Notes

Most kids know well the Disney versions of 101 Dalmatians, but few are familiar with Dodie Smith's original novel of the same name published in 1956. Now comes the audio interpretation, read with just the right amount of sophistication, exuberance and humor by British actor Martin Jarvis. (Listening Library, unabridged, three cassettes, four hrs., 33 mins., $25, ISBN 0-8072-0672-5, ages 8-up, Feb.).

Narrator Terry Bregy adopts an appropriately boyish tone for his reading of Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt, a Newbery Honor Book in 1965. Bregy compels readers to hear young Jethro Creighton's account of how the horrifying events of the Civil War changed life on his family's Illinois farm, even so many miles from the front lines. (Audio Bookshelf, unabridged, four cassettes, six hrs., $34.95; five CDs, $33.95, ISBN 1-883332-48-6; -75-3, ages 12-up, Feb.)

Few things engage young listeners faster than a silly song. The new CD Beethoven's Wig, written, sung and produced by Richard Perlmutter, takes full advantage of this, presenting 11 pieces of classical music replete with wacky lyrics. The title track describes the large, powdered wigs of Beethoven's time to the music of the composer's Fifth Symphony, and the 1812 Overture becomes "Tchaikovsky's Cannonball," playfully suggested here as "the beginning of pop music." This fun introduction to classical compositions is likely to have families shouting, "Bravo!" (Rounder Kids, 800-768-6337, CD $12.98, all ages, Mar.)

On a quieter note, classical vocalist Clarissa Ocampo, backed by the talented Hawthorne String Quartet, performs a roster of newly adapted traditional folk songs and lullabies on Cradle Songs. Ocampo's rich, elegant voice gives such selections as "Mockingbird" and "Beautiful Dreamer" a true dreamlike quality. The album also includes lesser-known songs like "Ili-Ili" from the Philippines and the Swedish "Tulleri Lull." (IJH Productions, dist. by CDBaby.com, 800-448-6369, CD $ 12.99, Mar.)