Artists:Sarah Barchas

Sarah Barchas has over 33 years of experience as an educator, school librarian, storyteller, publisher, and singer-songwriter. She has earned and received a B.A. in music, an M.ED in Elementary Education, and a PhD in reading. She has written books for young children, including "I was walking Down the Road", which was published in both English and Spanish by Scholastic, Inc., and has taught a university course in Storytelling.

Although Sarah Barchas began writing songs earlier than that, her first album of recorded music for children was released in 1979 on Folkways Records. Entitled "EVERYONE HAS FEELINGS and other songs" (Folkways Album # FC 7567), it was an early indication of her concern about multicultural issues before they became popular, as well as a strong statement of her love for children and animals.

Her second album on Folkways, released in 1980, was entitled "IN THIS OUR LAND - SONGS ABOUT AMERICA" (Folkways Album # FC 7590). In the introduction to that album she indicates, in describing the people of America, "We are very much a heterogeneous, multi-faceted people, differing in ethnic group, religion, background, culture, and belief, yet reaching toward common goals, common aspirations. Each group has made important contributions. Each individual can be a resource to others."

Her third album on Folkways, released in 1981, was entitled "A QUITE REMARKABLE SNOWMAN - Activity Songs for Young Children" (Folkways Album # FC 7568). In the introduction to that album she points out "When children can associate learning with enjoyment through activity and spontaneous involvement, they will continue to want to learn, to share, to explore and enjoy together." What better way is there than through song, which not only provides a vehicle for children to learn, share, and explore together, but also transcends cultural and language barriers?

Please note that Folkways Records is now part of the Smithsonian Institution and is now called Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Songs from all three of Sarah Barchas' Folkways albums have been made available individual, as albums or as custom CDs from Smithsonian Global Sound as follows:

Songs from "Everyone Has Feelings and Other Children's Songs", released in 1979 on Folkways FW 7567, with sound samples, can be found at Smithsonian Global Sound, Item 1331

Songs from "In This Our Land:Songs about America", released in 1980 on Folkways FW 7590, with sound samples, can be found at Smithsonian Global Sound, item 1339

Songs from "A Quite Remarkable Snowman: Activity Songs for Young Children", released in 1981 on Folkways FW 7568, with sound samples, can be found at

Smithsonian Global Sound, item 1332

While some of the songs have been re-recorded in her later releases on the High Haven Music label, they were not the same versions and do not duplicate the originals