CD and Book Reviews

Rachel Joseph from Malaysia wrote to us in May 2009:

We have moved to Malaysia and I just wanted to let you know how well the songs work when you are ACTUALLY walking through the jungle! Thanks for so many happy Thursday mornings, there's certainly nothing as good here.

Sofie Zermansky wrote to us from Manchester in May 2009:

With much relief found your website today. Attended piccolo sessions with my eldest, now 6 when we lived in Newcastle. Have lived in Manchester for 5 years now but still play piccolo CD's most days, never found any other music group as good. Most of my CD's are worn out (unsurprisingly) so very relieved I can replace them. All 3 of my children adore them!

Kirsteen Andews wrote to us from Germany in December 2008:

We (my 18mth old daughter, husband and I) all love your music and songs which we now sing all the time. Elsie particularly likes 'row your boat' and will prompt me on her preferred verses (eg. rock rock)! They have really helped improved car journeys when Elsie gets fed up! Thank you.

(Kirsteen took advantage of our Gift Wrap and Send service to send Piccolo CDs for Christmas presents.)

Allison Cassin from Low Fell wrote to us in December 2008:

My two babies are 20 months & 7 months and both completely adore Piccolo. Milly (20 months) gets sooo excited on Thursday mornings. I really think that both the sessions and listening to the CD's at home have really helped her development in so many ways.... from her confidence (she dances in the middle of the circle throughout the entire session, with barely a glance in my direction!), to her movement (she loves to stamp/tiptoe/creep around the house), to her language (she has progressed from learning the last word of each line to knowing almost all the words of some of the songs!!) Ted (7 months) is starting to recognise the songs too... We have several of the CD's and they have proved invaluable at home and in the car & never fail to keep us all occupied on longer journeys... even dad, nan & grandad know all the songs and actions!

Catherine from Benton, Newcastle, wrote to us August 2008:

"Hi - just to let you know how invaluable the Piccolo CD was on our travels to and from France. Sam loved it and it proved to be a life saver when he was fractious which wasn't too often, luckily. By the end of the holiday he was asking for "lo" , his favourite song is 'Row your Boat,' he likes the splash verse! The Cd was such a success that dad might bring Sam to Piccolo on his days off so that's good! Thank you. Catherine and Sam x"

Joy Stolen, book reviewer for NCMA (National Childminders' Association) writes about Wriggle and Giggle (extract):

I would recommend this book to anyone working with under 5's - it's always good to get hold of new songs (and inspiration about how to use them!) I was also pleased to find it included all the verses to 'Row your Boat' as I can never remember them...! The music (vocal and guitar) is gentle, not too loud for younger babies but can be made as lively as you like, with lots of scope for movement and actions, percussion or simply banging saucepans with your wooden spoons! It could work equally well if trying to calm down boisterous toddlers... I have rated this book and CD set 8/10.

Tina Haskins of St. Albans writes about our picture songbook Wriggle and Giggle:

"It's been fantastic. I'm trying to think when we first tried it. I think she must have been about 4 months old. It was great to distract her when she was grisly which was frequently! We would listen to the music and try some actions. She loved When I Was One... Now she's 8½ months and for a couple of months I've been baby-sitting once a week for a friend. Two babies only 10 days apart in age... both calm down when I put the Wriggle and Giggle CD on. They find it hilarious when I sing along and do the actions. I have to make sure no one can see me through the window first!

During long car journeys sometimes the only thing which will stop Ellie crying is if I sing nursery rhymes. At first Incey Wincey Spider and Twinkle, Twinkle were good enough but after a while she gets bored of the same old songs and we need some new material. She particularly likes Down in the Jungle and Three Little Men. It's also a nice change for me to sing a new song. I'm not sure whether they're really my favourites rather than hers. That's what my husband suspects anyway.

My sister has witnessed the latest wonder of Wriggle and Giggle. I picked her up from the train station when she came to visit us last week. Ellie was pretty fed up of the car by the return leg of the journey and started to cry. I put on the Wriggle and Giggle CD and she stopped immediately. You must be magicians! So, a big thank you again. I think the new CDs will be a real blessing on our upcoming trip to France."

Gillian Hughes of South Shields e-mailed us about our audio CD The Sea(now discontinued but many songs are on Hip Hop Happy):

"I have the Sea CD which my 11 month old adores and my 6 year old loves! We listen every night before we go to bed and sing and dance and cuddle! Georgia (6) walks around the house singing Hello, Hello, Hello, It's Piccolo! constantly. You have brought a lot of fun into our house. The Sea is our favourite CD ever! Beth (aged 2) starts dancing the moment she hears you sing the hello song and doesn't stop until you sing goodbye! Georgia (age 6) listens to all the words and in her capacity as world famous ballerina makes up dances that reflect the words, complete with hand and face gestures! The songs are great fun and easy to learn, Georgia especially likes the ones which feature Whitley Bay Lighthouse!

We love Wriggle and Giggle also, our favourites being In the Pink, to which Beth does a fab hyena laugh and a wonderful impression of a flamingo. All in all your CD's are great fun for all the family; even Dad goes to work humming Piccolo songs!

Gillian, Georgia and Beth Hughes - Thank you."

If you have a review please e-mail it to us your with your name and address so we can post it on the web site for others to read.