TDmonthly Magazine’s Review Scout scours the Web weekly for reviews of new and hot products so you don’t have to spend your time searching. Out of thousands of blog, retail and other sites, his research has uncovered CDs generating buzz across the nation and even the globe.
Sing a Little Song, Do a Little Dance by DESERT COAST RECORDS
Jeff Jones and the Earthtones inspire kids to “Sing a Little Song, Do a Little Dance” on this 14 track CD. Latin, Caribbian and Asian musical styles influence many of the songs, including “La Bamba,” “Je Je Kule” and “Cumbia del Sol.” — Gayle Geise of Parents’ Choice called the CD “an exciting, musical journey” that gets kids “twisting, dancing, singing, responding to calls, moving faster and slower as they ride their ponies-all while successfully introducing a number of general music lessons.” — Daniel Freidman from Raising Arizona Kids referred to the songs as “sophisticated fare.” Daniel especially enjoyed "Night in Wulanbatuo," a “soothing, melancholy song that features Chinese lyrics and a Tibetan melody.”
Celeste Sings, Kids Dream by ROMANTIC REALIST RECORDS LLC
This album is a blend of classic and original lullabies sung by Celeste over an accompaniment of keyboards, strings and harmonica. Classic titles include "Edelweiss," "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" and "All Through the Night." Awards: 2009 Nappa Gold Award; 2010 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval; 2009 Family Choice Award. — The National Parenting Center gave “Celeste Sings, Kids Dream” its Seal of Approval award and labeled it as “an ideal CD for ‘wind down’ time or to enhance the pre-bed ritual.” Celeste’s “soothing voice” fosters a “gentle feel” that is both “engaging” and relaxing. — Winner, Family Choice Award — Winner, National Parenting Publications Awards NAPPA GOLD
Banjo to Beatbox: Cathy & Marcy with Christylez Bacon by CATHY & MARCY'S SONG SHOP
Grammy Award winning children’s musicians Cathy and Marcy team up with human beatbox Christylez Bacon to combine folk and hip-hop styles. This eight track CD is filled with new songs and children’s classics like “Froggie Went A Courtin’” and “Syncopated Washboard Rhythm Song.” — Mark S. Tucker of Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange described the CD as “very Sesame Street-ish.” Though the recording quality is “somewhat amateurish” and the CD is “only a half hour,” Mark recommended from “Banjo to Beatbox” as “a nice little addition to the catalogue of discs for kids.” — Caroline Holt from Our Kids listened to the CD with her kids as well as four other adults. Caroline and her children preferred the beatbox songs on the CD, while the other adults greatly favored the folk songs. As a whole, they “found it annoying that it flip-flops between beatbox and folk songs,” though Caroline felt the low price tag made the album a worthy purchase even for only half the songs.
“Robot Dance,” the first album from Mr. Leebot, is a electric powered tribute to the synthetic sounds of the 80’s. Drawing inspiration from Devo and Talking Heads, Mr. Leebot brings new wave to kids across sixteen tracks with names like “Rumbling Tummy” and “It Wasn’t Me.” — Charles of A Child Grows reports that the songs on “Robot Dance” live up to the CD’s title; their electronic rhythms are sure to inspire breakdancing and doing the robot. Charles warns parents, however, that “Mr. Leebot’s sound is so unmistakably 80’s throughout the CD that unless your family can’t get enough of the dance sounds of Yo Gabba Gabba!, you may not be able to sit through the entire sixteen tracks on the CD.” — Nugget Island’s Matthew Siden calls the album “a keytar classic.” According to Matthew, highlights of the CD include “’Paper Airplane’ and wear-your-helmet song ‘Protect Your Nog’ [which] serve as proof that a poppy kids’ song can meld with bleepy programming and actually work.”
The lively songs on Sarah Pirtle's new CD, Pocketful of Wonder, encourage outdoor play and a childhood nourished by imagination, curiosity and nature. With humor and warmth, Sarah beckons children to experience the exploration and enchantment of the seasons, farm life, city neighborhoods and family time. Awards: 2010 Parents' Choice Gold Award; 2010 Tillywig Toy Award; Magic Penny Award for Lifetime Achievement in Children's Music — Veronica Schwartz of the School Library Journal called the album “A very strong addition to most collections” perfect for “evening story times, in preparation for nap time, or during those quieter times at home.” — Tillywig Toy Awards gave the CD its Sterling Fun award, explaining that “Sarah Pirtle's expressive voice and lyrics evoke a sense of wonder, hers and ours, at the beauty and mysteries of the world in which we live,” from “the first snowfall of the season” to “the gorgeous stirrings and awakenings of spring.”
Writer's Bio: Peter Aoun is a communications professional focused on the toy industry. He has conducted research on the impact of music on learning, as well as the convergence of toys and technology to create new forms of play. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Peter Aoun is a communications professional focused on the toy industry. He has conducted research on the impact of music on learning, as well as the convergence of toys and technology to create new forms of play. Read more articles by this author
