A Merry Christmas. Mary Lambert. Kingston, ON: Mary Lambert Productions (682 Summerfield Place, K7M 8A1), 2003. 1 CD, $15.99. Preschool-grade 3 /Ages birth-grade 3. Review by Barb Taylor. **½ /4

Singer-songwriter Mary Lambert has compiled a Christmas album featuring old favorites such as “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” and new songs of her own composition including “Santa’s Summer Home".

“Santa’s Village is the place to be in the good old summertime.
Santa makes his home here. He thinks it is sublime!”

     Mary’s pleasant voice makes her a good choice for younger listeners. There’s nothing too dramatic about her singing style, which older listeners might prefer, but there is an inviting “sing-a-long” style that young children would appreciate.

     Included are lively upbeat secular pieces like “The Reindeer Jive.” Non-secular pieces, like “Away in a Manger” and the slow melodic “My Little King,” “Joseph and I must leave our own abode, and travel into Bethlehem – along and weary road,” make this album more focused to a Christian audience.

     While there’s nothing really outstanding about the selections, this CD is a pleasant listening experience for a young audience.

Recommended.

Calgary, AB’s Barb Taylor is an Early Childhood teacher, freelance writer and fan of children’s music.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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