WISH AWAY: Rumpel and Friends with More Tales to Tell

On this homespun, inviting production, Dugan retells six favorite fairy and folktales from around the world. Dugan's crisp, energetic performing style serves her well here, injecting her story selections with a vibrance sure to charm young listeners. "Rumpelstilksin," in which Dugan's queen guesses "Batman" and "Santa" as possible names for the little gold spinner, kicks off the collection. A combination of trilling, calling and hand claps add vigor to "The Freedom Bird," a tale from Thailand about a bird that taunts a hunter. And in Dugan's jaunty rendition of the English story "The Three Wishes," a woodcutter and his wife humorously bungle a magical gift when the woodcutter becomes greedy. Dugan adds snippets of a cappella singing throughout, and other brief musical interludes performed on drum, jaw harp or other instruments appear as well. On the West African tale "The Magic Drum," Dugan easily slips into an accent from that region, giving it some extra spice. "The Rabbit and the Moon" from India and the Native American "Little Scarred One" round out the recording. This clear, simple approach should prove a good choice for both classroom and family listening. Ages 3-9. (May)