Novato’s own Jonathan Cain, best known as a songwriter for Journey, thanks the young recording stars at Pleasant Valley School following their holiday concert last December. Marin County is home to dozens of famous recording artists, but the brightest young stars during this holiday season were 125 children from Novato’s Pleasant Valley School. In less than a week, the tiny balladeers have sold more than 300 CDs of their holiday music, with proceeds benefiting Pleasant Valley’s PTA.

The producer of the CD and author of the songs is Jonathan Cain, a Novato resident and a Pleasant Valley School parent, best known as the keyboardist and songwriter for the famed rock group Journey. More than $1,800 has been raised by CD sales and concert video sales. The CD is titled “Celebrations Around the World,” and features the title track plus “If Everyday Were Like Christmas,” both written by Cain for the occasion and both featuring the voices of the Pleasant Valley Singers. Cain also has his own version of “If Everyday Were Like Christmas” on the three-song CD. The CDs are selling for $10, with $8 benefiting the Pleasant Valley PTA. The other $2 is to defray production costs. Cain said he has soldCDs to people living all over the world through his Web site: www.jonathancain.com.

Cain and Journey have sold more than 60 million albums. He has produced six solo albums and written dozens of songs recorded by such artists as Michael Bolton, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Rogers and PeterFrampton. Being a dad led him to his latest CD, “Animated Movie Love Songs,” a tribute to the romantic music of the animated movie classics. Cain, 51, returned from a 60-city tour with Journey in the late summer when he was approached by Pleasant Valley PTA members to help with a holiday assembly. The idea quickly graduated to a fund-raiser CD. Cain spent the past eight weeks practicing with the students.

CDs are available via Cain&Mac226;s Web site, on the Pleasant Valley campus(755 Sutro Ave.) and at Feathered Nest gift shop (870 Grant Ave.) and Tagliaferri’s Deli (2051 Novato Blvd.).