The timeless song, "Over the Rainbow," sung by the legendary Judy Collins [sic] has now been transformed in to a beautiful book that any young child would be happy to own. Included with the book is a three-song CD all sung by Judy Collins which includes "Over the Rainbow," "I See the Moon," and "White Coral Bells."

I was beyond excited to find out that I was receiving a copy of this book to review. The illustration on the front cover alone drew me in and I have become very fond of books that include music as I find it is a great way to spark young imaginations while introducing them to music and reading.

The first time Baby Bird and I sat down to read the book, we played the CD at the same time. The book in itself is beautiful to look at, but reading the book while listening to Judy Collins sing the song brings the pages to life.

The story line of the book is based on the first verse to "Over the Rainbow" which, even though it was originally recorded by Judy Collins [sic], was never actually used in the film, The Wizard of Oz. It goes like this, "When all the world is a hopeless jumble and the raindrops tumble all around, Heaven opens a magic lane. When all the clouds darken up the skyway, there's a rainbow highway to be found, Leading from your window pane to a place behind the sun, just a step beyond the rain."

I have to admit, this book made me tear up a couple of times (especially when I played the music and read the book at the same time). It's full of wonder and imagination and I had tears because it took me back to a time when I was younger and daydreams were a daily occurrence for me. Now that I am older, and I'm the "adult," I don't get those opportunities as often as I would like. I thought about Baby Bird and how happy I am that she still has so many years of adventure and innocence ahead of her. So I'd say they were tears of happiness.

The illustrations are beautiful paintings by Eric Puybaret who has illustrated a number of wonderful books. I am told that the artwork was painted on linen and then scanned. The paintings are so soft and flow so beautifully across the page. It takes the reader out of the daily grind to that magical place that you can only imagine, somewhere over the rainbow.

This book will be released in March 2010, but you can pre-order and buy this book online at Amazon.ca or at Amazon.com. This is a great chance to introduce your child to classic music that never goes out of style.

A musical classic inspires the creation of new images of sweeping horizons and fanciful creatures. The book includes a CD by singer Judy Collins. Her crystal-clear voice floats seamlessly through the lyrics, first as a solo, then joined by her piano accompaniment, broadening with succeeding lines and natural rhythmic interpretation of the words. Two additional songs interpreted by Collins make this brief CD a treasure--"I See the Moon" (with children's chorus), and "White Coral Bells." Readers are treated to deep jewel tones as Puybaret carefully pulls them from one image to another with a succession of dreamlike scenes--from a red barn and farmhouse to animated castles in the sky. Clouds and celestial objects float earthward to join a young girl on a journey beyond a rainbow into the upper atomsphere with dreams of impossibilities. The art is unique, delicate, and detailed. Raindrops fall with whisper-thin lines, elongated figures accentuate the hurried action and sweep of the wind, images appear in the clouds, a small child sleeps under the watchful eye of a parent amid musical notes along the path of the rainbow, and bluebirds become elongated creatures of grace. Reading this book with the CD requires awareness of traditionally repeated lines but adds to the shared experience.

The song "Over the Rainbow," written by E.Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen for 1939's The Wizard of Oz, is the basis for this lovely visual and sound collaboration. Harburg's lyrics are the text for a picture book, for which painter Eric Puybaret has created whimsical and endearing paintings. Judy Collins recorded a CD of three songs, including "Over the Rainbow," which is tucked into the back of the book. All in all, a gentle reading and sound experience for children and adults.

Puybaret (Puff, the Magic Dragon) offers a beguilingly surreal interpretation of Harburg's lyrics to the titular song, written for The Wizard of Oz. Leading into the song's familiar chorus is a lesser-known verse describing the world as a "hopeless jumble," portrayed in Puybaret's acrylic paintings as a rain-soaked, windblown cityscape. Giving a nod to the film, the setting shifts to a farm, where a rainbow appears at a girl's window to lead her to "a place behind the sun, just a step beyond the rain." There, cloud castles smile and wave, and planets and stars look kindly on the girl, as she gracefully floats alongside exotic, long-necked bluebirds. When she returns to her barnlike home, the creatures and celestial objects from her magical journey remain, turning the wistful tenor of the closing lines ("Why, oh, why can't I?") into a statement of defiance that speaks to the power of imagination. Creatively meshing folk-art flourishes with an ethereal sensibility, the illustrations well match the fantasy of the lyrics. Grammy-winner Judy Collins sings the title track and two other songs on an accompanying CD.

This haunting song is splendid in this wonderful format and comes with a 3-song CD.

Over the Rainbow is spectacular!! This book has a CD included with it that includes the beloved song performed by Judy Collins. The paintings are by Eric Puybaret and are gorgeous! Really the paintings make this wonderful song/story magical! I LOVE this book and will be excitedly sharing it with friends!! Just beautiful!

In this book, the sky is stormy and the rain is falling. Moods are dismal in the city as people race for shelter, but on a farm, a dark-haired girl escapes the weather and gloom by crawling up the rainbow that has appeared at her window. She goes to a magical land dressed only in her nightgown but she has a smile on her face for the duration of the visit. Multicolored birds accompany her to an entrance that appears to split the clouds. A multitude of glowing stars light her way.

The rainbow acts as a bridge to a land where she is reminded of happy childhood memories (lullabies at bedtime) and where she can spend time dancing among the planets and stars. When it’s time for the girl to go home, she glides back to the farm with blue birds that resemble peacocks and herons. Once she is safely on the ground, the moon and clouds come down to say goodbye.

Accompanying this picture book is a three-song music CD sung by Grammy Award-winner Judy Collins. The first song is sung to the story (however, there is repetition of a verse on the CD that is not illustrated in the book). The second and third songs are short lullabies that are accompanied by piano and children’s vocals.

Over the Rainbow is painted (acrylics on linen) to look like a happy, welcoming world. The clouds hug the planets; the moon and stars smile, and the castles tip their hats and extend their arms in welcoming gestures. It’s also a twinkling world. Stars light up the skies and decorate a beautiful dress. This picture book is a positive interpretation of the song because here the little girl is able to fly over the rainbow.

Over the Rainbow would be a lovely story to hear before falling asleep. There is magic happening above the rainbow throughout the book but the dark green skies surrounding the girl give the illustrations a feeling of calm and peace.

Using the lyrics of the classic song "Over the Rainbow" from the film The Wizard of Oz, this picture book features illustrations by Eric Puybaret and the voice of Judy Collins on the accompanying CD.

Collins' vocal version of the song will delight and touch the heart of every parent and child who listens to the CD. Youngsters between the ages of four and eight will discover vibrant illustrations that follow the text and make the story and song come alive.

The young child pictured in the book follows a rainbow that stretches from her room in a little, red house up into the sky. When she reaches the heavens the girl discovers a wonderland where "the dreams that you dare to dream do come true". Surrounded by stars, the moon and whimsical planets, she makes her wish and then is accompanied back to her home by a flock of bluebirds.

In addition to the title song, the CD also contains two more songs, "White Choral Bells" and "I See the Moon", also sung by the former Grammy winner.

Using the lyrics from the song “Over the Rainbow” featured in the classic movie “The Wizard of Oz,” this beautifully illustrated picture book follows a young girl as she follows a rainbow from her bedroom up into the heavens. The child discovers a magical world of stars, puffy clouds and the moon. And when her short adventure is over, she is accompanied home by a flock of little bluebirds. This beautifully designed picture book also comes with a CD featuring Judy Collins singing “Over the Rainbow” along with two other songs (“White Choral Bells” and “I See the Moon”). The entire family will enjoy reading this book and listening to the accompanying CD. Also, anyone who collects material related to “The Wizard of Oz” will certainly want to purchase this one-of-a-kind picture book and CD.