lobster (Stories in Music)
Grade 1-5–The brain-child of composer David Haslam and English TV personality Johnny Morris,Juanitajoins two other award-winning CDs in the Stories in Music series. The series goal is to expand the listening horizons of children, to hone their listening skills, to aid them in accumulating musical memories, and to encourage adults and children to listen to music together. In the tradition ofPeter and the WolfandTubby the Tuba, Haslam and Morris created a short story enhanced by classical music. Juanita, a Spanish lobster, is dissatisfied with life under water and wants to visit the land. A young, witless seal tells her that a lobster pot is her ticket to visiting the land. Fortunately, her admirer, Caradoc the lobster, tells her the truth about lobster pots and manages to rescue her from certain doom. Haslam composed Spanish flamenco music for Juanita, and a bel canto-style aria and recitative for the love-sick Caradoc. The production is beautifully orchestrated by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with Stephen Simon (who is also the producer) conducting. Yadu (aka Dr. Konrad Czynski of Minnesota State University-Moorhead) narrates the story with vigor and sings the songs flawlessly. Other tracks include information about the story and the music, and a delightful early rock-style song, O Juanita à la Elvis, sung by James Shaffran & the Three Crustaceans. Shaffran mimics Elvis Presleys voice perfectly. A final track features karaoke-style background music and singers, so that children (or parents) can sing O Juanita à la Elvis. The booklet contains information about the production, games, and lyrics. A welcome addition for most libraries.–Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TXCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.