Cheap and cheerful really is the best way to characterise three 40-minute tapes from the Children’s Audio Company. They cost no more than a couple of frozen pizzas, and are relentlessly buoyant, driven by computerised drum-rhythms and full of sound effects and synthesised melodic decoration in a pop-friendly idiom, with adults and children providing the vocals. The songs are a mixture of the familiar and the new and ar, by necessity, extremely repetitive. Grown-ups will probably want to be in the next room while children play, but small children will painlessly absorb many raw literacy and numeracy facts.

Alphabet Songs (PT266), Counting Songs (PT267) Tables Songs (PT 268) from the Children’s Audio Company cost pound;2.99 each from retailers. More information from: enquiries@cypmusic.co.uk or website: www.kidsmusic.co.uk