You Are My Little Bird CD NEW
Reviewed by Katy Farber
"Have you had it with loud, super silly kid's music that repeats endlessly in your head, long after you've heard it? Does your child wake early, and want to listen to music? Do you want a mellow and sweet way to start the day with your child? If so, Elizabeth Mitchell's new CD might save your child music weary self..."

A World of Music by Toucan Jam CD NEW
Reviewed by Caity McCardell
"Toucan Jam's Kelly Mulhollan and Donna Stjerna, with experience in music and performance under their belts, have created a beautiful CD teeming with colorful images, unique characters, worldly instruments, and sometimes impossible rhymes..."

New Orleans Playground CD NEW
Reviewed by Elizabeth Whitmore
"New Orleans Playground is a collection of classic New Orleans favorites that demonstrate to children the complexity and variety of music from the Creole and Cajun cultures. The vibrant, colorful atmosphere of southern Louisiana is apparent in these lively tracks and the upbeat tunes appeal naturally to kids. New Orleans Playgroun is an enjoyable way to teach young children about New Orleans culture, unique musical instruments, and American music history..."

Whoever Shall Have Some Good Peanuts and Other Folk Songs for Children CD NEW
Reviewed by Katy Farber
"This CD is yet another great CD in the Smithsonian Folkways Collection. The re-issue of Sam Minton's folk songs for children is welcome retreat into traditional songs and stories so easily lost in our technological and highly-automated society. Minton interprets classic folk songs with a unique sound and delightful humor..."

Reggae Playground CD NEW
Reviewed by Melanie Wilson
"Putomayo Kids don't bill themselves as "World Music Adventures" for nothing. This CD transported me right back to Negril, Jamaica, circa 1994, sand between my toes...but that was back before I had kids to enjoy reggae music with, and as progressive as I like to consider myself, I never thought to dig out my reggae sounds for them...until now..."

Raffi Quiet Time: Songs for a Pause, a Cuddle, or a Nap CD
Reviewed by Katy Farber
"We all need quiet time" it says on the back of Raffi's new aptly named CD, Quiet Time. And for mothers of busy toddlers, nothing could be truer! Indeed, we know our little ones need it, too, especially to wind down after a busy day..."

Spin Your Web CD
Reviewed by Elizabeth Whitmore
"Though I do not have children of my own, I was a child once and I can distinctly remember exhausting my parents because I wanted to hear the same CDs over and over again. My father cannot stand to hear certain Disney soundtracks because I overplayed them as a six-year-old while we were on family road trips. A musician like Maine singer-songwriter Mary Kaye would have been a welcome addition to our music library, and I wish we could have had Spin Your Web for those long car trips..."

Baby Loves Jazz CD
Reviewed by Caity McCardell
"Everyone has a friend who has a collection. Maybe she collects ceramic cows or Tupperware or Elvis dolls. This fascination borders on fanaticism and it's ever so costly, but it makes finding gifts for your friend very simple. If you happen to have such a friend with a jazz CD fetish, I mean, collection, here's your next gift for them: Baby Loves Jazz..."

Marvelous Day CD
Reviewed by Caity McCardell
"Once in a while I review a product that's such a gift, I wonder if it's my birthday. SteveSongs' Marvelous Day is one of those gifts. What an absolute treat it is to listen to this album over and over again, as requested by my 4-year-old! Steve Roslonek's vocals are James Taylor meets Mister Rogers (but in a good, young way) and his lyrics are delightful and very fun..."

The Sunny Side of the Street CD
Reviewed by Caity McCardell
""Getting to know you, getting to know all about you..." So begins John Lithgow's latest children's album, The Sunny Side of the Street, which initially sounds mature, a truly old school song. Soon he shouts out for introductions from his backup singers, the children from United Nations School who fill in the album's young tone, and quickly the fun begins..."

Some Assembly Required CD
Reviewed by Carol LaLiberte
""Mommy, oh mommy, what can I do? I want to go out and I can't find my shoe!" "Did you look in the closet?" "I didn't." "Well, do! You're not going out with only one shoe!" So begins the catchy tune, "Only One Shoe," on Tom Chapin's CD entitled, "Some Assembly Required." This song and others like "Puppy at the Pound," a tune about a family trying to pick out the very best dog, had me believing that perhaps Chapin had taken up residence at my house!"

Divirtamonos Aprendiendo Con Hap Palmer CD
Reviewed by Carol LaLiberte
"As a former preschool teacher, Hap Palmer CDs are the ones I used to turn to when I wanted to liven up my group time or just have music playing softly in the background on rainy school days. Hap has a soothing voice that always seemed to calm my classroom full of energetic three and four year olds. So I was eager to listen to his latest CD in Spanish, complete with activities that correspond with each song..."

Raffi Quiet Time: Songs for a Pause, a Cuddle, or a Nap CD
Reviewed by Melanie Wilson
"Our family are real Raffi lovers. There is something about his voice that is so pure and wholesome-sounding that he really appeals to kids, and we adults enjoy his music, too. I actually thought my children would be too old for this CD (Kalli, 8, and Mackie, 5), but as soon as I put it on they came in and asked me what it was. Before I heard it, I planned to give it to a neighbor when I was finished with the review, but even if I wanted to now (which I don't), Mackie won't part with it..."

Beethoven's Wig 3 CD
Reviewed by Caity McCardell
"The CD Beethoven's Wig 3, released in May 2006, is the antidote to insane-classical-music-noise-for-children. It also passes easily the "Entertains Parents, Too" test. The creator of the Beethoven's Wig series, Richard Perlmutter, is brilliant. His unmistakable and humorous voice combines with incredible operatic voices and lyrics that are charming and delightful - even educational..."

Kidz Bop 9 CD
Reviewed by Caity McCardell
"The Billboard-topping album Kidz Bop 9 is the latest installment of the independent label Razor and Tie. This is high-intensity music - familiar songs that have been re-recorded with youngsters singing. They're less slick than the original versions, making it easier for kids to sing along and appeal to their own vocal style. The New York Times labels the songs as "shout-along tunes," which is apt, since most of the vocals are, in fact, shouting children..."

Charity & the JAMBand's "Rock Your Socks Off" CD
Reviewed by Caity McCardell
"Charity's voice is sultry, versatile and beautiful. The band members's musical abilities are so full and intricate. I fell in love with this album, and through it my children get to have a more sophisticated experience of music than the typical toned-down children's CD..."

DVD: We Are the Laurie Berkner Band
Reviewed by Caity McCardell
"If a child is sitting in front of a television, We Are the Laurie Berkner Band is the award-winning entertainment they should be watching. The Laurie Berkner Band is an upbeat group with an extraordinary talent for writing and performing. The band’s energy is contagious, so "just sitting" is not what they inspire!"

Steve Kramer’s Kettle of Dreams: Songs of Hope, Humor and Discovery for Kids and Their Parents
Reviewed by Caity McCardell
"Kettle of Dreams is an eclectic compilation of folk songs with a Hawaiian tone, created by the award-winning composer Steve Kramer. With not a hint of modern MTV-style music for children, the album rarely features more than a guitar and a mellow mood. Steve Kramer’s voice is soothing, fun and playful. The album’s Must Hear song is “Tutu I Love You, I Do!” For those unfamiliar with the Hawaiian term "Tutu," Kramer explains the meaning in the opening music. This song is a fabulous ode to grandparents..."

Dog on Fleas CDS
Reviewed by Lisa Steele
"Not only has Dog on Fleas captured (in this reviewer's humble opinion) one of the best band names EVER, their music actually lives up to that clever moniker. Dog on Fleas rightly assumes that kids are sensible, able to make logical leaps in a song, into all kinds of music and ready to boogie!"

CDs to Relax Through the Seasons
Reviewed by Glenn Perrett
"The Relax with Swann series features CDs that encourage the listener to relax and includes Seasons of Serenity, Seasons of Tranquility and The Seasons of Pregnancy. Seasons of Serenity contains calming music by Ken Kaufman and spoken words by Kathleen Swann..."

Color Wheel Cartwheel CD
Reviewed by Melanie Wilson
"We received this CD just in time for my daughter's birthday party, so I popped it in while the kids sat down to do an art project. Maybe it's just me, but I think this CD may be partly responsible for the lovely, colorful drawings that my daughter and her friends created! Seriously though, we especially like it for two reasons: 1) it features the colors of the rainbow in nine different languages, and 2) each song, named for a color of the rainbow, has it's own personality that really matches the color!"

Putumayo Presents: French Playground CD
Reviewed by Amy O'Neill Houck
"Right from the start, this jazzy cd catches the ear of kids and adults alike. Whistles and bird chirps get your attention before the music even starts. There are no sappy voices or computerized instrumentals present on so many kids' CDs. Putumayo obviously puts as much production value into their children's CDs as they do their adult offerings..."

Scat Like That: A Musical Word Odyssey CD
Reviewed by Melanie Wilson
"From the first moment I put on this CD, my house was awhirl with dancing girls. Kalli and Mackie immediately jumped up and started dancing - on the beds, on the floor - and didn't stop till I made them come take a bath (bad timing on my part). Mackie, age four, even insisted on getting dressed up for the music and changed clothes three times. Now that's enthusiasm!"

Dream the Ocean Blue, Musical Images for Bedtime CD
Reviewed by Angela Elliot
"I love the caption on the back of the CD: "To Children of all nations, worlds, and time, may you always be surrounded by peace, grace, and abundance." This is one of the most profound loving statements I have ever read. Jennifer Yeung is a gorgeous pianist, and her love for children and our precious planet really comes through in her music. I feel a blanket of love and warmth envelop me when I listen to the CD..."

Dream Child: A Children's Spiritual Bedtime CD
Reviewed by Melanie Wilson
"This amazing CD is like nothing I've ever heard for children. Since it's advertised as a 'spiritual bedtime CD,' I really didn't know what to expect. We have a spiritually diverse family, so we are open-minded, and I didn't have any feelings one way or the other about what it might hold for us. What I discovered was a beautiful, calming journey that merits repeating night after night..."

Hey Picasso CD by Jessica Harper
Reviewed by Lisa Steele
"The multitalented, award-winning Jessica Harper is out with a new CD, and it is another success! Entitled "Hey Picasso," the 12 tracks were inspired by some of her favorite famous artists. Van Gogh, Monet, Mary Cassatt, Degas, Renoir, and (of course!) Picasso are among those artists represented..."

The Sleep Fairy- Easy Sleep CD by Lisa Malkiewicz
Reviewed by Dr. Lara Ashmore
"If you are like me and have at least one child with sleep issues you will love this CD. My youngest daughter, Sara, age 4, is too busy having fun to go sleep at night. I've tried all of the sleep remedies that I know about and nothing seems to work on a regular basis. The first night I played the Sleep Fairy CD for Sara I was simply amazed how she drifted right off to sleep..."

In Your Garden CD by The Zucchini Brothers
Reviewed by Caity McCardell
"The mark of a great children's album is how likely it is parents will listen to it when the kids aren't around - or at least how likely it is that you won't resent the music sticking in your head for days. My daughter was loaned a Sesame Street dance video recently and I had to return it since its songs wrapped around my brain and wouldn't let go..."

Cellabration-A Tribute to Ella Jenkins by Various Artists
Reviewed by Dr. Laura Ashmore
"Over the past six years, I have spent hundreds, maybe thousands, of hours listening to children's music. I am on a never-ending quest to find great albums that feature a rare combination of musical talent with enjoyable music. This album is truly a feel-good, fun-for the-whole-family music album. You cannot go wrong with this uplifting music..."

Can a Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet CD by Hap Palmer
Reviewed by Denise Steele-Darnell
"I am always looking for innovative Childrens Music CD's and I was excited to fall upon this real gem. As you can tell from the title, Hap Palmer has a great sense of humor and imagination. I like music CDs that don't have the same ol' kid songs that we all know and have heard again and again. Instead, I like exposing my children to a lot of fun new songs..."

Little Yogis Daydream CD by Wai Lana
Reviewed by Denise Steele-Darnell
"I was very excited to listen to Wai Lana's "Daydream" CD and have added it to my collection. Wai Lana has a sweet, melodic voice that invites mental pictures of warm sand, beautiful beaches, and the feeling of the comforting sun. My kids really enjoy listening to her singing and find it to be very relaxing..."

Apples and Oranges CD by Bob Pyle
Reviewed by Angela and Ian Elliot
"As soon as the Apples and Oranges CD came, I excitedly ripped it open! My teen Son, Ian, and I sat on the floor, popped the CD in the CD player and listened to the whole thing. What a riot! Our favorite song on the CD was, ironically, the first song: "A world made out of Spam," a catchy novelty tune about a giant Spam monster that takes over the world..."