Children

Children's vinyl records: Where the turntable brings story time to life

The golden age of children's records: From the 1950s to the 1980s

From the 1950s onward, vinyl became the go-to medium for sparking a child's imagination. In France, the Le Petit Ménestrel label, founded by Lucien Adès, broke new ground with musical tales narrated by top-tier actors, François Périer, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Gérard Philipe, set to original scores. These LPs, often bundled with an illustrated booklet, turned listening into a full-blown sound theatre. Original Adès pressings, with their distinctive rainbow centre label, remain among the most coveted by collectors today.

Anne Sylvestre, Henri Dès, and the essential names in children's music

You cannot talk about children's vinyl without mentioning Anne Sylvestre's Fabulettes, first released on Philips in the early 1960s. Wry and poetic songs like 'La Petite Hirondelle' and 'Le Petit Bonhomme' have enchanted three generations. Henri Dès followed in the 1970s with a rock-infused approach, while Chantal Goya and Dorothée ruled the children's aisles throughout the 1980s. And let's not overlook Disney soundtracks: French pressings of Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book (1967) are genuine treasures for those who know where to look.

For collectors, the condition of the sleeve, often battered by small hands, and the inclusion of original booklets or stickers make all the difference. Early Le Petit Ménestrel pressings in good shape can vary widely in price depending on the seller and the title's rarity. By aggregating offers from multiple specialist retailers, Vinyles.com gives you a clear snapshot of the market so you can secure the best deal. Favour 1960s-70s French pressings, whose warm, finely cut grooves bring voices and orchestrations to life beautifully.