Judge's Top Pick! 

Musicians Out of the Box, 2006; $14.99; www.MusiciansOutoftheBox.com. This is fun, fresh and witty proof that even the youngest kids enjoy classic tales and classical music. The pairings are thought-provoking and interesting. They juxtapose Goldilocks with Bach, Beethoven and Brahms; Goodnight, Moon with Clair de Lune; and original ethereal music with The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. You get the idea.

Parent’s comment: “I enjoyed this CD as much as my grandchildren did.” – Grandfather of three, Calif.
 

Mike Lockett, Heritage Schoolhouse Press, 2007; $15; www.mikelockett.com. A dozen stories and songs – mostly traditional favorites – are told in an inviting, conversational style with signature vocal sound effects and dialects. Lockett knows what kids wonder about as they listen, so he includes answers to their questions by explaining how porridge is made and why a troll would live under a bridge. The CD includes: The Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Squeaky Door, The Little Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, How Sly Fox Lost His Dinner, The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Wedding of Jack and Jill, The Gingerbread Boy, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Little Red Hen, The Leprechaun’s Gold and Goin’ to the Zoo.

Parent Tester Quote: “It’s obvious that this man knows how to talk to kids.” – Mother of three, N.Y.
 

Cygnus Storytelling/National Institute on Media and the Family, 2008; $15; www.mediawise.org. This is a real smorgasbord of tales: a fable from Aesop, a classic fairy tale, a rapping riff on another tale and a true personal story. All provide lots of reasons for sitting down and sharing a story with the kids.

Parent’s comment: “I appreciated the turn-off-the-TV message.” – Mom of five, Calif.
 

Best Bang for the Buck Winner! 

Toy Box Innovations, 2007; $7.99; www.toyboxinnovations.com. This Disney classic is still fun for 21st-century kids. Children already familiar with the film will love this recording; the story is one they remember … right down to the friendly mice and birds. Emerging readers can follow along word-for-word in the accompanying 24-page book. Extra savings: both a book and a story CD for under $8 dollars!

Tell Me A Story 3: Women of Wonder, written by Amy Friedman, read by various artists; Friedman & Danziger, 2009; $14.95; www.mythsandtales.com.

 

This can’t-miss audio anthology is the third in the award-winning Tell Me A Story series. Women of Wonder features six stories from a wide range of settings and cultures, represented by Turkey, Ethiopia, England, Cambodia, Siberia, Turkey and the United States. Among the famous and newbie storytellers who add their special touch to each story, be sure to catch Paula Poundstone telling a lively American tall tale. The story selections spotlight strong, witty, wise, smart and sassy heroines and goddesses, set against a backdrop of subtle, unmistakable lessons in honesty, kindness, generosity and other important character traits. Great listening for both girls and boys. 

Storytelling for Kids!, Mary Jo Huff; Storytellin’ Time, 2009; $15; www.storytellin.com.

 

Clearly, this storyteller knows her stories and her audience! Classic in its content and approach; Huff presents a wonderful reaffirmation of timeless rhymes and nursery stories that kids have loved forever. “Itsy-bitsy Spider,” Aesop’s fables, pigs, shoemakers, elves and billy goats – you’ll find them all right here. These well-loved nursery rhymes and stories are told in a reassuring and engaging voice, set against great musical backgrounds and interludes that create a magical world. Halloween and Christmas selections are an added bonus. 

Winston the Wide Mouth Frog and Other Fantastic Folktales, Glenda Bonin, Story Works Group; $15; www.storyworksgroup.com.

 

Good stories, well told – what more do you need? Good values? This CD covers that, too. Travel the world with stories from Mexico, Wales, Paraguay, Greece, Brazil, Alaska, and more. Gentle humor. 

Thacher Hurd, Live Oak Media, 2001; $18.95; www.liveoakmedia.com. Noted singer-songwriter Tom Chapin reads a lively story about alligators and a swinging swamp band that’s jazzy fun and gets listeners toe-tapping to the beat. Comes with a colorful softcover book for snuggling and read-alongs. 

When the Gourd Broke: Common Sense Stories, Lyn Ford, 2005; $12; www.lynfordstoryteller.com.

 

Lyn Ford tells the story of how everyone, everywhere got a bit of common sense, and then proves it with five more excellent stories. Drawn from both childhood memories and research, these tales have roots in West African culture and storytelling traditions, as does the storyteller herself. 

Cuentame un Cuento: Tell Me A Story, Carrie Sue Ayvar, 2005; $15; www.carriesueayvar.com.

 

“Habia una vez / Once upon a time…” Ayvar’s lively, engaging style presents traditional Hispanic stories and rhymes for young listeners in both Spanish and English. Preschoolers will love the story patterns and the friendly voice. Older kids (and even parents) will appreciate the seamless interweaving of English and Spanish. Great for retelling – in two languages.