SONGS FOR LITTLE FOLKS

This fourth in the Peter Yarrow Songbook series (Let’s Sing Together, 2009, etc.) will be welcome, especially with the accompanying CD that features the author and his daughter Bethany. The lyrics of 12 childhood songs are illustrated on double spreads with richly colored acrylic paints. Widener (the same illustrator as in the three previous books) has a style reminiscent of the WPA-era muralists, with distinct, sweeping curves delineating his landscapes; his characters display exaggerated figures that match the lively tunes. The second half of the book offers “Notes to My Fellow Pickers,” repeating the lyrics with chord names, diagrams for finger placement and simple spot art. The selections range from “Pop Goes the Weasel” to “The Green Grass Grew” to “Polly Wolly Doodle.” A plus is the two pages of paragraphs of each song’s origin in the backmatter. The paper-over-boards cover may need reinforcing after repeated handling. (Songbook/picture book. 4-8)