Books into Songs, Songs into Books

Author, singer and composer Sarah Weeks adapts one of her original tunes as a picture book in Angel Face, illustrated with swirling, evocative pastels by David Diaz. This tale of how a mother's love makes her child a special angel in her eyes is accompanied by a recording of the poignant, folk-flavored song featuring guitar accompaniment. (Simon & Schuster, hardcover book and CD, $17.95 ISBN 0-689-83302-4, ages 3-7; Apr.)

With winter still lingering, a listen to Antarctic Antics may be in order. This CD recording contains jaunty songs from the Weston Woods video adaptation of Judy Sierra's 1998 picture book of penguin poems (illus. by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey) as well as Sierra's narration of 12 of the poems. (Scholastic/Weston Woods, $15.95 ISBN 1-55592-972-9, ages 3-up; Dec. 2001)

Nothing says spring like bouncy, traditional children's songs. Megan Tingley Books looks to the season with Sing-Along Songs: Miss Mary Mack, The Lady with the Alligator Purse and Skip to My Lou, a set of three board books adapted and illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott (Mary Ann Hoberman adapted "Miss Mary Mack") packaged with a cassette recording of the songs performed by Tracie Higgins. (Little, Brown/Tingley, $14.95 ISBN 0-316-93021-0 ages 6 mos.-5 yrs.; Mar.)