Castle in My City: Songs for Young Children
Patty Zeitlin, Lucille Krasne
Hardcover
(Golden Gate Junior Books, March 15, 1968)
From the Los Angeles Times: "Singing the praises of Patty Zeitlin's Castle in My City is the most appropriate way to describe this enthusiastic recognition of her talents. This is a book of original songs for young children. Each song is a gem-like expression in mood and freshness, in melody and lyric of the simple, joyful, thoughtful, exuberant feelings and many interests and wonderings of small children." The title song refers to the Watts Towers Art Center where the children, under the skilled leadership of Lucille Krasne, were inspired to produce the colorful impressionistic drawings, which add to the charm of the book. Parents and teachers will welcome this collection of original songs. Using words as children themselves might, the songs are about things important in a child's world...trains, horses, cats, worms, housecleaning, rain, and wind. The simple melodies are in a range most comfortable for young children's voices and make use of rhythms with interesting variety.