Slightly offbeat audiobooks and music for a 3yo?

[butterpieify]

DD1 (and DD2 who shares the room) likes to listen to audiobooks, and sometimes music CDs, when she is going to sleep. However, if I have to hear the nutcracker story one more time I swear I will insist on silence!

We have "colours are brighter", which btw is a brilliant music CD, with songs that adults can actually listen to, and a few of the 1950's childrens radio songs CDs, but she does tend to prefer stories.

We're trying to gently divert her from too much princessy stuff, and her favourite story books atm are the tiger who came to tea, the gruffallo, princess smartypants, love you forever (sob), blueberry girl and the baby books that either just have a picture of an animal and one word or are that's not my....

Her favourite DVDs are Muzzy (Spanish), Where the wild things are (the old animated version with the nutshell library and so on) and the yellow submarine. The baby loves Paddington Bear.

Would probably be best to have something new, rather than a CD of a book she owns already, and of course we have to bear in mind that DD2 is gradually starting to understand stories as well.

DD1 is 3.10, DD2 is 1.2.

Any ideas (especially if they are can be ordered off Amazon) would be very welcome!

Thanks!

Mog also by Judith Kerr (Tiger who came to Tea) might hit the spot?

We had this one on tape, and dd (& I) loved the stories (though I have to say that I hated Mog's Amazing Birthday Caper which is an ABC and sounds daft read out loud IMO)

We also all loved Percy the Park Keeper both on cd and the animated dvd

(DH & I can both still recite the part of The Rescue Party where the baby rabbit falls down the hole & bring it out at appropriate moments despite the fact that dd will be 9 next birthday )

Might be a bit lively for bedtime but 2.10 year old DS loves Adrian edmondson's cd of Dr seuss's cat in the hat.

They Might be Giants

The best kids CD ever. Appeals to all ages - including grown ups. Funny and clever and not patronizing.

And I am not related to any of them - more's the pity.

Calico pie by Paul Bradley. It's lovely! Also love they might be giants. Mine love belle and sebastian too (we also have colours are brighter). And DS1 likes queen. But not very good bedtime music!

DD (4) loves Johnny Morris reading the Jungle Book and also listening to the Nutcracker Suite (ponce emoticon! ).
A favourite since she was a baby has been this French Playground, which is seriously cute.

And I've just seen that Paul Bradley is doing a children's concert in Bristol on sunday so have booked tickets!

This is all brill stuff :)

I did consider Belle and Sebastian in general (big fan) but was a bit worried by the sheer amount of miserable bullied children in their songs!

Hmm, how about my naughty little sister? I remember loving it as a child myself, but I read it myself, so is it for older children? I seem to remember reading it to my younger sister, who would have been maybe 3 if I could read and she couldn't, so maybe it would be good?

I would say that if its too old for her now, she'd grow into it very soon, so you wouldn't have wasted your money.

My nearly three year old is enjoying Story Tree at the moment, one year old not really taking it in yet though! She has got very keen on making porridge because of the Magic Porridge Pot story though!

All Afloat on Noah's Boat is great fun! DS (2.5) loves it.

Loved My Naughty Little Sister, I think that would be an excellent choice.
Belle & Sebastien confused me for a mo, had visions of children dropping off to sleep to Boy with the Arab Strap (!), but it's a little boy and his dog, isn't it?
If you like Maurice Sendak stuff there is an excellent dvd called Really Rosie, with music from Carole King, but it looks pretty expensive.

If you are up for it, you could always tape yourself reading - even with some help from the children, sound effects etc I did this once, when I had more time - it was meant as a sort of economy - recording the library books - but it turned into a fun project for the three of us.

Yes! Story tree! Love it, and also the barefoot book of princesses (and they do others too - look on amazon).

No, I meant the Belle and Sebastian you first thought of! Something about their music really appeals to my kids. And you can't really hear the words...

Love the idea of recording your own.

this is a firm favourite in our house and DD1 (nearly 2) demands it whenever we get in the car.

How about some Disney movie soundtracks?

DD really enjoys classical - you can get amazing compilations aimed at children by classic fm etc.

Peter and the wolf is bloody brilliant (though you may want to check it's not too scary first!)

Damn you seeker was just gonna say 'They might be giants' grr

Doesn't it make you want to spit when that happens, schroeder?!!!

But it is a seriously fab CD - I like that it's funny but doesn't talk down to kids. And the music's good too, which is very unusual.

Yup, you stole my wind!

Have to say that this is my favourite TMBG - still good for kids, too. Was a bit disappointed with 'No'.

The Julia Donaldson set of CDs that ELC sell is fantastic. Think there are 6 of them - Room on a Broom, Squash and a Squeeze, Gruffalo, Snail and the Whale, Smartest Giant in Town and another. My guys are 7, 4 and 3 and we love it!

Pumpkin soup by helen cooper, Just so stories read by Johnny Morris, Peter and the Wolf, Young person's guide to the orchestra?