Children's songs in Chinese

Penny is learning some Chinese children's songs at preschool. I love this not only because Penny is super cute when she sings them, but also because I love children's songs. I think you learn a lot about people and societies by what songs they sing with their children.
So the first song Penny is singing is called 小兔子乖乖。It means "good little rabbit." I grew up hearing that story of the wolf coming to knock on the sheep's door, saying it was the momma sheep. It put on a sheep suit, put flour on its hands, and then drank something weird to make its voice sound like the momma sheep. But those baby sheep weren't fooled! Basically, this song is that story, except using rabbits instead of wolves.

A little creepy? Perhaps. But at least it's not a cheery little song about the Black Plague.

Here is my beautiful, poetic translation:
(Wolf:)
Good little rabbit, open the door.
Hurry up and open it! I want to come in!
(Rabbit:)
No, no, no, I won't open it.
Momma hasn't come home yet.
I won't open the door for anyone!

(Verse two)
(Momma rabbit:)
Good little rabbit, open the door.
Momma's home, I want to come in!
(Rabbit:)
Hurry up and open the door!
Momma's home!
I'll come open the door!

Here's the video we like:
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/X-OlvCV_Q7A/
I don't have a decent video of Penny singing it yet, but when I do, I'll post it. It's pretty funny, because she mixes up the verses to say, "No, no, no, I won't open it. Momma's home!"
Thanks, Penny! Remind me never to lock myself out while you're home. You'll leave me out in the weather!

So now that she's basically learned this song, we're moving on to the second Chinese song. I've heard several friends and nannies sing it, and it's very beautiful. It's about a small swallow finding a beautiful place to go in the springtime.
It goes like this:
Little swallow, clothed in bright colors,
Every year you come here.
I asked the sparrow, "Why do you come?"
Sparrow said, "The springtime here is the most beautiful!"

It kind of ends on a weird note, but I just chalked that up to it being an Asian song with its pentatonic scale. I mean, what we Westerners think of as a "good ending" for a song might not apply in Eastern music. Who am I to judge?

Turns out, there's a second verse. Just no one sings it. But this is how it goes:

Little swallow, let me tell you,
It will be EVEN MORE beautiful here next year.
We built up a big factory,
Installed some new machinery,
and we welcome you to live here long term!
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/HVHGI2cQ7uc/

Um.... I wouldn't sing that verse either! That's so weird!! Turns out, this song was written in 1956, right during the rise of Communism in China. It's all about rural, natural China and how it was going to become a strong, industrial power. And all the new factories would make a GREAT nation for all the humble swallows to live in.
Well, considering the general abandonment of Communist ideals in China these days, it's no wonder that no one sings the second verse anymore. But the first verse is still pretty, even if the last note leaves you hanging.