I’m suppose to be getting ready for a trip but I thought I’d put singer-songwriter-storyteller Bill Harley's Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live DVD on in the background, just to get familiar with it before I officially gave it all my attention for review. After two minutes I was laughing, after five I was sitting down watching it, with all thoughts of other activities down the drain.

The first thing I want to say about Bill Harley is he is funny. I mean really funny.

He also makes kids feel smart. Bill Harley speaks to children with respect and empathy. His stories will resonate with adults as well as children of school age. Older toddlers will be entertained with his sing-along songs, but their attention may wander with the longer tales. He has an excellent voice and his songs are clever and innovative, and his most passionate audience will be among kids ages five to twelve or so, and adults.

Watch and listen to "The Ballad of Dirty Joe" above for a good example of his narrative poetry skills. Singer, comedian, poet, performer - yes, I am pretty impressed.

Yes to Running! is his first DVD. In his long career Harley has made a number of albums and won several Grammys.

A nice combination of his old and new material from the last 20 years of his work is represented. The concert program is in standard widescreen, unlike the squished YouTube version above. Bill Harley answers kids questions in the bonus tracks and adults will be interested in his career retrospective.

My favorite part of the video is the story "The Great Sled Race." The story begins as Bill Harley and a friend dare each other to a race down Mammoth Hill. The two boys slide madly down the hill, across an intersection and into Mrs. Tarbuckle, the wife of Mr. Tarbuckle, the school principal. I had great fun imagining that scene in my mind.

Here's another segment from the show:



You can buy Yes to Running! on Amazon.com or from Harley's website, where you can also see a video interview with him here. - Karen