Cousins Jamboree. CD. 42 min. Prod. by Holcomb Rock Records. Dist. byCDBaby.com. 2010. ISBN unavail. $15.
PreS-Gr 3–Hope Harris’s album is a delightful combination of toe-tapping, sing-along ditties and quiet lullabies. The 14 original songs, along with the traditional “Five Little Monkeys†and “Down in the Valley,†cross a wide variety of genres from jazz to country and many styles in between. Harris sings silly songs about a boy who plays in an animal band, aliens, and Eddie the otter, as well as numbers about good manners and riding with your seatbelt buckled. Her big voice holds its own on the livelier tunes, and is tempered to blend beautifully on the quieter lullabies. Children will enjoy this collection at home or during story time where songs like “Howdy Hello†will be welcome additions. The wide appeal of this album makes it a must-have.–Veronica De Fazio, Plainfield Public Library District, IL