Sing-Along Offered

Fun For All

By Nancy K. Crevier

Children from 2 to 6 toddled, tiptoed, dashed and strolled into the meeting room of C.H. Booth Library on Thursday morning, December 10, to join Sandy Hook resident and performer Francine Wheeler for 30 minutes of jolly holiday tunes.

Ms Wheeler, a singer, songwriter, actress and teacher, has designed music programs for babies and young children, and is a member of The Dream Jam Band, a rock band for children. The Dream Band Jam CD Brush Your Teeth was a Top Ten pick on National Public Radio for 2007. She is a featured entertainer at the Edmond Town Hall Flagpole Radio Show, and performs a children’s parties.

Bouncing babies sat in parents’ laps and older children sang along to familiar tunes like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “The Driedel Song,” and listened attentively to other short pieces performed by Ms Wheeler. Provided with Christmas bells, the children were enthusiastic participants for “Jingle Bells” and other bell-ringing songs.

Jessica Pinkney, who attended with her 3-year-old daughter, Rita, and sister Stephanie Daly and 21-month-old Tallulah, said that the program was their first opportunity to hear Ms Wheeler perform.

“It was really fun. We definitely would go again if Francine was playing,” said Ms Pinkney.

Lois Hall of Torrington attended with her three grandchildren, Tyler, Kaylee and Abby Hall of Newtown, and agreed that the sing-along was a fun way to break up the morning.

“That’s what is so great about Newtown. There are so many wonderful things for the kids to do,” she said.