Customer Reviews:
Great Overview of Condensed Songs.......2004-05-13
I quit piano lessons in the eighth grade (the familiar story of the indimidating piano teacher) but I kept playing on my own all through high school and this is the book I played over and over. It has a fantastic overview of many American musical genres of the first half of the 20th century, occasionally dipping slightly back to the late 19th.
The arrangements are fairly easy to play for the intermediate piano player yet they sound deceptively impressive. Guitar chords are also present.
The only reason I didn't give it a five-star rating is that, in keeping with the Reader's Digest tradition, this book is condensed; only the choruses of the songs are present. Having grown up with this book, I had no idea that most of these songs had verses not included here. So if you need the entire song, this book won't help you. But if you want a great, playable overview of American songs from the 20th century, then this book is a good choice.
Great chording.......2002-11-24
This is a great songbook for the indtermediate player. The arrangements are full of wonderful rich harmony chording that is not hard to follow. I love a great deminished 7th chord and this book has it. I own five of the Readers Digest song books and whish I had more. In particular I would suggest "The Treasury of Great Showtunes" from this same series.
Has a lot of standards, but arrangements are pretty simple.......2002-05-01
I bought this because I wanted a book that had a lot of the standards. It does. I like to play and sing with my kids (toddlers) and with extended family on different occaisions. I like that it has different holiday songs, ("When Irish Eyes are Smilin'") some patriotic stuff ("America") and plain old songs ("By the light of the Silvery Moon." ) I do wish that the arrangements were a little more difficult...I am not really a great player (one year of lessons in Junior High) but I found myself putting in extra chords and endings. But I am not sophisticated enough to really know what I am doing here, so I have to make it up. Some of the the Gershwin stuff was better, but still cut down. I would call it just beyond beginner. It reminds me of the kind of stuff you hear kids play at piano lessons (year 2). Still, even I am confortable with adding a little here and there, so you can too. OR if you just want to open the page and play a whole new song with few or no mistakes, a novice will like it. Plus it has many songs you would like in an anthology and a nice spiral-like binding--hence the 4 stars above. Overall, a nice book.
Book is okay if you are looking for "I only have eyes for U.......2000-02-06
I didn't know what was in this book because it was shrink-wrapped at Borders but took a chance b/c it was on sale. It is NOT for beginners. I was looking for a book with fun songs for me to play on the piano w/my 2.5 year old daughter, but this is not what we were looking for! It may be what you want though.
Here's the contents: There are 8 categories of songs: Down Memory Lane (Roaring 20s, World War I, Jazz Age), All-Time Broadway Hit Parade (Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter), Great Music from the Movies (Dick Powell, Humphrey Bogart), Swing Years (late 30s and early 40s, Louis Armstrong, Guy Lombardo), Treasury of Operetta & Semi-Classical Hits (Victor Herbert, Sigmund Romberg), Gaslight Varieties, Greensleeves, and Music to Lift the Spirits (anthems, hymns).
The book says each song has been arranged for piano, guitar and organ. It says the arrangements can be easily adapted to any treble-clef C instrument such as accordion, chromatic harmonica, violin, flute, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, recorder, marimba and xylophone.
Great songs, simpler arrangements........1998-12-24
An excellent book. But we love better the (what I think is the original version of it), 'Family Songbook, 137 songs to play and sing' by Tony Fiyalko. We love it better because the arrangements are more complex and exciting - more like what the big bands play, yet not that much harder to play. As the song selection in the two books is almost identical, both are superb. Actually, a couple of the songs are exactly the same arrangment. The worst thing about having both books is the occasional key changes from book to book - it hurts my fingers.
This is a very good book - like all of the Reader Digest song books. It only looses marks because of the direct comparison to Tony Fiyalko's book, which is also available in paperback on Amazon.com.
Book Description
First published in 1985, this Reader's Digest best-selling classic has sold over 200,000 copies. Carryon or start your own tradition as adults and children gather to sing from this collection of easy-to-play children's favorite songs-from movies, shows, nursery rhymes, holiday songs, folksongs, nonsense songs, and more. This collection is great for all ages, familiar songs that children love to sing, and a must have for parents, grandparents, and teachers-including musical games and activity ideas to add to the fun. The 252-page easy-to-read music book with more than 130 all-time favorite family songs is spiral-bound to lie flat, and includes a 40-page lyric book. And bring these favorite melodies to life by listening to the recordings on the companion CD.
Customer Reviews:
Song Selection is Ok, Piano Arrangements Difficult.......2007-08-09
The song selection in this book is ok to good, but could be better. It contains quite a few children's songs of the repetitious, annoying variety. The piano arrangements are very nice, but difficult to play and will only be played easily by fairly advanced pianists.
The Reader's Digest Children's Songbook.......2007-05-29
I am very proud of this book because its songs that I grew up with plus a few extras. My granddaughters are learning most of these now. It is a great book. Great price too!
Book is great but CD is awful.......2007-01-14
My preschool daughters love leafing through the book, singing the songs they know, but we pitched the CD almost instantly. The singing is awful and the CD doesn't include most of the songs in the book. If you're looking for a good family folksong CD, buy something else.
Book is good but CD is lacking.......2007-01-12
I received this book as a gift and was very excited until I realized the CD only contains 12 songs and not 130. The actual CD cover is the only place I could find that says there are 12 songs on it. Neither the book cover or the inside of the book states how many songs are on the CD. I assumed 130 songs would be on the CD since the heading says "Over 130 All-Time Favorites to Play, Listen, and Sing. Do not buy this book if you are looking for a CD of 130 kids songs. If you are looking for a book with piano or guitar arrangements for kids songs, you found a winner.
The Reader's Digest Children's Songbook: Over 130 All-Time Favorites to Play, Listen and Sing.......2006-11-04
The most awesome children's song book compiled. I have given it as a gift 5 times.
Customer Reviews:
Reader's Digest Festival of Popular Songs.......2004-04-28
Great songs to play for a party or for your own enjoyment: Georgia on My Mind, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, It's Impossible, My Funny Valentine, The Shadow of your Smile, The Way You Look Tonight, On the Street Where You Live, Honky-Tonk Train. ALL of the songs are excellent piano melodies sutable for the intermediate player.
Many of my favorite songs and yours!.......2003-12-10
From "Somewhere, My Love" to "On Top Of Spaghetti", this book has so many songs that I find myself humming and wishing I could play. Did you like Sesame Street, Dr. Zhivago, The Godfather? Do you like showtunes? There's over a hundred of them here ... the breadth is part of the fun of the book!
Festival of Popular Songs refview.......2000-02-27
Great book for the intermediate pianist. It's one of my favorites. Reader's Digest needs to reprint it. I borrow it at the public library and would buy it if available.
Excellent. Great arrangements. Easy for a beginner........1999-10-16
This songbook has many of the great songs of my youth. The chords are easy, there are guitar chords written above the treble staff and the print is large enough for those of us over 50 to see. The arrangements are outstanding. I wish Readers' Digest would reprint this book. I'd buy it in a second. I have to borrow mine from the public library.
Great music -- easy to play -- good arangements.......1999-03-13
I wish Reader's Digest would print some more of these books. It is such an excellent composite of popular music and the arrangements are fantastic. If anyone has a copy, I would love to buy it.
Book Description
Captain Jack Sparrows ship, the Barnacle, and its up-till-now unshakable crew have suddenly fallen under a sinister spell. While continuing on their quest for the storied Sword of Corts, the crew suddenly finds themselves entranced by an ethereal song and each of them attempts to take the Barnacle in a different directionand away from the swords supposed location. Only Jack seems unaffected by the strange song, but can he both subdue his crew and defeat the mysterious force behind the dark spell?
Customer Reviews:
Fun read for Pirates of the Caribbean Fans!.......2007-01-03
My boys really enjoy this series about Jack Sparrow as a teenager. Oh, and I do, too! It is great how the author uses references from the movies. These are swashbuckling adventures with interesting characters!
Fun fun fun!.......2006-11-02
These books just keep getting better! I bought these for my daughter who is a major Jack Sparrow fan but I am finding myself enjoying reading about the adventures that formed Jack Sparrow. Pick these up, you and your child will get a kick out of them!
Another wonderful Jack Sparrow Book!.......2006-08-05
Just like the first, wonderful. As Jack Sparrow and his crew continue there search another problem unfolds. Jack has no time to wast on his search for Left-Foot Louis and the Sword Of Cortes, but when a strange song comes about and sends each of the crew members trying to take the Barnacle (the ship) in diffrent directions, Jack must find out were the sound is coming from and how to stop it. From a awsome begining to a wounderful end Jack sparrow finds a way to keep me turning the page once agian. So do your self a favore and please go and get this book for your self "Ye savvy"
Another great book in the Jack Sparrow series.......2006-07-05
Though not as quick-paced as the first volume, this book is still strong. And the ending (the best part in my opinion) makes you want to read on to the next chapter in Young Jack's life.
Argh!.......2006-06-14
The Siren Song is the second book in the new Pirates of the Carribean series, featuring a teenage Jack Sparrow.
This installment continues the story of Jack's adventures shortly after the end of the first book. Captain Jack and his crew, includinig Arabella, Constance, Jean, and Tumen, survived an encounter with an infamous pirate, but they never did find the mythical sword of cortes. Now they learn that the legendary Davy Jones is also after the sword.
Jack, of course, wants to get the sword first so they set sail for the treasure. That's when strange things start to happen: a mysterious island appears out of no where, a sea monster attacks the ship, and a strange never-ending song coming from the sea causes everyone except Jack to act strangely. This strange song is the "song of the siren" and Jack has to figure out what is going on to save his friends and his ship.
I would recommend this series only to those who loved Treasure Island and Kidnapped, and to those who love anything with pirates in it.
Book Description
91 best-loved standards to sing and play. Includes: Walkin' My Baby Back Home * Exodus * Blue Velvet * Honeysuckle Rose * I'm Beginning To See The Light * But Not For Me * Memory * Stormy Weather * Bewitched * and many more! Also includes a lyric booklet.
Customer Reviews:
A Piano Player's Delight!.......2002-03-23
If you play the piano - and it doesn't have to be professionally - but just for your own amusement, this book is for you. The arrangements are excellent and not too hard to play. But what I like best are the little details and background material that is included with each song. So interesting.
Annie
Book Description
Fun, easy, and highly enjoyable, the KEYBOARD COURSE is sure to make today's inexperienced, budding musician tomorrow's maestro. For those who do not know how to read music, this ingenious songbook will help you play by the numbers with a set of peel-off decals that can be placed on the keys of the instrument. Even if you are just getting started, you'll be able to tackle great popular songs right away. Containing both the melodies and lyrics to 100 of the best-known songs of our time, the KEYBOARD COURSE includes "Tomorrow," "When You Wish Upon a Star," "Happy Birthday to You," and many more popular songs that have been enjoyed for years.
Here is the perfect beginner's songbook for the millions of would-be pianists and keyboard artists of all ages.
Customer Reviews:
Fabulous.......2007-10-01
This book has a lot of helpful info and is really fun to use.
There's a wide variety of songs in several genres and they're marked well to help a person learn to play them.
I think it's a fabulous book for beginners like me.
the reader's digest keyboard course: learn to play 100 unforgettable songs the easy way.......2007-02-18
this is the best book I have found so far to learn to play keyboard it is so easy a child can learn five stars easy. It is awesome 2 thumbs way up JME in Tx
If you have heard the songs, start playing.......2006-03-01
One of the things I miss in regular sheet music is marks in the middle of the measure which show where there is a beat. THE READER'S DIGEST KEYBOARD COURSE provides that between a blue staff at the top that shows melody with numbers under the notes. Not quite everything is in the keys of c, F, or G, with only one sharp or flat on the staff, but there is a song on pages 90-91 which has four flats all the way through. The melody never goes higher than an e-flat numbered 9+, and the lowest melody note, middle C is number 1, so anyone who can't remember which notes are flat in a key which has four flats does not have to look anywhere but at the numbers: 9+ and 2+ being an octave apart, 5+, 6+, and 8+ being the numbers for the other black keys that are used. There are red letters for bass notes under the normal piano score, F, A-flat, B, B-flat, C, D, D-flat, G, which absolutely tell you which note to play without looking at any numbers. Chord designations above the staff will be familiar to guitarists, and anyone who would like to put in full chords if it suits their fancy can easily supplement the two and three-part arrangement that is printed in this book.
I have learned to play a few things in simple arrangements. Most people who played instruments in school but never mastered anything on the piano should find it easy to play through tunes which they know in this book. The songs are organized in six sections, Hits, show tunes, Film, Way Back, "Inspirational, Country, and Folk" and special seasons and celebrations. I started at the beginning because "Dream a Little Dream of Me" from 1930 was on page 8, and I can remember the song from a Cass Elliot version in 1974. I must have played this song numerous times before, but not on the piano, and not with a bass line. Some songs I remember hearing when I was much younger, and Linda Ronstadt recorded a bunch of these songs in 1983. Some of these songs have a style that is particularly suited for piano.
What is not in this book is `Tiger Rag (Hold that Tiger)' which always sounds great when I hear it, but you wouldn't be able to play it all the way through the first time you sat down at the piano. Other than that, this book aims at "more people than ever will be able to sit down and plunk out some of the best popular music ever written."
Presenting actual songs rather than routine chords for practice.......2005-12-04
Beginners will appreciate this oversized keyboard course: it has a lot of extras the usual sheet music format misses. For one, it addresses all kinds of keyboards for both absolute beginners and those who may be re-starting after many years of non-practice. Peel-off decals help identify piano keys to make playing easier, while color-coded music also enhances the effort. It's easy to get discouraged when just starting out: that's why Reader's Digest Keyboard Course: Learn To Play 100 Unforgettable Songs The Easy Way works to get the beginner up to speed as quickly as possible, presenting actual songs rather than routine chords for practice.
Presenting actual songs rather than routine chords for practice.......2005-12-04
Beginners will appreciate this oversized keyboard course: it has a lot of extras the usual sheet music format misses. For one, it addresses all kinds of keyboards for both absolute beginners and those who may be re-starting after many years of non-practice. Peel-off decals help identify piano keys to make playing easier, while color-coded music also enhances the effort. It's easy to get discouraged when just starting out: that's why Reader's Digest Keyboard Course: Learn To Play 100 Unforgettable Songs The Easy Way works to get the beginner up to speed as quickly as possible, presenting actual songs rather than routine chords for practice.
Customer Reviews:
A party pleaser!.......2003-01-08
Treasury of Best Loved Songs was my first find of the Reader's Digest music Books. I found it in a second hand store for only six dollars! What a find! This book has 114 great songs. These are some of our favorites: Autumn Leaves, Blue Moon, Close to You (They Long to be), Cruising Down the River, Downtown by Tony Hatch and singer Petula Clark 1961,Five foot Two Eyes of Blue, For Me and My Gal, Girl from Ipanema, Goin' Out of my Head, Goodnigt Sweetheart, Hello, Dolly!, I'll Never Fall in Love again, Im in the Mood for Love, In the Chapel in hte Moonlight, Let me call You Sweetheart, Love Story Theme, Mame, Matilda Matilda! Mona Lisa, Moonglow, Moon River, Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head, Red Sails in the Sunset, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Strangers in the Night, That's Amore, This Guy's in Love with you,Yes! we have No Bananas. And many many more. In this Book every one can find a favorite! It's a great party book!Because of this one book, it's my aim to have all of The Reader's Digest Music books. I also own the Popular Classics; I'll do a write up.
Book Description
In this epic, original novel in which Hawaii's fierce, sweeping past springs to life, Kiana Davenport, author of the acclaimed Shark Dialogues, draws upon the remarkable stories of her people to create a timeless, passionate tale of love and survival, tragedy and triumph, survival and transcendence. In spellbinding, sensual prose, Song of the Exile follows the fortunes of the Meahuna family--and the odyssey of one resilient man searching for his soul mate after she is torn from his side by the forces of war. From the turbulent years of World War II through Hawaii's complex journey to statehood, this mesmerizing story presents a cast of richly imagined characters who rise up magnificent and forceful, redeemed by the spiritual power and the awesome beauty of their islands.
Customer Reviews:
Heavy on the heart read.......2007-07-31
The author has incorporated very accurate documented history into this novel. The incredible brutality is so hard to imagine without "feeling" some of the pain as you read. A sobering account of war.
Good lesson in history of war not often told........2006-11-04
The writting is poetic making the characters real and emphasing their feelings and courage--especially moving is their suffering.
One of the saddest books I've ever read.......2003-09-19
This book was unlike anything else I've ever read. It was incredibly tragic and haunting. It made me feel for those women like Sunny, the ones who became nobody, because their minds couldn't get out of the past yet their bodies moved on through time. It really is haunting and although I didn't like it at first, because it was an unusual style for me, I grew to appreciate it. It's powerful and sad, and wonderful, too.
A Compelling Universal Tapestry.......2003-04-11
I will not recount the story; the other reviewers do it, and for my money, the story is marvelous. Like so many, I did not want this book to end, and rationed reading it for that reason. I cannot think of any other writer I have ever read who can capture in concrete, substantial, palpable images abstractions like jazz, or pain, or love, or wistfulness. The visuals her words sculpt are staggering. Hardly essential to an appreciation of this magnificent work, if you have lived in Hawaii, ever had an appreciation of either or both of its indigenous and diverse cultures, been entranced by music, felt the power and mystery of natural things, it will resonate with you on innumerable levels. You will learn a fair amount of Hawaiian along the way if you care to, and you should, as it is a beautiful and evocative and incredibly musical language. The book is more than poetry--it is, in many ways, a great mele. It speaks of essences, of life's value, its challenges, its losses, its pain. There are parts as profound and compact in that as any philosophy one could want (the small chapterlet recounting Malia's last visit with Pono may be the best piece of writing in that regard I have ever read). The political material through the book is, if you read closely, not polemical, but balanced if with a clear but hardly simplistic preference. And on a societal level, it is a magnificent paean to the power of women, especially their power over men, wanted or not, and the consequences, marvelous and horrific, of that power. If you are a woman, or you truly love them as I do, you will hold this book fiercely to your heart. Those who say Ms. Davenport embraced too much in too complex a way--with which I totally disagree--would probably say the same of Thomas Wolfe, whose prose at times hers resembles, several of whose works I number among my favorites in the language. I would rate this book higher than any I have reviewed on Amazon to date, and among the best novels I have ever read--and I have read thousands.
Get Shark Dialogues instead!.......2003-01-05
I don't know what happened here, but Ms. Davenport's earlier book was much better. This one was such a disappointment. There are two very big flaws in this book. First, there are far too many ridiculous and totally implausable coincidences. Coincidentally meeting old friends and enemies in different parts of the world? Several times??? It's lame. I can't believe how weak this book is... Enough already with the textures and colors again and again...The constant sex dialogue is RIDICULOUSLY graphic and INCREDIBLY uninteresting. Really, the text could have been so much better without having to read the minutae about hairs, girth, etc. Follow me?
"Shark Dialogues" was much better. I recommend that or, better yet, "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez. Also has an island feel, beautiful scenery, interesting culture... revolt and revolution...it's one of the best books I've ever read. And it's based on a true story.
Average customer rating:
- My 2 year old's favortie book!!
- Very funny and detailed illustrations
- Great! Funny! Attention Grabber for young children
|
The Cat Came Back: A Traditional Song
Bill Slavin
Manufacturer: Albert Whitman & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding
 Songbooks
| Music
| Arts & Music
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Picture Books
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0807510971 |
Customer Reviews:
My 2 year old's favortie book!!.......2007-07-18
I bought her this at a garage sale when she was a little baby, and it's her favorite. It's also the one my mom enjoys reading to her the most, and the story and pictures are adorable! She loves to point things out in the beautiful illustrations. I know there's a new version out, but please give this one a try.
Very funny and detailed illustrations.......2000-01-18
The song this book is based on is my older son's favorite, so this book was a "must have" for us. We love the book's pictures---they are very comical and detailed---it's hilarious seeing how the cat has taken over poor Mr. Johnson's house. The version of the song in the book is, however, is quite different than I have heard it other places---it's quite toned down. This is not a bad thing, as the version on the tape my son listens to is actually quite gruesome. The book also has much fewer verses, but it does include my son's favorite verse, with the train! This book would be a winner with folk song lovers or cat lovers!
Great! Funny! Attention Grabber for young children.......1998-11-09
My Grandson age 3 and I checked this book out of the public library. We had so much fun with it that I ordered it and it will be under the Christmas tree for him. When he looks at it, he will remember the fun time we had reading it. The illustrations are good and you must "read" the illustrations as well as the copy in the book.
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- Second Sunday: A Novel
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- Stealing Time : Steve Case, Jerry Levin, and the Collapse of AOL Time Warner
- StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup's Now, Discover Your Strengths
- The Condition of Postmodernity: An Enquiry into the Origins of Cultural Change
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- The Discipline of Market Leaders: Choose Your Customers, Narrow Your Focus, Dominate Your Market
- The Fertile Female: How the Power of Longing for a Child Can Save Your Life and Change the World
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