The Ugly Duckling version by Frank Loesser, illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom, performed by Justine Clarke

Here is a real treat - a book and CD combination that I found at a bargain book sale.  I popped the CD into my player tonight and gasped. Using the trumpet, the tuba and the marimba, Justine sings the story and you can follow along in the book.  You will be familiar with this Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. In the 'original' version, which is written for older children, two geese are shot. This one is a simple re-telling which follows the essence of the story with the duckling being told he is ugly and then finally growing older and finding he is transformed into a swan.

I bought this book as a gift for a new baby and both of his parents work in the music industry so the discovery of the CD is extra special.

There are two tracks on this CD one sung by Justine and the other an instrumental track.

Here is the illustrator web site.  The song is the one performed by Danny Kaye in 1952.

Nathaniel Eckstrom has illustrated a number of books including Duck by Meg McKinlay which I predict will reach the 2019 CBCA Notables list.

You recorded a song for the children's book The Ugly Duckling. Why did you choose that storybook?

"Scholastic had approached me and asked me what song would you like to do."

"It's a great story and particularly relevant for preschoolers. Finding out where you belong, reflecting on having your own family and having a story about someone who gets rejected."

"It can seem like a shallow tale but I think for preschoolers it's a simple story and I think we're all quite fascinated by what we will become. When you're a child you look at adults and wonder, 'What will I look like?'"  MamaMia

The combination of Justine Clarke’s performance and the personality-filled instrumental backing really brings this story to life and makes it ideal for class activities for preschool and kindergarten students or simply a more interactive experience of the story at home. Kids Book Review

The ANZACS 100 Years on in story and song by Ted Egan

I rarely review books like this - Non Fiction - but this is such a special and important volume.  2014 marks the Centenary WWI and next year Australians will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli.

The ANZACS 100 Years on in story and song has 158 pages and is probably best read by adults and teachers but I am mentioning it because it is such a fabulous resource.  The accompanying CD has fourteen tracks interspersed with commentary by a soldier who survived WWI.  Jack (John Leslie Nicholson) was born in 1894 and died in 1986.  The contents of this book and CD are organised in chronological order and so between each section Jack recalls his experiences in a way which is so poignant. Chapter 12 of the book briefly relates some details of Jack's life and war experiences. Listening to Jack should help our students make a connection to this important period of world history.  The choice of songs and beautiful recordings are also worth mentioning.

I cannot do justice to this whole book so I would like to focus on one song which touched my heart - A song for Grace.  Here is the third verse :

When the telegram came, my mother collapsed, and I had
The terrible task of breaking the news to my Dad.
With our old draught-horse, Punch, my father was ploughing the land
[When] I ran to the paddock, the telegram clutched in my hand.

The Irishman read it, said: 'Thank you, now leave me alone,
'Go on back to the house, help your mother, she's there on her own'
He called: 'Stand up, Punch; we have to get on with this job'
But I saw his slumped shoulders, and I heard his heart-rending sob.

I don't normally tell my readers where to buy books but I do highly recommend this one for all school libraries so here are the publisher details.  You can read more about Ted Egan here.