music/songbooks

Gan Shirim, a Garden of Songs

70 New Jewish Songs for Children

Parents’ Choice Award Winner
Nominated for “Best Jewish Album of 2006” by Just Plain Folks
Nominated for “Best Jewish Song of 2006” (Modeh Ani) by Just Plain Folks
Includes Shalshelet Festival winner Asei L’cha Rav

Gan Shirim, published by KTAV Publishing House in 2004, includes something for every child from preschool through elementary school as well as for their music teachers and classroom teachers. Included are 70 original songs about Jewish values, holidays, beginning Hebrew and Bible characters as well as "everyday topics" with a Jewish twist such as weather and friendship. Every song is composed in a child-friendly singing range with a melody that children and adults will find appealing. Also included are several rounds that youth choirs will enjoy singing.

Song lyrics range from heartfelt in Asei L'cha Rav to humorous in Shavuot and Ice-Cream! With titles such as The Calendar Soft Shoe, Be Kind To Animals, Camel Caravan, Sleepytime Sh'ma, Dr. King's Dream, Tzedakah, Halleluyah Hoedown, Shehecheyanu, a Rosh Hashanah song called Bumblebee Waltz and a Tu B'shevat song called Groundhog Noses, you can be sure kids will love 'em and so will you.

Scroll down for track list and to listen to or download Gan Shirim songs.

Double-CD: The superb-quality double-CD of all 70 songs is a joy to sing along with and makes make learning the entire song collection a breeze! With more than 2 hours of music, the double-CD was co-produced by Adrian A. Durlester, who provides all the arrangements and accompaniments. The songs are sung by Carol and a youth choir as well as child soloists to show other children that these songs really are for them to sing and not just to listen to. Please note that the CD insert does not include song lyrics; 70 songs simply wouldn't fit (but you can find them in the songbook)! $20 + shipping

Download Entire Double Album: $15

Songbook: The 160-page perfect-bound songbook, edited by Adrian A. Durlester, includes sheet music and chords for all 70 original songs as well as big-print lyrics, background information about each song topic for adults, and even teaching suggestions. Use the songbook in conjunction with the CD to make learning the lyrics a snap! $25 + shipping.

Double CD-and-songbook set: Special web value – just $40 + shipping.

Instrumental-only double-CD: A wonderful resource for teachers, and it's only available here. Students and youth choirs can sing along to the same wonderfully creative accompaniments (and fun sound effects) that are on the original CD. This was specially created for both teachers who don't play instruments and for those who prefer to have their hands free to lead children in claps, hand motions, movement and dance. $15 + shipping