Reviewed by Carolyn Schofield

I bought the first two "Sing-a-long" tapes for my daughter six or seven years ago and this series has changed little since then. The main selling point seems to be the split track stereo recording, so you can turn down the voices and sing along yourself - though it would help if the lyrics were included on the cassette sleeve. Then there is the usual polished but predictable production and the songs - a mixture of tried and tested ("As The Deer", "Lord, We Lift Your Name On High"), irritatingly childish ("God Sure Is Smart") and some previously unknown but very pleasant tracks. To me the real test of a kids' tape is, does it appeal to children, and my two aged 11 and seven certainly enjoyed it. However, more sophisticated children may well find the format unappealing and bland and it would seem more suitable for under sevens. I do feel this series has had its day and it would be nice to see Maranatha produce something new and exciting for children.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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