Lyrical ‘Ouch’ entertains family> Audio tape will have kids singing along

OUCH: SONGS FROM THE COAST OF MAINE, music and lyrics by Frank Gotwals, illustrations by Rebekah Raye, F&D Records, 1998, $14.95.

Are you planning on traveling with young children this summer? Would you like your conversation on the road to rise above, “He breathed on me,” “She stole my candy bar,” “I GOTTA GO”? (And let’s not forget the plaintive “Are we almost there?” chorus.) Don’t cancel the trip. Stock up on favorite snacks, portable drinks and activities to keep little minds and hands occupied constructively.

Music hath powers to soothe the restless toddler. But finding a tape that will captivate youngsters without driving Mom or Dad up the wall can be tricky. Fortunately, I have discovered a real winner in “Ouch! Songs from the Coast of Maine.” Author-musician Frank Gotwals accompanies himself on guitar. His songs range from whimsical to touching and make excellent sing-alongs.

“Ouch!” the title song, with a colorfully illustrated accompanying book, describes the plight of a lobsterman who gets his nose a little too close to the hungry crustacean he has caught. My son Adam, 2, loves that one — especially the refrain — “A lobster on your nose is a painful, funny sight. You’ll say ouch if a lobster bites.”

Gotwals wrote “Ouch!” in answer to the many visitors who have asked him if he’s ever been bitten. He created the accompanying book to make it more than just a silly song. The illustrations by artist Rebekah Raye show the props and process of lobstering and depict other sea creatures one is likely to encounter in the Penobscot Bay. A page at the end describes how lobsters must molt in order to grow. Gotwals said, “I want to inform as well as entertain.”

“What Would You Do” is a great spur for children’s imagination and reasoning. Questions such as, “What would you do if you had five arms like a sea star?” could give rise to some mighty amusing pictures by young artists. “Do you think you’d like to be a creature of the sea or are you glad you’re human?” stirred up a lively conversation at my house. Katie, 6, finds her human status preferable because she’d rather not eat fish. Amber, 8, envies the sea critters their freedom from math homework but wouldn’t trade places.

“Wolf of the Wind” describes the desperate struggle of fishermen trapped in “a full Atlantic winter gale” and unable to return home. To prevent their boat from being dashed to bits against the rocky shore, they must head for open waters, “our only chance to ride it out at sea.”

My favorite song — “Harbor Lights” — describes the quiet winter dusk of a seaside town and the pull of a beloved landmark on a traveler. The refrain in which Gotwals considers it a comfort that, “the harbor lights are shining on a town I call home,” appeals to the sentiments of anyone who has cherished a familiar light cutting through the dark and cold of a winter night or who treasures a place in the heart, no matter how far from the coast that place may be.

“Harbor Lights” mirrors Gotwals’ own life story. Growing up in western Massachusetts, he spent his summers on Deer Isle. Finally, when he was 18, his family bought his grandfather’s place and moved to Maine year-round. “It always felt like it was home.”

Gotwals was faced with the adult challenge of making a living on a Maine island. His love of working with his hands and being outdoors drew him to lobstering. His passion for music, inherited from his father, a music professor and church organist, and mother, a choral director, inspired him to learn guitar and try his hand at songwriting.

Gotwals, a father of two, also enjoys working with children. His performances for young people range from concerts for hundreds to more intimate presentations where he lets fans try out his guitar. He would like to encourage youngsters and their parents to learn and care about the ocean. “I’m concerned about the way we’re poisoning the planet. If we destroy our environment we won’t have any place to live,” he said.

The only danger in Gotwals’ music is that it’s addictive. My children constantly demand his tape. And I catch myself singing along while I do the dishes.