You Are Magic. Performed by Alison Faith Levy. CD. Approx. 26 min. Strange Little Girl Music. 2021. CD: $12; Digital: $10. Ages 3—8
San Francisco singer Levy performs nine songs in folk and pop rock musical styles. With foot-tapping beats and sing-along tunes, she presents songs designed to help children define their values, to connect with others, and to use their creativity to connect with the natural world and make the world a better place. The album begins with “Roots & Branches” and rises up to the ending piece, “Leaves & Sky,” both of which are lovely folk instrumentals. “Turn Around” reminds listeners that they are changing and encourages them to be kind to their neighbors. “You Are Magic” because you can greet people with a smile, you can care for the earth, and you can make the world a better place. “Putting It Back Together” is a ballad about the narrator putting together a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of the Earth on a snowy day. In “Draw,” a pencil and a crayon explain how they can create pictures. Written when she visited Big Sur, “Canopy” tells of a jungle or forest canopy, which protects the creatures underneath it. “The Gift” explains about different types of gifts, whether wrapped in paper or dropped at the gate. “Now Is the Moment” we’ve been waiting for because it’s our time (however, Levy does not explain what “we’ve” been waiting for). This lovely album will help listeners be mindful of other people and their environment.
Website: http://www.alisonfaithlevy.com/
