Add fun and variety to reading and math programs with Hap Palmer's original compositions and unique adaptations of traditional favorites. The songs stimulate learning through active involvement by encouraging children to listen, think, move, and sing. REVIEWS: School Library Journal March 2004 Volume 50 No. 3 (ISSN 0362-8930) Two Little Sounds: Fun with Phonics and Numbers. 1 CD. 1:12 hrs. with lyrics/activities. Hap-Pal Music. 2003, 2004 release. #HP 114 CD859. $15.95 PreS-Gr 3- Hap Palmer continues to excel in the field of music and movement because of his ability to mesh educational lyrics with a variety of musical styles that maintain a high entertainment value. In this sequel to One Little Sound (Aug. 2002, p. 81), songs introduce phonetic and numerical concepts in an engaging way. There are 18 songs in a variety of musical styles such as swing, pop, polka, marches, and calypso. Many of the songs are original, but Palmer also adapts popular songs to extend their educational content, such as using "Down by the Bay" to introduce orchestra instruments. Among the songs are "My Rambling' Cat," "The One That Doesn't Rhyme," "Ten Monkeys in a Tree," "We Discover Number Patterns," "The English Language Gets a Little Kooky," "Five Pennies Make a Nickel," and "Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Tomatoes." The catchy songs and fun activities are sure to help children improve their math and reading skills. Two Little Sounds is equally suitable for home, storytime, or classroom use. Whether for pure entertainment or for extending lessons, it is sure to be a hit. Cynthia Grabke, Thayer Public Library, Braintree, MA From Kidz Music.com 30 years ago in another time and place, Hap Palmer began an illustrious career that now spans 20 recordings. The latest from this talented edu-tainer, Two Little Sounds: Fun with Phonics and Numbers, neatly presents important pre-reading and math concepts through rhymes and stories and Palmer's unique interactive approach. As always, Palmer's production values are spot-on and children learn the value and identity of real instruments and sounds. The 41-page insert booklet full of supportive and extra-curricular activities is an absolute goldmine for parents and educators alike. Later in the year, Palmer will release an expanded version of his award-winning CD Can a Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet? Hap Palmer has and continues to be a stalwart in children's music. Catch you on the flip side! John Wood Two Little Sounds: Fun with Phonics and Numbers, Hap-Pal Music; $14 CD, phone 818-885-0200, www.happalmer.com. Best New Audio BY MOIRA McCORMICK Two Little Sounds: Fun With Phonics and Numbers -AGES 4 to 9 Hap Palmer Don't let an earnest title scare you away from a terrific CD. Longtime kids' performer Hap Palmer (One Little Sound; Early Childhood Classics) has a ball with the idiosyncrasies of the English language - and throws in some mathematical high jinks to boot - on this clever, upbeat album. Folk-and blues-flavored tunes such as "Two Little Sounds" and "My Ramblin' Cat" help nascent readers learn what changing consonants does to words, while "Meet My Travelin' Friends" plays with alliteration, not to mention geography ("Galen went to Guatemala/Kayla went to Kazakhstan":). And what allowance-minded little one wouldn't want to know that "Five Pennies Make a Nickel"? Hap-Pal Music, $14 CD; www.happalmer.com Family Fun Magazine, May 2004 SONGS ARE SUNG ON THE PLAYFUL SIDE Two Little Sounds: Fun With Phonics and Numbers Hap-Pal Music CD: $15.95; Ages 4 to 9 www.happalmer.com "P-I-G, my playful pig/ drop that P and use a W . . . Wig, wig, wove a wig / drop that W, and use a J / In his funny wig, he danced a jig": Hap Palmer, one of educational music's best teachers, offers another winning combination of catchy tunes and rhythms and substantive lessons in consonant and vowel sounds, number patterns, sounding out words, beginning math and more. The liner notes offer parents and teachers detailed lessong plans for the songs and the instrumental tracks that follow them. Lynne Heffley, Los Angeles Times, Calendar Weekend. Thursday, April 15, 2004 Playthings New CD's Review from PLAYTHINGS Whoever said that learning requires sitting still? Two Little Sounds: Fun With Phonics and Numbers abandons this notion by boosting listeners' reading and math skills through dance and music. Hap Palmer presents a medley of songs that focus on the relationship between letters and their corresponding sounds. Each of the tunes encourages kids to listen, think, move and sing (dancing shoes are not included.) Pamela Brill, Playthings, February 2004 WEE FOLK CHILDREN'S MEDIA FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY This CD has 18 songs by Hap Palmer. Each one teaches a letter sound or math skill. Palmer has established himself as an innovator in children's educational music through his 10 previous recordings. The music is intended to be interactive, and no preparation is needed when kids take in the fun and clever use of music and words. They can't help but play along! When my second grade played "My Ramblin' Cat," we were all groovin' to the fantastic swinging rhythm. This song could teach you the "at" family of words. It was very easy for the class to sing the song. "And it was super fun," the children declared." "The One That Doesn't Rhyme" is really a game song. The catchy tune is easy to follow, and the children can make up their own verses after they lean the rules. "We Discover Number Patterns" uses phonics along with the math lesson. The enchanting melody helps slow down the pace of this energitic production. At times the simple truth prevails, as in "The English Language Gets a Little Kooky" - it sure does! And there's one version for vowels and one for consonants. In fact, each track on this recording is a gem you'll want to play over and over. Excellent arrangements throughout employ an array of musical instruments, from guitars, mandolin, and banjo to a full orchestra. Just naming the sounds heard is yet another valuable lesson. The liner notes feature an activiy for every song, with several coloring pictures. Every song also has vocabulary words, fun activities, and the number or letter focus for each.. The cover picture is appealing to children because it hs animal characters from the stories. Palmer put a lot of work into this gorgeous and cool masterpiece. "He must be excellent with children!" the kids said. Palmer's voice is naatural, articulate, and enthusiastic - very important when listening to a language lesson. His previous recording, One Little Sound, won a Parents' Choice Gold Award, and this album seems headed for similar honors. Linda J. Morris and Second Graders (Baltimore, MD) Dirty Linen, June/July '02 DISCRIPTION: TWO LITTLE SOUNDS features unique original songs that help children to learn about reading, writing, and mathematics. The title song encourages children to recognize both initial and ending consonant sounds. MY RAMBLIN' CAT weaves words from the 'at' word family into an entertaining story of an independent-minded cat, while MY PLAYFUL PIG celebrates the 'ig' word family through the antics of a jolly pig. TALL TREMENDOUS TENS AND WEE WONDERFUL ONES march out of young Hubert's closet to help him understand addition, and place value. This recording also presents new lyrics and melodies added to familiar favorites. APPLES, BANANAS, PEACHES AND TOMATOES, adds new melodic and lyrical sections to the traditional favorite "Apples and Bananas" to help learners differentiate between long and short vowel sounds. TEN MONKEYS IN A TREE sets the traditional chant "Five Monkeys in a Tree" to an original melody with expanded lyrics that encourage children to explore number patterns, counting, and subtraction. In HICKORY, DICKORY, DOCK, a menagerie of animals joins the mouse in a run up the clock until a grumpy gorilla puts a stop to the noise. The unfolding story emphasizes skills of changing initial consonant sounds, recognizing numbers 1 -12, and telling time on the hour. Math and reading skills are often reinforced within the same song. WE DISCOVER NUMBER PATTERNS features counting and number patterns made by a variety of animals and things in the 'ap' 'oo' and 'ump' word families. THE ONE THAT DOESN'T RHYME facilitates understanding of same and different, while stimulating awareness of rhyming words. Many songs combine phonics and numbers with a wealth of vocabulary. DOWN BY THE BAY, uses word families and playful rhymes to introduce children to all the instruments of the orchestra. FIVE PENNIES MAKE A NICKEL explores ways of getting to 100 with units of money. MEET MY TRAVELIN' FRIENDS, matches initial consonant sounds of cities, states, and countries with children's names, while WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? couples the initial consonant sounds of articles of clothing with words that describe a wide range of large muscle motions. While learning important academic concepts, children are exposed to a variety of musical styles presented with a wide range of instruments. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE GETS A LITTLE KOOKY employs a full chamber orchestra, and shows the humorous side of the often-frustrating inconsistencies in spelling. In HOW MANY ARE HERE?, a string quartet accompanies hand and finger motions as children learn about addition and subtraction. Children do the WIGGY WIGGLES FREEZE DANCE with a rock and roll band and up-tempo lyrics that highlight initial consonant sounds, alliteration, and rhyming. The recording ends with a song to enhance pattern recognition and memory skills as children learn an ever growing sequence and sing, GOODBYE, SO LONG, FAREWELL, TOODLE-OO. Biography Hap Palmer pioneered the integration of music and movement in the area of early childhood education. His songs enhance the development of motor skills, language acquisition, reading readiness, and math concepts as well as nurture the imaginative process and encourage creative problem solving. His widespread popularity in schools and day-care centers for over twenty years, has made him a living legend within the teaching community for young children. Teachers have used his music for more than two generations to teach letters, numbers, phonics, days of the week, colors, shapes and more. A third generation of children are now learning with his songs and movement innovations. An accomplished musician, singer/songwriter and educator, his multiple skilled talent on guitar, bass, percussion, saxophone, and clarinet can be heard on his various recordings. His BABY SONGS live-action music video series for young children has ,sold over 2 million units. Hap's recordings and videos have received numerous honors including the Parents' Choice Award, the American Library Association Notable Designation, the National Association of Parent Publications Award, The Early Childhood News Directors Choice Award and the American Video Award. A summary of Hap's awards can be found here. As a teacher of teachers, Hap has taught classes and workshops for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the University of California at Los Angeles Education Extension, the Los Angeles City Schools, the Georgia Preschool Association, the Oklahoma Early Childhood Association, the New England Kindergarten Conference, and many other school districts and educational organizations throughout the nation. Using his background in music, education, and dance, he is able to help teachers find innovative, imaginative and fun ways to teach their students with enjoyable music and lyrics that children love to listen to over and over again. With a Masters Degree in Dance Education from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a love of music, Hap Palmer has given the world of early childhood education and young children a lasting gift of learning that has spanned the generations. For more information, please visit www.happalmer.com