Early this year, ABC Kids held a national competition to find out which nursery rhymes were most popular with Australian families. The top 50 rhymes were collected together in this new CD which will appeal to children of all ages. The rhymes are, without exception, classic, and lovely to listen to. From Baa Baa Black Sheep to Tea Pot, Humpty Dumpty, It’s Raining It’s Pouring, Wheels on the Bus, Pop Goes the Weasel, Twinkle Twinkle, If You’re Happy and You Know it, Georgie Porgie, Mr Frog, to There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, this CD will considerably enrich your childrens’ knowledge of classic rhymes from Mother Goose to traditional anonymous to popular culture.

Some of these songs will encourage movement, such as Row Row Row your Boat, London Bridge, or Pat a Cake, while others will encourage sing-a-long such as The Grand Old Duke of York or Miss Polly and some have counting and speaking bits like Old Mother Hubbard, or One Two Buckle My Shoe. All of them are educational in one way or another - either through group play, early mathematics, literacy, sound, rhythm and movement. The chances are that your children will already be familiar with many of the songs on this CD, and you will too, but there are bound to be a few new ones they can learn. The ABC has put out a number of nursery rhyme song collections over the past few years, and you probably only need one collection, but this is a very nice one, with only the most popular of rhymes. All of the songs are gentle enough to use as lullabies, but also friendly and light enough to be turned up to encourage sing and dancing along. Some of the songs feature children singing. This one is suitable for preschoolers of all age. For more information (including a competition) visit: http://shop.abc.net.au/browse/product.asp?productid=355106

Australia’s Favourite Nursery Rhymes ABC Music
May 2004, produced by John Kane
CD SRP A$14.95, Cassette SRP A$9.95

This review first appeared at Preschool Entertainment. It is reprinted here with permission.