This CD has beautifully recorded lullabies from around the world sung in their original language. More than 30 instruments are featured, including keyboards, bass, electric and acoustic guitar, drums, mandolin, guitaret, electric sitar, violin, slide guitar, recorder, penny whistle, ocarina, piano, accordion, oud, cora, pan flute, zheng, di-sze, kaval, pander, talking drum, djembe, shaker, cajon, washboard, Cajun triagle, maracas, bongo, sticks, gong, cascara, tumba, bells, and chimes.

This music is great for snuggle time, as it will calm your little one and expose them to new sounds from instruments, voices, and cultures. You will hear songs from Haiti, Spain, Senegal, the United Kingdom, China, Egypt, Cuba, the U.S., Italy, Canada, Niger, and Mexico. Each song states the country or origin of the lullaby. Even one of the few songs with English lyrics, All The Pretty Horses features the sitar, an instrument that is likely a new sound to your child. The Spanish lullaby, Arruru mi nina soothes with simple humming in the middle. Nadiara features the cora, which looks like a cousin to the guitar, and sounds similar to a harp. The Chinese song, Close Your Eyes is mostly instrumental, displaying the sounds of the zheng (a plucked string instrument) and the pan flute. There are many more new and interesting sounds for you to and your little one to listen for, point out to one another, and discuss.

The first time your child listens to this music, he or she may just want to soak up the sounds of new languages. It will not be as easy as most children's CDs for them to jump right in and sign along, but they will certainly be able to identify the beat. The more they listen to the songs, the easier it will become for your child to imitate the sounds of the languages, singing along even if they don't know what they are singing. Children of all ages will love the peculiar and prominent drumming in the Haitian song, Papa a la riviere and the Nigerian song, Omo, but be prepared for them to want to join in by drumming on whatever they can find nearby.

I listened to this CD with my two-year-old friend, Kyle, about half an hour before his nap time. He had been playing hard all afternoon, and needed to calm down enough to sleep. He snuggled up on my lap and we started the CD. He bopped his head to the beat for a few songs - impressing me with his ability to be on the correct beat! - before drifting off to sleep.

--Audra

1. Papa a la riviere

2. Arruru mi nina

3. Nadiara

4. Washing Song

11. Omo