Sounds Around

Although it drove my older children nuts (while ransacking the refrigerator they kept asking "what's all that noise?" --this from kids whose tender ears are accustomed to the gentle strains of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and Nirvana), the non-narrated Sounds Around entertained this big kid and I suspect will be a major hit with the 2-6 crowd. They'll see and hear an xylophone, kazoo, marching band, piano-playing kitten, someone crying, someone coughing, ringing telephone, steam kettle, scads of power tools, popcorn maker, cow, pig, cat, dog, gobbler, and many more. a cornucopia of musical, mechanical, animal, and human sounds which will make tots think about noises--the similarities and relationships and, most important, how much fun different sounds are. Unless, of course, they've already moved on to the more refined sounds of rap and grunge metal (like my kids). Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Part of a series for pre-schoolers, the other available titles are: Doing Things in Motion; Good Morning, Good Night, a Day on the Farm; Moving Machines; and Bugs Don't Bug Us. (R. Pitman)