Dreamland: World Lullabies & Soothing Songs

If these truly gorgeous lullabies and songs from all over the world don't soothe the savage beast within your child, nothing will. This hypnotic collection of soft and slow melodies--some ancient, some new--is perfect for lulling a child to sleep or for any evening when you want to escape into a warm bath with candles. Carlos Santana accompanies African singer Angelique Kidjo on the sweet opener, "Naima." Claudia Martinez sings "Arriba Del Cielo (Above the Sky)," a lilting traditional lullaby with roots in the Mexican state of Guerrero. The Letterstick Band, from the small An-Barra clan of Australian Aborigines, performs the moving "Yi-Rrana (Sunset)." One favorite is "L Vai Algu m (There Goes Someone)," a hot-summer-night-sounding lullaby sung in velvety tones by Virginia Rosa. Another lovely addition is Kanji Yano of the Sanshin Caf Orchestra playing a generations-old lullaby on a traditional stringed instrument from Okinawa called the sanshin. The liner notes, written in English, Spanish, French, and Dutch, provide kid-friendly facts about the countries of origin. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Putumayo Cross-Cultural Initiative, a non-profit organization that uses the power of world music and the arts to inspire children to connect with diverse cultures. Vive Dreamland! --Karin Snelson