Welcome to a magical world inspired by Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, a much-beloved folk song that originated in France. On these colorful pages, you will meet new friends who are playing among the stars. What if, instead of reading on the rug in your living room, you could stretch out on a star? What if you could fish for stars, high up in the night sky? The simple yet expressive illustrations will bring smiles and enjoyment as you read and sing along with the accompanying CD. The orchestra music, too, brings you closer to the stars, especially the vibraphone solo you'll hear when you turn the star-filled blue pages (the Musicmap section). You will feel as though stars are falling gently all around you! This book also includes a second verse, exclusive to Koomzaal's Musicmap Series: Multicultural Songs. Experience a new Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star through reading, listening, and singing. Where imagination is concerned, the sky's the limit!.
This song, Moon, is from Korea (music by Kil Sang Kuan and words by Sok Chung Yoon) and the lyrics were translated into English. The book and the CD recording are bilingual, with words in both Korean and English; an English transliteration is provided so children who don's know Korean can sing the original lyrics. Throughout field-testing in the United States and Korea, children obviously enjoyed being able to sing in a second language. The reflective nature of the moon is wonderfully conveyed by the illustrator's oil painting techniques and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance.
Research has shown that Itsy Bitsy Spider is the song most often sung by mothers in the United States to their young children. It is a traditional American finger play song. In the orchestral arrangement, specifically the introduction and coda, you will hear a scale that brings to mind a spider climbing up and down. These notes engage children's imaginations. The illustrator used computer graphics and multimedia to create spiders that are cute and colorful and appeal to children.
This folk song originated in Germany; other countries have written new lyrics for the tune. In the United States, the song is about a family rowing a boat and having a happy time. This delightful mood is reflected in the arrangement of the words on the page as well as by the lovely watercolor illustrations. The melody is easy for children to follow and the orchestra beautifully expresses the song's playfulness. Children love to follow the Musicmap section, with its many striped fish swimming in the water.
Originally from England, this song is about a moment shared between a mother and a child who are playing under a tree. The artist expressed the warmth and beauty of this interaction using a pencil sketch with computer painting; she said she drew upon memories of a trip she took with her young daughter to Yellowstone National Park. The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's performance highlights the sweeping phrases of the song's arrangement. The clarinet sounds during the Musicmap section will bring to mind the wide boughs of the chestnut tree.
The Baby Chicks is a popular song in many Spanish-speaking countries. Many adults have childhood memories of their grand-mothers singing this song to them. You'll find the lyrics in both English and Spanish, with an English pronunciation at the back of the book. The chicks say ¡°pio, pio¡± in Spain and Latin America, but they say ¡°peep, peep¡± in the United States! The artist used watercolors for the hen and her little chicks, and then he created a collage for every page. The rough edges and transparent colors add depth and movement, so it's easy to imagine scooping up one of the fluffy chicks and hearing its little song. The orchestra arrangement, especially the introduction and bridge, brings to mind the sound of baby chicks moving around the yard. These lovable chicks give their wings a try in the Musicmap section: when children hear the oboe playing the melody, they love to follow the chicks in time with the music.
The Goldfish Family is based on the melody of a traditional Japanese song, Koinobori. The new orchestra arrangement enhances the restful mood of the song. Have you ever watched fish move through water? Hearing the smooth performance of the orchestra, you can imagine every gentle bend and curve of the goldfish happily swimming together. The artist used a special ink technique to create the shimmering surface of the water and the swimming fish below. It's as though you're on the shore, peering down to the bottom of a lovely clear pond. Even the words ripple across the page as the fish play in the water! When you listen to the viola perform the melody of The Goldfish Family during the Musicmap section, follow each fish as it glides among the underwater plants. Imagine playing and splashing with the tiniest goldfish. You can almost feel the cool water washing over you!
Burung Kakatua is a folk song from Indonesia about the cockatoo (kakatua) and the village grandmother who listens to it sing. The book is illustrated with photographs of three-dimensional compositions formed of clay. You'll be charmed by the beautiful cockatoo and surprised by the lifelike expressions on the grandmothe's face as the bird serenades her. In this book the artist depicted the two kinds of kakatua, the white and the multi-colored. Sing along with the children you hear on the CD¡ªone from the United States singing in English and one from Indonesia singing the original lyrics. Hear the sounds of the drum (tredung) during the chorus and the call of the cockatoo during the flute solo. Relax and let the wind carry you with the birds on the Musicmap pages, freely making music for all to enjoy.
Oh, Little Rabbit is a popular Greek folk song about a cute but mischievous bunny. As you listen to the lively orchestra arrangement, it's easy to picture a little rabbit hopping along and getting into trouble at every turn! The lyrics are provided in English and Greek, with an English pronunciation at the back of the book, and a young native speaker sings each version of the song. These features make it easier for children to sing along while listening to the included CD. The cute rabbits on the Musicmap pages are fun to follow, your fingers hopping from one to another in time with the bassoon. Inspired by Greek mythology, the artist created a world of clouds and imagination by first sketching the images, then completing the scenes with computer painting. What kinds of mischief do you think these bunnies will make?
This joyful song from West Africa calls you to a land of warm-hearted people and natural beauty. Funga Alafia is a song of welcome, peace, and gratitude¡ªan encouraging message for children and adults alike. Play the CD, open the book, and let the dynamic sounds of the orchestra with the lively beat of percussion and the vivid illustrations pull you into the pages. Ride a camel! Watch a herd of elephants! Laugh and sing with the children of Africa! The detail in the faces of the children and the various animals inspire imaginary adventures full of fun and excitement. Don't be surprised if you start dancing as soon as the music begins. The special orchestra arrangement features a marimba solo during the Musicmap section. The huge trees filled with elephants delight children, as they touch each one in time with the sounds of the marimba.