Picnic Playground

Leave it to Putumayo to combine music and food in its recently released CD, Picnic Playground. I'm a longtime fan of Putumayo World Music and its Kids Division, beginning with World Playground in 1999.

Picnic Playground is a collection of songs about food sung by artists--guitarists, singers, songwriters, pop stars and musical groups--from around the world. Songs in Swahili, French, German, Spanish, Danish and English explore cherries, tomatoes, milk, ice cream and pie.

One of my favorite songs by the South African singer, dancer and actress Kheswa, describes a beautiful day shopping at the farmers market purchasing all the makings of a picnic.

With the holidays now around the corner, this CD will make a great gift for foodies and their young proteges.

--Tracy Schneider