Newest in the author's series of great composer's stories. Ratherthan telling the whole life story, each of the picture books concentrates on a famous composition by a composer. This tells about the Venetian orphanage where Vivaldi taught music to young girls. His fanciful stories did not please the governors and he was sent away. But he returned later with his most memorable composition, the Four Seasons. The author's notes indicate that it is not known for certain when his masterpiece was composed, though it is believed to have been in Mantua, she he worked after leaving the orphanage. Weaving stories to the great music will hopefully open the doors to new listening for another generation.  7 & up.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2012.

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.

Although there is much to be said about the charm of individual books that small hands can handle alone, this collection is an exceptional value! For about a dollar more than a single hard covered picture book, this oversized anthology includes full size, original art and text of such all time favorite picture books as: Sheep in a Jeep, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Martha Speaks, Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Tack the Penguin, Curious George and the Firefighters, and so many more stories and poems! But, as they say on those info commercials--that's not all. Included in the book is a CD that children can listen to and follow as the book is read to them. All in all, a real buy! It's a tad on the heavy side for young kids to handle on their own, but it's a great book for sharing or set them up at a table with a player they can start and stop. A safe bet this will be a book they return to many times.

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

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.

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.

It's hard to believe that 30 years have passed since the story of Jumanji originally appeared. Chis Van Allsburg's Caldecott Award winning fantasy with its black and white drawings and remarkable tale invites young readers on a strange and mysterious adventure, when Peter and his sister Judy discover a board game that comes to life. This is not a CD version of the movie Jamanji, which also stars Robin Williams. It is completely faithful to the words on the printed page, but as you can imagine, Williams brings many voices and his own pace in his telling. With the original hard cover edition and the CD this makes a splendid gift.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2011.

An oversized picture book with stylized fresh images of this classic holiday poem. Puybaret's Santa has a waxed mustachio and a very long cap. His white reindeer have a rather unusual look and each setting has small details for children to delight in. Best of all, the second track of the CD has a reading of the poem done by Mary Travers in her last recording session. Her voice is weak and sometimes the background music overwhelms the narration, but those who loved her will find her reading as moving as so many as her songs always were. Also on the CD, A'Soalin ("Hey ho, nobody home, meat nor drink nor money have I none Yet shall we be merry") from a 1963 recording plus a musical version of The Night Before Christmas--sorry, but the latter is not as wonderful as Mary Travers' reading.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.