Cha, Cha, Cha: Canciones Infantiles {Giveaway}

Most kids, mine included, are naturally musical, and using music to create a bilingual environment is an organic way to foster language learning.  So I’m always on the lookout for additions to our playlist, and am happy to say that this will stay in heavy rotation.  If you’re looking for some new tunes en español, you can’t go wrong with “Cha, Cha, Cha!”

Not only is Cha Cha Cha fun to listen to, it really does teach Spanish to both children and parents.  Immediately upon hearing the first few beats of the first song on the cd, “El Barco Chiquito,” my toddler and I were both moving with the music.  The arrangements by Jorge Anaya, a Salvadoran award-winning singer and songwriter, are easy  to listen to. Unlike many other children’s music recordings, when these songs keep running through my head as I run errands or work, I enjoy it!

There are plenty of original recordings on the CD, but also some old favorites, which both my toddler and I were excited to hear–including “Los Elefantes” and “Bingo.” The mix of musical styles, including samba, cha cha, and polka keeps things lively. And it’s intelligently accompanied not by paraphrased translation, but word-by-word translations, which help parents to learn new vocabulary as well.  For my husband, who is still learning Spanish, this was particularly helpful. The company, Whistlefritz, calls these “learning songs” because they really are teaching tools.

I particularly liked the lyrics to many of the original songs, including “Las Vocales,” which included “U-un dia ire a la U, a la universidad!”  Anything that has my baby singing about la universidad, sounds like a great idea to me.

This is also the kind of company I like to support, started by a mom looking for creative ways to raise bilingual children.  When she didn’t find the type of media she wanted, she decided to make it for herself.

Elsie Rivas Gomez is a mother, wife, teacher, and writer living in Pasadena, CA. She was born in El Salvador and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her first collection of poetry, Swimming in El Rio Sumpul, was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. You can find her blogging over at MamaFeminista.

The Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed.  Congratulations to the winners:  Vanessa and Karolena!

Whistlefritz wants two of you to win one Cha, Cha, Cha-Spanish Learning Songs CD.  All you have to do is listen to the clips, come back, and tell us which song is your favorita.

That’s all you have to do to enter this giveaway. If you want to up your chances at winning, then this is how you can get additional entries (only after you´ve completed the step above):

**Please leave a separate comment for each so we can count them and avoid mistakes.

1. Subscribe to our feed via email or RSS and leave us an extra comment letting us know you did so or that you’re already a subscriber.

2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway including a link to the post.

3. Blog about this giveaway making sure to include our link, and you’ll get TWO additional entries.

This giveaway ends Friday, Aug. 20 at midnight EST and you must have a valid U.S. address to enter.

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