To lean more about the Achievement Centers for Children, look at their web site at:  www.achievementcenters.org

You may also call them at:  216-292-9700

About Me

This record brings back many fond memories of my childhood.  I remember my father talking about it.  He knew about the production because he was a math teacher at Wiley Jr. High School, part of the Cleveland Heights/University Heights School System.

When the record was released in December of 1961, my father asked my mother to purchase a copy.   She tried but could not find it anywhere.

I understand that a slightly animated discussion occured that evening.  The next day my mother made several long distance phone calls to Cleveland area stores, found and reserved a copy.  She then had my father pick it up after work.  The record was very popular and sold out within a few days.

This became our favorite Christmas record and we wore it out!  Even so, when we were selling my parents' home, posession of it became an issue.  I finally asked my father if I could have a professional copy made.  He did permit this, but I did not make a copy of the album cover.

Several years ago, around Thanksgiving, I contacted the Library of Congress to see if they might have a clean copy of the record.  They did not, but the librarian told me that a copy was for sale on Amazon.com.  I purchased it immediately, but that record was in worse shape than my copy!  But now that I had the album cover, I had a better chance of finding Dick Wooley.

Even with this information, it took years to find Dick. I finally subscribed to PeopleFinders.com and found two men by the name of Dick Wooley in Northeast Ohio.  I sent letters to both of them.  A few days later I received a call from Dick.  He was ecstatic that I wanted to republish his record, but he explained that he no longer had a copy.  About ten minutes later, he called back and said that he had TWO copies!  I will never forget that day!

I am not affiliated in any way with the Achievement Centers for Children.  The original record was dedicated to this organization, with the net proceeds from the sale of this record going to them.  In keeping with this, all of the net proceeds of this republishing effort go to them.

Irene Bray