Maybe you, like myself, were raised by hippies. Maybe not. Either way, I’m willing to bet you’ve heard some of those old folk songs from the sixties that seem to be so often used with children.
You know the ones. They are melodic, and sound lovely and gentle in the voices of children. Sometimes they tell a story, sometimes the carry a message that half the children singing or listening won’t pick up. But still, they sound lovely. How about this fine example: Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Anyone remember that one? Or Pete Seeger’s Turn! Turn! Turn! – that one is really lovely (and also made a charming book, now sadly out of print but still in libraries).
Those old folk songs seem to be coming back around, lately, and gaining a fresh new feel with the pairing of a CD and a picture book illustrating the lyrics. If you’re looking for some songs new or old to share, these two by Pete Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary fame) are worth a second look. You may just find yourself singing along.
A poignant song about the closing of the day, from a father to his son. It’s bittersweet, admitting of fear and sorrow, but reassuring that parent will be there for child, and that “all will be well when the day is done.”
The watercolour paintings are a delight, with clear, bold colours and rich, inky night skies looking over families both of animals and of people.
The accompanying CD contains two versions of the song, as well as two other beautiful close-of-day tracks sung by Yarrow and his daughter, whose rich voices and sweet harmonies weave a haunting, yet soothing lullaby.
Puff, the Magic Dragon
by Pete Yarrow
This ballad tells the tale of little Jackie Paper, who went on fantastical adventures with his imaginary dragon friend, until he grew up and left such childish pursuits behind.
The illustrations in this are, to be honest, a little sweeter than I would have chosen, but are vibrant and charming. they also soften the ending with the arrival of a new friend for Puff – and who wouldn’t love that?
The included CD includes extra songs for kids as well as the highly sing-along-able Puff, making it a great car trip take-along.
A note: this title does show up in Scholastic book club flyers at least once a year, including this month’s.
Very pleasing to read post! Will be eagerly waiting for the second exquisite part.
This version of Puff is one of my daughter’s favourite books (she got it for Christmas two years ago, and we still read it regularly). However, she gets quite teary when Jackie stops visiting Puff regularly and ends up crying mid-story or song. What can I say? She’s just like her mother whose favourite songs at that age were Seasons in the Sun (about the singer’s dying farewells) and Wildfire (about a girl who freezes to death looking for her horse). We’re some kind of masochists when it comes to the sad songs!
Oh – I know it’s Taps… I was thinking they were one and the same… oops!!
I should look it up then – thanks, Alice!!
Ah, Sara and Tracey – that’s not this Day Is Done, that’s Taps.
This is a lovely little folky song about how at the end of the day, in a parent’s arms, everything is okay again.
It’s lovely, and we have it at the library, so you could borrow it to listen to!
Oh, also, everyone – I’m adding categories with age ranges, so if you’re wondering about that, it’s at the foot of every post now!
Yes, Sara… Day is Done still makes me feel all pinched and wistful on the inside. And when I learned how to play the trumpet (a little) I learned it. Suddenly, I miss our leader, Snowy Owl…
Great post, Alice!
Okay I love this blog so much. I can’t listen to Puff – I bawl my eyes out everytime and worse now that I have a son. But I do love Day is Done…for all you brownies out there…or maybe that my just my ‘pack’ but we used to sing it at the end of every meeting….I’m sitting at my desk singing it in my head right now!
I love this Puff the Magic Dragon version, I bought a copy for my older boy and he loved it too — as soon as my youngest retires from his current bout of tearing books, I will bring it out for him. Thanks for reminding me about it — I am going to get out the CD tonight and at least I can trust him to listen.