Songs for Junior Rangers. CD. approx. 60 min. with lyrics, poster map, activity. Prod. by National Park Service. Dist. by CDBaby.com. 2012. ISBN unavail. $9.95.
Gr 1-5–This celebration of our national parks features songs that explore Yellowstone, 
the Everglades, the Statue of Liberty, Carlsbad Caverns, Padre Island,Mount Rushmore, and several more. Jeff Wolin wrote 19 of the songs, and Krishel Augustine wrote the Navajo song. Vocal and instrumental performances on guitar, bass, banjo, fiddle, piano, accordion, sax, trombone, trumpet, harmonica, drums, and percussion are solid and professional. A number of different vocalists and instrumentalists perform, including Trout Fishing in America and Johnette Downing, in such musical styles as blues, rock, tropical, country, funk, reggae, jazz, hip-hop, polka, traditional Navajo, disco, sea shanty, and zydeco. In several instances, the musical style is very appropriate to the park location. For example, “New Orleans Jazz” features jazz music and “Junior Ranger,” which explores Canyon de Chelly, uses the traditional Navajo sound. Among the other numbers are “Humps, Hooves, and Horns” (Yellowstone), “Run Fish Run” (Olympic), “Wapiti Hoppity” (Rocky Mountain), “Beach Party at High Altitude” (Great Sand Dunes), “Skyscraper Plants” (Redwood, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon), “National Fossil Day” (Hagerman Fossil Beds), and more. A lyrics booklet and a foldout map with national park locations indicated are included in the oversized packaging. A fun and educational offering that will have listeners clamoring for a visit to a national park.–Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX