All Around the Kitchen by Dan Zanes and Friends
Festival Five Records, 2005
Recommended viewers: Ages 2– Adult
Cautions:
Publisher’s description:
Dan’s long-awaited, first ever dvd features nine selections shot live in concert at New York’s knitting factory and six videos including favorites currently being shown on noggin (“house party time”, “all around the kitchen” and “hello”), two classics from sesame street (“jump up” and “go down  emmanuel road”) and one behind-the-scenes video of dan & the band exclusive to the dvd.
Kiwi Bookworms description:
Dan Zanes released his first DVD which is a combination of live performances and music videos of children’s favorites like “Hokey Pokey” and the feel-good song “Jump Up.” Zanes, who won a Grammy in 2007 for Best Musical Album for Children for “Catch That Train,” appeals to the whole family with his infectious rhythms and exuberant performances.

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Animal Playground by Putumayo Kids
Houghton Mifflin
Recommended listeners: Ages 9-12
Cautions:

Publisher’s description:
Animal Playground is the latest release in the award-winning Playground CD series from Putumayo Kids. The new album presents a multilingual collection of animal-themed songs from around the world. The enhanced CD also includes an original music video for the song “No More Monkeys,” produced by Putumayo and shot on location in Trinidad featuring Trinidad-born artist Asheba.
Kiwi Bookworms review:

Super fun collection of upbeat songs for kids with all of the familiar melodies, if not the familiar words, of Sesame Street songs.

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Sings Honk-Hiss-Tweet-GGGGGGG and Other Favorites (live) by Tom Glazer - Music CD

Smithsonian Folkways, 2008 release

Recommended – ages 3-7

Cautions: All clear

Kiwi Magazine Review

When I travel for work, I often bring dozens of books, DVDs and CDs so I can keep current with all of the titles I have to review. I am one of the few parents who looks forward to hours in the car with a preschooler because I can listen to the stack of CDs I have to review without any other distractions except driving safely.

On a recent trip to Orlando, my preschooler was in tow and we put Tom Glazer’s CD in the car player on the first day. That was it. No other CDs could be played at all. We listened to this CD at least 10 times all of the way through and enjoyed it each and every time. Tom Glazer died in 2003 but his music is a wonderful legacy for all generations. I keep imagining all of the kids in the audience of this CD, recorded in 1950, probably have grandchildren now!

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Putumayo Kids- Sesame Street Playground

Recommended listeners – 2-8

Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review

This is a lively playlist with a nod to everyone’s favorite classic children’s show. Although this CD is fun and danceable, it also exposes kids to other languages through the comfortable medium of music. You might find yourself singing along (phonetically, perhaps)!

Description from publisher

A lively musical journey through Sesame Street productions around the world. This 2-disc set includes a CD with 13 fun songs and a DVD with 5 music videos.

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