Where Skies Are Blue: Over the Rainbow performed by Judy Collins

WHEN ALL THE WORLD IS A HOPELESS JUMBLE,

AND THE RAINDROPS TUMBLE ...ALL AROUND,

HEAVEN OPENS A MAGIC LANE...

WHEN ALL THE CLOUDS DARKEN UP THE SKYWAY,

THERE'S A RAINBOW HIGHWAY ... TO BE FOUND.

So begins the little-known introduction to Harold Arlen's timeless musical classic, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Noted illustrator Eric Puybaret takes his inspiration from this opening to build his design for Over the Rainbow (Book & Audio CD), performed on the accompanying CD by Judy Collins.

THERE'S A LAND THAT I HEARD OF

ONCE IN A LULLABY.

Puybaret takes his young heroine on a whimsical and fantastical trip from the solitary farmhouse where she sleeps and into that land, a fanciful flight through the sky toward that mythical place beyond the rainbow, peopled by surreal but benevolent personified heavenly bodies and beneficent raindrops, all borne upon the familiar words of the song. Great music for any time, and an especially wonderful bedtime song for sweet dreams.

To the youngest reader-listeners, who may not be familiar even with Judy Garland's iconic performance in the movie The Wizard of Oz, Collins' performance will bring this song alive for another generation. Also included on the CD are Collin's versions of "I See the Moon" and "White Coral Bells."