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.

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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.

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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!”

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.

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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.

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Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Book & CD)
by Liz Murphy
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Publisher: Blue Apple Books; Rei/Com edition (September 30, 2009)
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
This is a sweet little holiday gift book/CD which keeps giving; proceeds are donated to Broadway Barks which helps shelter animals become adopted. The text of the book is the title song, and a cute little dog prepares for the holidays (no yellow snow here!).

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Spongebob Squarepants: Spongebob’s Greatest Hits CD
Sony Music - 2009
Ages 8-99
Cautions: None

Congratulations to our winners (we allowed entries via email and comments for this contest) - we have contacted you via email, Sam, Carly and Lily!

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I jumped on to the squishy, squashy SpongeBob Squarepants fan bus after seeing “Don’t be a jerk, it’s Christmas” performed live with Tom Kenney and his background singers and dancers. I would have to say that this CD is a must-have for all die-hard SpongeBob fans, as well as new Bikini Bottom wanna bes. There are a few standouts on the CD but my favorite is Pink’s cover of “We’ve Got Scurvy” which is entertaining and informative (well, now every kid will know that scurvy can be prevented by eating citrus!). So, make sure you have 10 items or fewer in your cart in the express lane, but make sure that SpongeBob’s Greatest Hits CD is in there!

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B Is For Bob CD; Bob Marley and the Wailers
Polydor / Umgd June 2009
Ages: Whole family
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Before I became a parent and comfortably resided as the favorite aunt, I always made statements like “Kids music makes me nuts - my kids will only listen to the Beatles.” While I have come to terms with some of the sing songy covers of “Wheels on the Bus,” I jumped for joy at Ziggy Marley’s new CD B is for Bob where he gently remasters some of his father’s songs to present a CD that the whole family can get their arms around. With Ziggy’s own recent release of a new CD, this one-two Marley set of CDs will buy you at least 2 hours of peace in the car.

Product Description:
B is for Bob is a collection of original Bob Marley songs re-imagined for kids and fans of all ages.

The international musical legend’s eldest son, four-time Grammy winner Ziggy Marley, executive produced the album, which bridges the gap between the timeless Bob Marley and a new generation of kids.

Bob Marley’s music touches people of all ages. With children in mind, Ziggy has transformed 8 of his father’s songs while leaving 4 of Bob Marley’s other masterpieces untouched.

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Recess Monkey - FIELD TRIP! CD
Monkey Mama: June 9, 2009
Ages: 3-8
Cautions: Get ready to rock!

Kiwi Magazine Review:
We admit it. The UPS and USPS trucks bring new books, DVDs and CDs to our doorstep daily. But nothing incites a genuine high-pitched, high-decibel squeal like opening the mail to find the latest Recess Monkey CD. Unquestionably the best rock band out there, they know exactly the right note to hit with their audience (who still may be of the age to be literally and figuratively rocked to sleep).

These former teachers know the formula that adds up to great music with spot-on themes including “Haven’t Got a Pet Yet.” What kid hasn’t thought about creating a powerpoint presentation to convince the parents that he or she is the ONLY KID IN THE UNIVERSE who doesn’t have a pet? Our favorite line in the song has to be a take on Aretha Franklin’s “RESPECT” when the band croons “R-E-S-P-onsibility —find out what it means to me.” Pure genius. And that is just one of 15 great songs.

Oh no! I am pretty sure I just gushed.

Description:
The three members of Recess Monkey are teachers who met while working at the same Seattle school. The trio’s genuine enthusiasm for a grad school project morphed into their 2005 debut release Welcome to Recess Monkey Town.

Notes Jack Forman, “All of the songs on Field Trip were inspired by field trips we’ve taken with our classes. The album is part Magical Mystery Tour, part Mr. Rogers, and part Muppet Show, but it’s all based on the kids that we teach and our memories of being young. We recorded the songs during weekends and holiday vacations from school this past winter in the music room at the school where we all met and where Drew and I still teach - tapping into the energy that fills our classrooms and those halls every day. Recording this album felt as though, after being at sea for a year teaching and playing shows, we had briefly come back into port to share some of the things that we’d heard!”

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