Moo Wop: Blue Moo by Sandra Boynton

What if all our faves from the fifties and sixties got together and made a platter for tots? That is the premise for Sandra (Little Queenie of the Board Books) Boynton's wonderful book and CD combo, Blue Moo: 17 Jukebox Hits From Way Back Never

Along with Boynton's irrepressible animal characters--cows, of course, gorillas, hippos, dogs, and turtles, to mention a few--we have a jivin' jukebox full of retro-flavored songs that will delight kids of any age. Think B. B. King and Lucille doing the "One Shoe Blues," Brian Wilson's surfin' sound in "Speed Turtle" ("All over town, he's gonna' shut us down!), Steve Lawrence, crooning his way through "Blue Moo," and Sha-Na-Na, performing the "Na Na Nas" in "Gorilla Song" ("Banana Nana Nana Nana Na Na Na!").

And who could resist doin' the waddle with Davy Jones of the Monkees in "Your Personal Penguin," or that other famous Liverpudlian band, Gerry and the Pacemakers, bringing back the Mersey Beat in "Mersey Lullaby," or Neil Sedaka pitching a love song to "Your Nose." And then there's the famous THE UNIVITED LOUD PRECISION BAND, which delivers hot hippo percusionists, web-footed trombonists, and a mouse on piccolo, right to your own front door and into your living room.

Along with the included compact disc of all seventeen songs, the music (with chords) and lyrics of each song are appended, as well as photos and bios of the featured artists. The back cover even highlights the author who, "before turning to a career in illustration and songwriting, fronted the fabulous 50's girl group, The Boynton Sisters."

Blue Moo: 17 Jukebox Hits From Way Back Never with its seventeen Songs From Way Back Never is truly fun for everyone, whether it's reading aloud, singing along, performing with your own instrumentation, or getting up and boogying around the family room together. Don't miss this one while your children are young!

Pair this opportunity to be sensationally silly with one of the world's silliest toys, the Slingshot Flying COW w/ Sound. M-o-o-o-ve, over, monkeys. It's Moo-Wop time!

Two Evergreen Tales for Christmas Eve: Carl's Christmas and Max's Christmas Stocking

That righteous Rottweiler Carl can be counted upon for a Christmas Eve fantasy just right for the board book set.

An almost wordless book, Carl's Christmas (Carl) begins with the cheery parents giving Carl his orders of the evening: "We're going to Grandma's and then to church. Take care of the baby, Carl!" (Warning: Carl is a professional fantasy character; don't try this at home!)

In a festive mood, Carl dresses the baby warmly, helps him decorate a potted plant "tree" downstairs, and then takes the toddler out for a night on the town. Carl wins a Christmas basket in a crafts store and he and the baby follow the directions on a street sign--FOR THE NEEDY--and donate the basket to the poor, the baby adding his own flap cap to their donation.

As the baby rides Carl's back around the holiday-ready town, they watch little kids looking hopefully up their chimney and join a group of merry carolers, where the baby is given a scarf to replace his cap and Carl lends his voice to the songs.

Back home dog and baby sleep before the warm fire until a surprised Carl awakes to find Santa and reindeer at the front door. Carrying Santa's pack on his own back, he helps Santa set up the gifts for the humans and their cats. Santa himself gently puts Carl's new collar around his neck and then does the old up-the-chimney thing for the amazed dog.

At last Carl returns the toddler to his crib and, true to his mission, falls asleep on the rug beside his charge. The final page shows a closeup of Carl's big pawprint in the snow.

"R-U-B-Y spells Ruby," says Max's sister Ruby.

"Now Santa will know which stocking is which. We don't want Santa to make a mistake."

Despite Ruby's careful stocking labels, however, Santa has a sudden attack of dyslexia. At least, it seems that way when Max happily begins to unload his stocking on Christmas morning. Ruby watches with dismay as Max gleefully pulls out the gifts that were on her list.

Max was thrilled. He loved his diamond tiara, his butterfly wings, and his Princess Marvella accessories.

Obviously, things need a bit of sorting out here, and with big sister Ruby in charge, they will be. Rosemary Wells' Max's Christmas Stocking (Max Board Books), with the scary premise that Santa makes mistakes providing the suspense, is a great choice for preschoolers looking forward to Christmas morning themselves.