ELIZABETH FALCONER: Little Pink FIsh

Elizabeth Falconer

Little Pink FIsh

© 2005 Koto World (804778010823)

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A fish that learns to read. Sing the aqua-alphabet song with Little PInk Fish, and hear other stories of determination, sharing, and friendhip.

notes

Little Pink Fish is proud to be both an iParenting Media Award and Children's Music Web Award winner! Is your child learning to read? Sing the aqua-alphabet with Little Pink Fish!

Elizabeth Falconer's latest release, Little Pink Fish, is full of uplifting surprises and fantastical fun. The CD is her fifth title in her series of "Musical Adventures." Like her previous releases, this CD combines stories and koto music, and includes two folktales from Japan. This release breaks new ground, as it is the first to include her own original tale, Little Pink Fish, and also an Okinawan story told to the accompaniment of a traditional Okinawan instrument, the sanshin. Falconer learned to play sanshin, a 3-stringed lute, and researched Okinawan traditional culture extensively in order to bring the singular sound of the sanshin to American listeners in a unique telling of a folktale about two frogs.

This is Koto World's 10th release. The label, which was founded in 2000, features koto, a 13-stringed classical instrument from Japan, used with stories, lullabies, and as a solo instrument. Nearly all of Koto World's titles have received national recognition from organizations such as Parents' Choice, NAPPA, iParenting Media, Storytelling World, and Just Plain Folks. "I feel I have something unique to offer," says Falconer, who studied the classical instrument in Japan for over a decade in the 1980s. "I have firsthand knowledge of Japan. I love to write. And I love to play koto." After Falconer and her husband John adopted two boys in 1997, she was inspired to begin putting stories to music. When her first release, "Plum Boy!" received highest honors from the Parents' Choice Foundation, she knew she was on the right track. "We need meaningful, well-told stories," she says. "They provide not only insight into Japanese culture, they provide insight into ourselves." Falconer, who holds a Ph.D. in International Education, enjoys sharing her music and stories in programs at schools, libraries, and festivals, and has toured in the US, Canada, Japan, and Australia.

Falconer's sense of fun is in the forefront on her latest release. The stories are filled with frolic and play; a fish who asks questions, a monkey who teases a crab, a hero who sucks his thumb and a "hoppositional" froggy. Falconer's creative use of words and humor weave together Japanese phrases, charming choruses, and original music, making this CD sure to appeal to a wide age group. "The target age is 4-9, she explains, "but I make efforts to offer something at different levels for all ages to enjoy when I create the stories."

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  • 4 Thumbs Up (my daughter's & mine) for Little Pink Fish
    author: Amazon Review

    Elizabeth Falconer has another winner with "Little Pink Fish." Her ability to combine fresh interpretations of traditional Japanese folk tales is truly exceptional. And, the music of the traditional Japanese koto in melodies and sound effects gives the child an education in music ethnocology without them even knowing it. In "Atabichi, the Hoppositional Frog," the lovely minor chords of Okinawan music provide a backdrop for the story that gives it authenticity and the unique flavor of Okinawan culture that is separate from the rest of Japan. As a person of Japanese descent raised in America, I'm truly grateful that an artist like Ms. Falconer is available to families who want to maintain cultural ties with our heritage. For our children, they are certainly grateful that this is being done in a fun way! However, for those children of other cultures, "Little Pink Fish" still has a universal appeal that doesn't come off as "educational," it's just captivating and purely enjoyable story telling. It's recommended for ages 4 and up, but my 2-year old daughter was singing along with "Tomodachi Kintaro...." during her first listening experience the other night before bed. The next morning, she was asking for "Little Pink Fish" upon waking. I highly recommend Ms. Falconer's Koto World CDs to parents and children alike. Besides the story telling CDs, the koto music ones are also wonderful for all ages. "Oyasumi" has become our standard new baby gift to friends who all say how much they love it! Tatsuo Tomeoka WaSabiDou Antiques & Folk Crafts Seattle, WA USA

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