Morning Magic (1991)

Kids are not the only people who have trouble getting up in the morning. I did not test Joanie Bartels' pleasant collection of wake-up music, Morning Magic, on my tot at the crack of dawn, when pushing PLAY would have required more hand-eye coordination than I have that early. I waited until after her nap, during the Cranky Hour.

She liked it. She sat still (in itself a miracle) for Bartels' lovely opening rendition of Cat Stevens' ''Morning Has Broken,'' the traditional ''Lazy Mary, Will You Get Up?'' and a cover of Raffi's ''Rise and Shine.'' Her attention did not falter until an over-long version of ''Oh What a Beautiful Mornin''' from Oklahoma! ''I already did that song,'' she whined, halfway through.

But mainly, from Lennon-McCartney's ''Good Day Sunshine'' to Uncle Ruthie Buell's playful ''Wake Up Toes'' to ''Put on a Happy Face,'' the tot listened. While she did not in fact put on a happy face, she did not kvetch or fidget (another miracle).

After 17 minutes of soothing lyrics, side two features instrumentals of the same 10 songs. A mom who can sing might further entertain her toddler by crooning along. I am not that mom. By the end, my toddler was smearing Chap Stick on an earplug (don't ask) and yelping for ''a snack.'' Overall, though, a success. A-

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