In 2010, I had the pleasure of reviewing the first volume of Simple Songs That Teach French CD and Activity Book; now Volume 2 is here. Oh, joy! My children are eager to explore this new volume of songs. I am happy they will add some new French vocabulary to their language boxes.

Volume 2 offers 23 new songs. Some language topics are carried over from the first volume, e.g. colors, months, seasons, numbers, and vegetables. New topics include fashion, continents, insects, the classroom, and more. I like the song "La Boite" that teaches prepositions in a cute way. The accompanying Activity Book contains the text and English translations of all the songs with a few exercises to accompany each one. As with Volume 1, the exercises include such tasks as matching, mazes, and writing vocabulary, but Volume 2 adds some depth and complexity to the language. For example, the number song in Volume 1 counts from one to twenty. The number song in Volume 2 does that plus skip counts by 10 to 100 and teaches the words for 1,000 and 1,000,000. Similarly, Volume 1 contains a chant for the months of the year and a little song about the seasons. Volume 2 reviews the seasons and adds a song that teaches how to ask and answer what months belong to each season. Children who are familiar with the first volume will find the similarity of format and the repetition of some of the language comforting, yet they will be challenged by new vocabulary and more complex language.

The songs for Volume 2 are just wonderful. The tunes are catchy, energetic, and fun, even if one doesn't understand French. The new, engaging melodies make you feel...well...happy. That's what my husband said, and I agree. Ms. Ducey's articulation is clear, which I appreciate.

If you are looking for a tool to immerse your children in the French language, in a way that will teach some basic vocabulary and conversation, the Simple Songs That Teach French program is worth your consideration. It requires little-to-no effort to implement and is very enjoyable for kids and adults alike. The company website offers compelling information on the benefits of second language acquisition for young learners.

The CD and Activity Book set is available on the website for $24.99. The CD and Activity Book are available individually at $14.99 and $11.99, respectively. A separate Activity Book is recommended for each child, but the price for 2 or more is reduced to $9.99 per book. PDF samples of the book and audio samples of the songs are available at www.simplesongs.com.

Product Review by Nancy Casari Dayton, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, January, 2012