Musicologist, Anna Harwell Calenza tells young readers how it was that Duke Ellington and his collaborator, Billy Strayhorn, came to transform Tchaikovsky's classic Nutcracker Suite into a collection of jumpin' jazz melodies. Based on historic fact, this is a terrific way to introduce young audiences to jazz, using familiar music that they recognize as they hear the new variations. The story reflects how reluctant some of the band members were to playing ballet music and how the work of two masters opened their ears and minds. Vivid colors dance through the pages of the handsome book that comes with an orchestral CD of the composition played by Duke Ellington himself and members of his orchestra.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2011.

With her soothing voice and calm narration, Gwyneth Paltrow reads the classic picture book with Eric Carle's marvelous bold illustrations of endangered species that we want to keep in our world. As always, Carle's painting and cut paper collages have a unique look. KIds can listen to this independently when you are busy or enjoy it together as a lapbook with signals that will tell your child when to turn the page.

Age: Toddlers, Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Marjorie W. Sharmat's series has long been a staple for young chapter book readers. This 4-disk set includes The Lost List, The Sticky Case, The Fishy Prize, The Boring Beach Bag, The Mushy Valentine, Talks Turkey, and the Hungry Book Club. These are good for car pool quiet time or afternoon rest time. Bringing home some of the recordings give young readers a way into a series that they may then go on to enjoy on their own. 9 and up.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

In this most recent recording of a Magic Tree House adventure, Jack and Annie are off to ancient India where they must find a magical emerald in order to rescue Penny, a penguin that has been put under a spell and turned to stone. Read by the author, Mary Pope Osborne, this is one of a series that 9-12 year olds love. Bringing home a 2 CD set may be a great way to whet their appetite to both hear and read more of the dozens of Magic Tee House stories. We like that it combines some fantasy with history and adventure that is right on the mark for this age group. They like having some familiar characters that ease them into each new story. Also new this season, Dogs in the Dead of Winter, a Swiss adventure.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Dingo Dog is a bully and all the other animals are fed up with his nasty ways. Together they come up with a plan to trick the nasty Dingo and manage to teach him a lesson in this lively retelling of a traditional Australian folktale. A fun way to introduce young listeners to trickster tales that are found in almost all cultures. This folktale is one of a series of paperback books, each packaged with a CD. There is no music or over the top narration. The telling is pretty straightforward, with bell signals to turn the pages. Also in the series, Rabbit Cooks up a Cunning Plan, The Ant and the Big Bad Bully Goat, and Bear and Turtle and the Great Lake Race.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

This trickster tale starts out like the Tortoise and the Hare, only this time it Turtle and Bear. In the race to get across the lake Bear is sure he is going to outrun Turtle, but Turtle outwits him with a lot of help from his brothers and sisters! This Native American folktale is one of a series of paperback books, each packaged with a CD. There is no music or over the top narration. The telling is pretty straightforward, with bell signals to turn the pages. Also in the series, Rabbit Cooks up a Cunning Plan, Dingo Dog and the Billabong Storm, The Ant and the Big Bad Bully Goat.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

All the animals are afraid of the big old hungry Mountain Lion. When he threatens to eat them all, they promise to take turns cooking him special dinners, so that he will have no need to eat them up.  Each of them do this until Rabbit forgets to cook anything. But then, the clever little one cooks up a plan that frees everyone from the dreaded lion. He tells lion that he was attacked by another lion that is bigger and more ferocious. When lion insists on seeing the other lion for himself, rabbit leads him to a deep well where he plunges in after the lion he hears and sees. This North American folktale is one of a series of paperback books, each packaged with a CD. There is no music or over the top narration. The telling is pretty straightforward, with bell signals to turn the pages. Also in the series, Bear and Turtle and the Great Lake Race, Dingo Dog and the Billabong Storm, The Ant and the Big Bad Bully Goat.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

This is the story of a kid who all the neighbors call "Little Man" and drums are his thing. Diane Warwick narrates this story of a boy who not only wants to play the drums well, he knows he needs lessons and is working hard to earn enough money to buy a bike so he can get those lessons across town. It's a pretty didactic book about having a passion, having a purpose and working toward perfection. That said, it's a satisfying story and  is followed with a drum demonstration by the author, who was a lot like Little Man when he was a boy. The art captures a very real looking cast of characters and a warm and caring neighborhood. If only the real world could give that kind of support to all our young people! 6 & up.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2011.