Customer Reviews

World Playground - Children's

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I find myself singing this cd to myself at work. Wonderful, enjoyable; my daughter loves it. I highly recomend Putomayo Kids CDs for pure and enjoyable music.

J.G.

My family & I are in love w/ all the Putamayo Playground CDs!! Not only are we being exposed to music from all over the world, we are listening to ENJOYABLE children's music. These CDs have really spoiled me, it is hard to go back to more "traditional" children's music after listening to these amazing CDs! I can't wait to see what they come out w/ next.

I bought this album when my son was only a few months old but then we moved and I didn't get around to unpacking all my CD's. I finally put this on for him (he is 18 months old now)and this is by far his favorite CD. I have a good collection of Raffi, classical, Sesame Street (35 yrs on the street), etc. but this is the only one that ENGROSSES him completely. The other CD's he listens to in the background, this one he stops whatever he's doing and stands and listens, dances, chants and it just absorbs him. I sometimes think that kids like what they hear the most because repetition is so important to how they learn at this age, but I don't play this anymore than the others, he just is really interested in it. I'm going to get world playground 2 today!

Before becoming a stay at home mom I worked in a Child Development Lab with infants and toddlers. Every child we had, from age 8 months to 3 years, absolutely LOVED this CD! It is great to dance to, to make art to, to have on while you eat, everything! Those little kids heads would just be-bop away, and mine would, too! It has great rhythms, fun words (even when you can't pronounce them!). The insert that tells the stories behind and the the English words to each song is very interesting! I could listen to this CD every day, more than once a day. I always said it would be a great CD to clean the house to! I am ordering it for my 2 year old and cannot wait for the shipment to arrive!

This album has been a huge hit in our household with both parents, both kids (4yrs and 9 months), guests, babysitters, and friends. The track selection is excellent: lots of variety, styles, tempi, and each track enjoyable on its own or in sequence. This album has prompted me to start hunting down more music from some of the artists on it (I love the absurd Manu Chao track, for example).

Do yourself a favor and get this -- you can't go wrong!

This is truly a great CD. I bought it two years ago and we still listen to it often (I think I love it as much as my son!!). The songs are all interesting -- my son has memorized them all. Each song is unique - the CD presents such a wide range of styles and cultures. Well worth the money -- this one is a keeper.

My little one really enjoys music and this cd seems to be one of his favorites. It is enjoyable not just for him, but for the adults as well.

We received this CD as a gift when our baby was born. We began playing the CD for him when he was a newborn and have played it frequently ever since. (He is now 9 mos.) He clearly loves music and has great rhythm and loves to dance! I really believe this CD played a large role in his ability to play independently. (We play the CD and he plays with his toys quietly while "dancing"/bouncing.) We also dance to the songs together. It always makes him smile! It's great for adults too!

If only for the (aboriginal-language?) version of Waltzing Matilda, this album is lots of fun for kids of all ages -- even if you don't know the languages, you start singing along after a while.

My only question here would be about why there are no Asian songs in what is otherwise a fine collection of music from around the world. Surely, India, China, Japan or Thailand could have provided a kids' song just as catchy as the ones represented here? Considering most of the world's population lives over there, I thought it was a little unfair that their contribution was omitted.

I hope if "Putumayo Presents" is planning a second volume, they'll consider including at least a couple of these nations. And I'll definitely go out of my way to find it, if they do. This album is a terrific, fun introduction to the "world beat" scene, holding together well despite the diversity of both the artists and the music.

This CD is simply a great mixture of all sorts of cool stuff. It's multi-layered: kids can enjoy it on one level, adults can maybe get a little deeper in the meanings behind some of the songs.

Take "Bongo Bong," a recording by Manu Chao from France. It's an upbeat, boppy song, just asking the listener to get up and move. But the theme--listen to the words, and it's bittersweet, about a silly little monkey who comes to the big city to share his music only to find that no one appreciates it, and if he wants to continue--he has to do it for himself, for the simple love of performance. I don't know anything about Manu Chao, but WOW that song is ridiculously moving.

And also great to dance to.

With some world music productions, the music starts to sound the same to me, or starts to hit the same note--or there's something in it that makes me think that the producer is well-meaning, but doesn't really understand the artists or what they are trying to do.

This CD--it's the kind of thing you can listen to over and over again, because each time you catch a new song, or play with a new level of meaning.

A lot of fun, and I am enjoying very much sharing it with my family.