Celine Dion Miracle: A Celebration of New Life Review

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(More customer reviews)I must admit, I've never owned a Geddes book before, nor have I looked at them in the past. I bought this wonderful CD/DVD/Book combination purely for the sake of Celine Dion's involvement. If not for her, it would not be on my bookshelf. Yet, I find Celine is only featured in less than 25% of the book, and I still find myself adoring the whole of this confection.
In regards to the CD, in response to the reviewer who cited this as a rehashing of recordings from past Dion releases, it is nothing of the sort. With the exception of Track 8, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", which regretably is the same recording found on the 1999 "All The Way..." compilation, the remainder of the songs found here are exclusive to this release. Believe me, I would know, I have the pleasure to own all Celine's releases in both English and French.
As far as the DVD goes, as a lone release it might seem a bit inadequite, lasting just over 21 minutes, yet as a companion to this magical book, it is utterly perfect, giving the viewer a gracious insite into the collaberation of Anne and Celine which brought forth this work which radiates both of these accomplished, respected ladies' devotion to children, and the Miracle that children are.
In looking at the book itself, there are no words to describe the depth of color, and clear detail, and respect each image has obviously been given. Each of these precious hopes for our future look fully at peace and beautifully positioned in each of the nearly hundred images found in this huge volume. In regards to the pictures featuring Dion, her own maternal instincts and love for these babies seems to radiate from the printed page. Yet when Celine is present, she seems to not in the least upstage the tiny beings she is suppoerting, instead your attention is first drawn to the innocent miracles she holds tenderly, and then to Dion herself.
This work is a purely perfect collaberation, and wonderful product for anyone. This is not only for the expecting mother, new mother, or grandmother, this is simply for anyone who loves life and the miracle of its beginning.

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Product Description:
Arranged for Piano/Vocal/Chords. Celine Dion's latest album shows her in a new light...motherhood. Miracle is soft, gentle, and in a sentimental mood with a more restrained and quiet approach to the vocals. This comforting album, reflecting on the birth of a child, has been at the top of the Billboard® charts for weeks. Fans will love this album-matching folio which includes special color photos of newborns by world-renowned baby photographer Ann Geddes.
Titles are: Miracle * Brahms' Lullaby * If I Could * Sleep Tight * What a Wonderful World * My Precious One * A Mother's Prayer * The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face * Baby Close Your Eyes * Come to Me * Beautiful Boy * In Some Small Way.

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Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) : (To Everything There Is a Season) Review

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(More customer reviews)I first heard about the picture book, "Turn! Turn! Turn!" back in 2003 when I joined a mighty small and unofficial gathering of St. Paul/Minneapolis children's book enthusiasts for a mock Caldecott discussion.We were going to decide which books were most worthy of the Caldecott that year (though the obvious winner, "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers" swept it).One of those potential winners was a fairly interesting adaptation of what I had only ever known to be a Byrds song.Though credited in large part to Pete Seeger, no stranger to picture books himself, the words are originally from Ecclesiastes.Mr. Seeger gave them to a tune in 1961 and from there the Byrds turned it into a hit.Now it's a book for kids.In my experience, making a kid's book out of a 1960's song is usually a dangerous practice.Take a gander at, "At the Zoo" by Paul Simon if you don't believe me.In this particular case, illustrator Wendy Anderson Halperin has given the design of the book an original feel.The result is a book that works far more often than it falls flat.

You know the words, right?So sing along!"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven".The original verses speak of "a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away", so this adaptation does the same.The book begins with an open door leading to a grassy place.Turn the page and you see a large circle, one half on each page with the circle's center falling into the center gutter.On the left page is a verse like, "a time to be born".Here we see all sorts of images that illustrate this concept.On the right hand side are the words, "a time to die".Ditto, death is shown in a variety of different ways.This continues throughout the book with a multitude of different races, religions, people, animals, places, and things bringing home every verse.The pictures continue until you get to a final two-page spread with the words, "A time to love, a time to hate; a time for peace, I swear it's not too late".Here we see kids playing in what we can only assume is the grassy place glimpsed through the door on the first page.Children play and frolic and play chess (???) while a border of kids from all over the world (with different abilities and disabilities) make a half-circle over the page.There's also a nice little shot of Mr. Seeger himself, recognizable banjo in hand.The book comes with a note at the end of, "Suggestions for How to Use This Book", which talks about the song's history, but not (surprisingly) how to actually use the book in a class setting or one-on-one with a child.There's a lovely accompanying cd of the original song with two versions on it.One is Seeger's original and the other is the Byrds song we all know so well.

The cd is a lovely touch and one that I wish more picture books would begin to include.Unfortunately, it doesn't work very well with this kind of song.Usually cds are included with picture books when the book can be read along WITH the cd.In this case, the song is just too darn fast.These illustrations demand that the reader do a bit of lingering over them.People need to stop and examine Ms. Halperin's tiny tiny details.No cd is going to slow down to the point where you are able to do so (and if you continually pause it, it's just gonna mess up your enjoyment of the song).So there's that.

The most interesting thing about this book is really Ms. Halperin's interpretation of such weighty subjects as death, killing, war, and the like.She isn't afraid to go all over the world and pull from as many different human experiences (that are appropriate for children) as possible.At the same time, sometimes she gets a bit goofy.I guess I can't blame her.I mean, it's probably extremely difficult to fill a page with images of death without bumming the kids out right from the start.But why is one of the tiny death pictures of a blue winged fairy yawning?Halperin, for the most part, seems up to the task of making a variety of interesting references.Other times, she goes all goofy on you."A time to cast away stones" shows two men (one looking oddly like Mr. Seeger, banjo tucked under his arm) running away from white hooded ghost-like people throwing stones.I looked at this picture and could not figure out why Muslim women were stoning the folksingers.Then I wondered if this was supposed to be the Klan.If so, where were the pointy hoods?Was this an actual incident that happened to Mr. Seeger once long ago?This isn't the only example of a completely random picture popping up on an otherwise interesting page.Halperin obviously got a little slap-happy after a while and would throw in a bizarre picture in the midst of her otherwise legit ones.It makes for occasionally odd reading.

The only real problem with this book (aside from the already discussed jolts of Dadaism) is that the pictures fall into the center of the book far too often.You can miss out on a lot if you don't spread your book dangerously apart (dangerous to the binding, I mean).I understand that the format of the work demands that these picture fall there, but I wish Halperin could have found a way to avoid it.Ah well.These objections, such as they are, stand small against what is otherwise a lovely and interesting little book.For offspring (or, dare I say, grandchildren) of the children of the 60's, this can make for fun family reading.Little children will adore findings something new on every page and parents will find some of the more difficult images (like a child fingering its parents' gun) a good way to discuss unpleasant subjects.Though it doesn't always work, I still recommend this to anyone who would like to instill in their child a sense of connection with the world around them.Lovely if flawed.

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Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies Gift Set Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought "Wee Sing for baby" and "Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes" separately and they cost almost $20, but they are worth every penny! My children love these CDs and I love the song books. The collection includes most children's favorite rhymes out there, and the music is very soothing. The books are fun to read. My children love to sit in my lap and ask me to open the books and sing for them.

There are also plenty of games and fingerplays that Moms and babies can play together, such as the classic "pat-a-cake". To tell the truth, I never really knew how to play "pat-a-cake" until I learned it from the illustrations in these books.

At $12 for both CDs this is such a great deal. Buy it and you'll never regret.

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Product Description:
This Wee Sing gift set is perfect for every boy and girl! The set includes two Wee Sing songbooks, two Wee Sing CDs, and six pages to color. The four CDs in the set are some of Wee Sing's bestselling titles and include Wee Sing For Baby and Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies.

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Wee Sing for Baby (Paperback w/ CD) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this CD because I wanted something to help me remember the songs I used to sing some odd 30 years ago as a child for my baby.I have been playing this CD for my son since he was born, and now his face just lights up every time we put it in (He is 11 months now).The book that comes along with it is wonderful.It has great suggestions on how to play with your baby with several songs, the notes let you play along if you have a piano at home, and the songs are great for play groups too.The CD starts with fun play songs, and ends with soft sleeping music.I also love this CD because it is filled with songs I grew up with.The musical arrangements are so pleasant to listen to you can truly listen to it over and over again.

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Product Description:
The bestselling Wee Sing line is now tailored for the most modernWee Sing fans! These eight classic Wee Sing titles are now in a greatnew package-a book and CD in a reusable blister!

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Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies Review

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(More customer reviews)My Mom and I used to quote that every time we would go on a trip.This is easily one of the best Wee Sing tapes, now available on CD.My cousin recently had her 2nd baby and I bought it for him.And since my Mom had the NERVE to sell our original copy of this one in a garage sale, I just HAD to download it to my iPod before wrapping it.

The nursery rhyme part of it, is also set to a story of Georgie Peorgie, Jack and Jill, and Mary going to King Cole's Birthday party, and on the way meeting other Mother Goose Characters.

Here are some interesting facts and trivia on some of the nursery rhymes and lullabies.

THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL.Originallly titled "JEMIMA," was written SURPRISE!SURPRISE!by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about his daughter about a time that she misbehaved.Everyone knows the first verse.But there are two other verses that are almost never anthologized.

One day she went upstairs while her parents unawares.
Sitting below were at their meals.
She stood upon her head on her little trundle bed,
and then began hurraying with her heals.

Her Mama heard the noise and thought it was the boys
A playing at a combat in the attic.
But when she climbed the stair and saw Jemima there
She took and she did Spank her most emphatic!

LUCY LOCKET If you own this product, you'll remember that the poem is sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle.What you may not know is that Lucy Lockett is the main tune and that the yankees got the melody for Yankee Doodle from Lucy Lockett.

GOOD NIGHT TO YOU ALLIsn't really a lullaby, but it was a round dating back to the 19th century often sung by quartets in hotels and such as a finale.

EARLY TO BEDWas written, believe it or not by Benjamin Franklin.And was used as a way to get children to go to bed on time.

SWEETLY SLEEP Is a parody of a Czech Christmas carol called "ROCKING,"which you will find on "Wee Sing for Christmas."Either song gets me in a Christmas mood no matter what time of the year it is.

All in all, this is a first rate recording and perfect for the young and the young at heart.So if you or anyone you know is about to have a baby, go ahead and buy it.You certainly won't go wrong.

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Product Description:
The bestselling Wee Sing line is now tailored for the most modernWee Sing fans! These eight classic Wee Sing titles are now in a greatnew package-a book and CD in a reusable blister!

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Wee Sing Mother Goose Review

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(More customer reviews)The Wee Sing series of CD's are wonderful for young children! They LOVE them! I have no complaints or suggestions for improvement. They are priced low for what you get and will be favorites for a long time!

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Product Description:
Wee Sing Mother Goose is the newest addition to the perenniallypopular Wee Sing line. With nursery rhyme favorites set to greattunes, this book and CD set will have kids everywhere dancing andsinging along!

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