Wash Your Hands - free music download
Bill Harley
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Hey teachers and parents: tired of reminding kids to wash their hands all day every day? Bill Harley has made a great song about the topic so you can save your voice and let him do the singing. It’s like a Public Service Announcement for germ control, but way more fun.

Download from

http://www.billharley.com

From the artist:
Bill wrote the song to remind kids that hand washing will help to prevent the spread of the flu. The four important things to remember are:
1) Get vaccinated
2) Cover your cough
3) Wash your hands
4) Stay home when you’re sick

World of Dreams: Soothing Songs & Lullabies CD by Charlie Hope
Release Date: July 22, 2009
Little Maple Leaf Productions
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I am very happy that someone thought to send a Charlie Hope CD to me because she is a new favorite children’s music artist. There are some amazing children’s artists on the shelves lately, and Charlie Hope is in good company with some of the best lyricists and vocalists out there. Her soothing and intoxicating voice will even have mom and dad playing this CD even when the kids aren’t around.

Buy this CD on Amazon.com

I’m Me! A Collection of Songs for Children by Charlie Hope
Release Date: July 9, 2009
Little Maple Leaf Productions
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I have secret (well, not anymore) musical crushes on some bands who perform songs for children. Numbered among them are Recess Monkey, Elizabeth Mitchell, Lisa Loeb, Frances England and Milkshake. It is very hard to make my music crush list. Very. But, Charlie Hope, you had me at track one. Charlie is an astounding female vocalist who reminds me of the lead singer of The Sundays or even Frente with a touch of Three Non-Blondes. Even the up-tempo songs showcase her soothing, intoxicating voice. This is one of those CDs that parents will continue to play long after the children have gone to sleep. The original songs are instant classics.

Buy this CD on Amazon.com

A Family Christmas CD by Putumayo Presents
Release Date: October 27, 2009
Putumayo World Music
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
This wonderful collection of holiday songs will have everybody in a great mood. Unlike many other Putumayo creations, 10 out of 11 songs are sung in English with covers of traditional non-secular tunes such as Holly Jolly Christmas and Frosty the Snowman.

Buy this CD on Amazon.com

Chanukah Fever CD by Mama Doni
November 2009
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Mama Doni has done it again with a playful collection of Chanukah songs that will have the kids playing air menorah. Mama Doni, whom I like to refer to as “D Jew Jazzy Mensch” (if I have to explain the reference to DJ Jazzy Jeff, you may be too young!) raps, rhymes, rocks and riffs with original lyrics about the applesauce v. sour cream dilemma (oy! the humanity!), the dilemma of a dusty, disregarded dreidel and a rapper’s redux called Funky Gold Menorah.

I have to say that I think Mama Doni is the reason that, when my daughter went to a friend’s Easter egg hunt and found a colorful spinning top, she yelled out, “Mom!!! I got a dreidel!”

Day Is Done by Peter Yarrow
Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)
Ages 4-8
Sterling; Har/Com edition (October 6, 2009)
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
When the day is done, all will be well. Peter Yarrow croons a lovely tune from father to son, proclaiming that the end of the day brings resolution to the problems of the day. The illustrations are sweet and upbeat, to counter the sad tone of the song. This book just feels like a great big hug after a trying day.

Buy this book on Amazon.com

Let There Be Peace on Earth: And Let It Begin with Me by Jill Jackson and Sy Miller
Tricycle Press - September 2009
All ages
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
It’s hard to believe that this lovely song about peace all started at a high school retreat in 1955 and has since spread throughout the world as an anthem for peace, love and understanding. Brilliantly and beautifully illustrated, this is a perfect introduction to the concept of peace for young children or a reminder to ourselves how important peace is. This book comes with a 12-song CD with the title’s classic song.

Buy this book on Amazon.com

Here Comes Science CD/DVD - They Might Be Giants
Disney Sound - September 22, 2009
Cautions: None
Ages: 5-12

Kiwi Magazine Review:
My daughter learned her alphabet and at least 20 country names thanks to They Might Be Giants, so, as a parent, I am completely comfortable with my elementary-school child learning a few things about science with this adorkable band. I adored them in the 80s before they launched into kid music, and now I embrace them as a parent. The music is not that patsy twangy stuff; it’s genuine rock with talented artists creating the rhythm. Seriously, if you pulled up to my car at a light and I was rocking out to TMBG, you would never realize it was kid music until you heard the word paleontologist. Warning: after my kid fell in love with the C is for Conifers song, we had to plant about a dozen trees. So, prepare for some excavations and experimentation.  If you buy one TMBG CDs, you are going to go back for all of the others.

Buy this CD on Amazon.com

Great Day - Milkshake CD
MILKSHAKE MUSIC - August 25, 2009
Ages: Whole Family
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
It’s a sight to see. Attend a Milkshake concert and watch little girls (and their moms) show up in tutus, ready to dance and rock out with the band. Milkshake still sings plenty of feel-good, up with little people songs, but the sound has evolved to have a slightly cooler, rougher edge to appeal to kids who are past sippy cups but haven’t tried Red Bull. The lyrics now address frenemies, epically messy rooms and wants v. needs rather than big bottles of sunshine and bluebirds. If I’m not mistaken, these tunes have the influence of zydeco, jazz and a little country. The part I enjoyed the most about this CD is that each song really has a distinct sound, beat and message.

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Sunday in Kyoto by Gilles Vigneault
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Publisher: Secret Mountain - October 25, 2009
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Secret Mountain is a true gem, with original and irreverent songs, creative text and clever illustrations. This new piece de resistance by Gilles Vigneault is a whirl of circus-themed tunes, staccato rhymes and sing-song playground romps (with a farting cow in the mix). I really enjoyed all of the songs on the CD, but the title track was my favorite because it was illustrated, giving me excellent visual accompaniment.

Buy this book on Amazon.com