Well, This is Nice...Reviews!

Sometimes the Universe sees you need a little boost and just sends you a present. Don't you love it when that happens? Recently the Earth Mama CDs got these unexpected great reviews for Midwest Book Reviews, a specialty house that refers media materials to libraries and schools. 

Reviewer's Bookwatch: July 2016
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575

Andrea's Bookshelf

Rouse House Music
PO Box 450, Independence, VA 24348
www.earthmama.org

Joyce "EarthMama" Rouse has created a grand variety of music albums over the course of decades, all with the common themes of promoting eco-literacy and good stewardship, appreciation for nature's splendor, the manifold joys of love and kindness, and everyday nobility in thoughts and actions (such as the moral principle encapsulated in the song "Only Take What You Need"). Her music is a treasure the whole family can enjoy, and makes excellent addition to school and public library CD collections. A selection of her uplifting, ecology-themed music albums include "A Sense of Place" ($14.99 CD/$9.99 MP3), "Pay Attention" ($15.00 CD/$9.99 MP3), "Around the World" ($14.97 CD/$9.99 MP3), "Love Large" ($15.00 CD/$11.00 MP3), "Grass Roots!" ($15.00 CD/$9.00 MP3), and "Under the Rainbow" ($15.00 CD/$9.00 MP3).
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/jul_16.htm#andrea


Andrea Kay
Reviewer

Library Bookwatch: July 2016
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575

The Multimedia Shelf

Virginia Beauty: A Love Song for the Commonwealth
Joyce Johnson Rouse
Rouse House Music
PO Box 450, Independence, VA 24348
www.earthmama.org
$12.00 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com

Since Virginia has no official state song, composer Joyce Johnson Rouse (a.k.a. "EarthMama") created Virginia Beauty: A Love Song for the Commonwealth as a tribute to Virginia's natural beauty, hardworking people, and rich history. A medley of expert musicians perform Virginia Beauty in standard, bluegrass, abbreviated, and instrumental versions. Virginia Beauty is also enriched with bonus materials; when the CD inserted into a computer, the user gains access to printable documents and suggestions for using the song in performance and education. Highly recommended! The audio tracks are "Long Version", "Bluegrass Version - Featuring Dale Ann Bradley", "Short Version", and "Instrumental Track".
 http://www.midwestbookreview.com/lbw/jul_16.htm#Multimedia


Children's Bookwatch: June 2016
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575

The Holiday Shelf

Christmas Heart
Joyce Johnson Rouse
Rouse House Music
PO Box 450, Independence, VA 24348
www.earthmama.org
$15.00 CD / $10.00 MP3 cdbaby.com

Joyce "EarthMama" Rouse presents Christmas Heart, a holiday-themed music CD for the whole family. Some of the songs have religious themes that celebrate God's love and the birth of Jesus Christ; all are shining with the universal joy and camaraderie of the season. An included lyric booklet makes Christmas Heart ideal for sharing and singing aloud, especially at Christmas caroling or parties. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Christmas Heart" (3:18), "Close To The Earth" (4:26), "Baby Child, Baby King" (2:34), "The Angel Tree" (3:49), "First Christmas Waltz" (3:27), "Christmas Candles" (2:52), "Quaker Christmas Medley" (5:03), "For Christmas" (3:25), "Fear Not (in the Stile Nacht)" (5:20), and "Green Christmas" (4:57).
 http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/jul_16.htm#Holiday


Full reviews here:

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/jul_16.htm#andrea

TREE POLKA! 

BY EARTH MAMA 

I wrote this after working with middle school kids who could only name 4 types of trees! There are over 60 tree species listed in this song, including the whole second verse filled with pine trees. Can you smell the forest pines?

Earth Literacy, the art and science of knowing this planet we call Home, the knowing and naming by species and biome, by taste and smell, by season and climate add to the richness of our lives. Earth Literacy is also the key to a sustainable future on our Amazing Earth!

   Learn to dance the polka for great exercise and co-ordination.

Tree Polka by Joyce Johnson Rouse

Oak, elm and poplar

Alder, magnolia and ash

Redbud and linden

Persimmon, apple, sumac

Walnut and hickory

Sweet gum and sycamore, yew

Maple, cherry, pear and myrtle

Cottonwood and spruce

(A verse of pines)

Digger and Jeffrey

Torrey and bristle cone

Lodgepole and bishop

Limber, Apache, knobcone

Sugar, Chihuahua

Whitebark and Monterey

Austrian, Scotch and Coulter

Western, white, Foxtail

Ginkgo and hemlock

Locust and chestnut and birch

Buckeye and laurel

Olive and aspen and fir

Basswood and dogwood

Butternut, cedar and beech

Tulip, chinkopin, mimosa

Willow, palm and peach

©2002 Rouse House Music, ASCAP. All rights reserved. http://www.earthmama.org/home

This Tree Polka blog written by Joyce Rouse was first published in the Children's Music Network blog in December, 2014. Reposted here with their permission.

The Man Who Precycles Christmas Trees

We ran into our friend, Joe, Christmas week and he pointed out the beautiful big decorated (no lights, just outdoor ornaments, garlands and a big star) in the field in front of his house.
We asked him if he had cut down a real, live tree for this display and he told us a wonderful story of how he PRE-cycles and reuses trees every year:

Joe has lots of friends and family here, most of whom have houses and yards. He keeps track of folks he knows who have evergreen trees that have outgrown their backyards, or need to be removed for a building project, or must sacrifice their space for some other use. Then come December he performs careful tree removal for them and has a beautiful fresh Christmas tree in his front yard/field. It is a tradition that has gone on 8 or 9 years now. He has trees lined up for the next 2 years and is certain that there will be more after that. Of course, as with most conservation efforts, it takes forethought and some advanced planning. But it gives the tree that must be removed one last flash of attention and glory. And is a joyful reminder of this season to all who pass by, as well as a model and example of careful use of resources for those who know the story.

What things might I precycle or reuse in the coming year? There are new examples showing up every day!