Classical Child
(MetroMusic $15.95 Score:) Selections are by turns as playful as "Papagena!" from The Magic Flute, as powerful as the "Anvil Chorus" from Il Trovatore, as heavenly as the "Flower Duet" from Lakme. What a splendid way to introduce young listeners to the opera!

Age: Preschool,Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: 2001.

H.M.S. Pinafore
(London $14.96 Score:) Part of every child's musical experience should include the sparkling music of Gilbert and Sullivan. "H.M.S. Pinafore" is always a good place to start.

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

Kids Classics Series
(EMI $7.99 Score:) Truly a hit parade of classical music. On Animals you'll hear "The Carnival of the Animals," Itzhak Perlman narrating "Peter and the Wolf," and "The Flight of the Bumble-Bee." Nature includes Vivaldi's "Winter," Beethoven's "Pastoral Symphony," and Debussy's "Gardens in the Rain." Also recommended, Toys, Lullabies.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: 1998.

The Classical Kids Collection
(The Children's Group $9.98 Score:) If you're looking for a way to introduce your kids to classical music through stories, this series fits the bill. In Vivaldi's "Ring of Mystery," Katarina meets the great composer, who is the music director at the orphanage she is sent to in Venice. The exciting story is rich with suspense and Baroque music. Others in the series: Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Mr. Bach Comes to Call, and Mozart's Magnificent Voyage.

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

SmartPlay with Classical
(Wee Are Young $11.98 Score:) You're probably won't listen to all 45 minutes at once, but here's an elegant collection of piano music for listening or moving to. Heidi Brende plays Mozart (including all 12 variations of "Twinkle, Twinkle"!), Bach, Scarlatti, and Beethoven. Also, SmartSleep, a dreamy collection of Chopin, Mozart, Debussy, and Schumann piano music for bedtime.

Age: Infants,Toddlers,Preschool,Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: .

Beethoven's Wig
(Rounder $12.98 Score:) A witty romp through the classics! Unless you consider trifling with classics an offense, you'll love this collection of zany lyrics set to Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, and other composers of classical music. Although some of the lyrics are uneven, young (and not so young) listeners will get a laugh along with help in the game of "name that tune/composer." Beethoven's Fifth is likely to bring to mind the words of "Beethoven's Wig" and Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" may henceforth bring to mind a sleep-deprived singer who finds no sleep by counting sheep. Definitely not your Leonard Bernstein's "Young People's Concert" material-more like PDQ Bach for the very young and less sophisticated.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: 2003.