TDmonthly's Toy Fair 2007 Preview
Category: Music

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.” 8/31/2010 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

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. 8/30/2010 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Shakin' The Chute by KIMBO EDUCATIONAL

Parachute fitness routines set to diverse music and original songs address mobility, fitness, directionality, body identification, imaginative play and important concepts. Parachute play can be used for circle time, arrival and departure activities, recess and indoor/outdoor play. 8/26/2010 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

What Are the Odds? by MONKEY MONKEY MUSIC

Monkey Monkey Music offers a deep commitment to putting the child back into children’s music with Meredith LeVande's second album, What Are the Odds? The album finds the middle road between baby songs and pop band songs where kids’ lyrics are simply added to music that would otherwise be played for adults. Meredith’s music is not only child-friendly, it’s truly child-appropriate, having been created with the healthy growth of the child in mind. "Her songs are joy-filled expressions of pure, childlike fun. One listen is all it takes to recognize that Meredith really loves being around children," Waldmania PR Publicist Elizabeth Waldman Frazier told TDmonthly.
— “As soon as I pushed play, my 19-month-old son started bopping to the music,” reported Shonda of The Knowlton Nest. Shonda was struck by Meredith’s “happy, upbeat and friendly child-like voice” throughout “music that was contemporary, yet simple” and “appealing to kids and adults.”
— Toni Morton of Toni’s Treehouse provides a track-by-track analysis of the CD, highlighting the knock-knock joke based song "Who's a Knockin'?" and “the surprising sounds of a banjo and dobro” in the food pyramid song "Frogs Eat Butterflies." 8/25/2010 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

More Boomwhackers® Games CD by RHYTHM BAND INSTRUMENTS LLC

More games for pre-K through 2nd grade by the arranger of the Boomwhackers® Games CD. 8/20/2010 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Learning In Two Languages /Aprendiendo en dos idiomas by HAP-PAL MUSIC INC.

This album features 20 original songs that aim to help children build vocabulary in both English and Spanish through active multisensory participation. The songs are a combination of new compositions and updated versions of early Hap Palmer favorites along with new translations into Spanish. The lyrics and activities were developed in conjunction with Spanish language educational expert Laura Radchik, PhD.
Awards: Parent's Choice Foundation Audio Award Fall 2010, Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010 8/13/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Best Candy in the Whole World by BILL HARLEY

On this spoken-word album, the two-time Grammy award-winning humorist spins fantastical stories grounded in everyday life. 7/28/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wake Up, Clarinet! by ORAN ETKIN

This internationally acclaimed jazz/world music artist teaches his Timbalooloo music classes to the children of Harvey Keitel, Naomi Watts, Edie Falco and Liev Schreiber. Wake Up, Clarinet! builds on Etkin’s Timbalooloo method of encouraging kids to internalize important musical concepts while exciting their creativity. The album, released on the Timbalooloo Records label and distributed by Motema, features performances by drummer Jason Marsalis and vocalist Charanee Wade. Awards: Parent's Choice Foundation Audio Award Fall 2010 7/28/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Use Your Words by JEREMY ZMUDA

This New York-based educator's  collection of catchy songs is designed to help kids build the vocabulary to express their feelings and needs. The lyrics were co-written with Lizzie Bicknell, an early childhood specialist. Madeleine Peyroux, Kirk Douglas (the Roots), and Leo Sidran also perform. A portion of proceeds benefits Kids Need a Melody, a nonprofit program that provides music lessons and concerts to kids in need. Awards: Parent's Choice Foundation Audio Award Fall 2010 7/28/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Kids Are All Id by RANDY KAPLAN

Randy Kaplan’s third not-just-for-kids music release, "The Kids Are All Id," offers a Woody Guthrie-esque style that blends a chatty kind of storytelling with an eclectic range of rootsy music. Highlights include his takes on Gershwin's “I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’” and Bob Dylan's "Forever Young." 7/21/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Mike & DJ Duo by theBandMates

This set includes two rock 'n roll instruments, a microphone and a turntable, in plush form with expressive "faces." 7/13/2010 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti by SPARE THE ROCK RECORDS LLC

Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti brings together 22 family friendly artists to help with the Haiti relief effort. The CD includes previously unreleased and brand new songs from kid favorites including They Might Be Giants and Pete Seeger. Proceeds from the record will be donated to the Haitian People’s Support Project.
— Leigh Goldman Balber of Urban Baby calls the CD “A We are the World for the sandbox set.” The “who’s who … of the best in the world of kiddie music” combine to create a “spiritual, uplifting (but not too out there)” CD. 7/7/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

"Time Out To Rock" by The Not-Its! by LITTLE LOOPY RECORDS

“Time Out To Rock," filled with up-tempo power-pop tunes, mixes songs that are “just for fun” with songs about such topics as welcoming the new kid at school or dealing with bullies. The first track, “Welcome to Our School,” sets the energy level on high with an irrepressible dance beat and clean playing that doesn’t clutter the lyrics. Rocking on from there, the pace slows at album’s end with the poetic, reflective “Hollow Tree.” 6/28/2010 (Price: $14.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Multicultural Bean Bag Fun by KIMBO EDUCATIONAL

These bean bag activities, blended with world traditions and rich musical rhythms, are designed to teach unique customs and cultures. These activities include circle and partner activities, traditional dances, games, fiestas and original action fun, with the goal of teaching important concepts, motor skills and language. 6/25/2010 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Circle Time Songs & Games by KIMBO EDUCATIONAL

Children can get actively engaged with these easy circle time ideas for a daily routine. Circle time activities and games are designed to provide structure and help children develop important concepts and skills, such as listening, color and letter recognition, patterns, rhythms, body identification, weather and counting. "The music and movement action will help calm kids down and get them ready for learning," Elaine Murphy, Kimbo Educational director of sales and marketing, told TDmonthly. 6/25/2010 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

"Be Nice" by Leeny and Steve by LEENY TUNES

All of the songs on "Be Nice" were inspired by Leeny's persuasive, misbehaving, penguin-loving nephew Zak, and the result is an album of irresistible, hilarious, and educational tunes for children and their parents.
Awards: 2008 Parents' Choice Approved Award; 2008 Children's Music Web Award: Best Recording for Preschoolers; 2008 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award; 2008 Best Music Recommended List for Your Family by Common Sense Media; 2009 Song of the Year nominee by Just Plain Folks Music for "What Have You Done With All the Penguins?!"; 2008 International Songwriting Competition Finalist for "Mammals" 6/25/2010 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Sharing the Same Stars by Leeny and Tamara by LEENY TUNES

"Sharing the Same Stars" by Leeny and Tamara features 14 original songs about topics including ladybugs, seat belt safety, the epidermis, shyness and kindness.
Awards: 2010 Parents' Choice Recommended Award; 2010 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Rising Star honoree; 2010 Independent Music Awards (IMA) Song of the Year nominee for "Ladybug, Ladybug, Ladybu-u-ug"; 2009 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award. 6/25/2010 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

THE SMART FITNESS WORKOUT DVD by KIMBO EDUCATIONAL

This DVD is designed to help children thrive with daily physical workouts featuring brain-based, guided movements to stimulate learning. The program also shows how these fitness exercises can be used with children who have special needs.
Awards: 2009 Dr. Toy's 10 Best Active Products; 2009 Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 6/18/2010 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

RIBBONS & RHYTHMS by KIMBO EDUCATIONAL

Children can take up ribbons, streamers and scarves, plus get ready for hand-clapping, foot-stomping, repetitive rhythmic routines. Diverse rhythms, such as African, Reggae, Cha Cha, Bossa Nova and Rap, and cool musical action songs with a pattern and a purpose, are meant to encourage movement and imaginative play and improve motor skills. Awards: 2010 Parents' Choice Award Recommended 6/18/2010 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

A Mighty Good Day by HULLABALOO

A Mighty Good Day is the eighth album from the award-winning kid's music duo, Hullabaloo. 6/18/2010 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Wizard of Oz: Karaoke CD+G by STAGE STARS RECORDS

This karaoke/sing-along CD of songs from "The Wizard of Oz" includes all the hits from the beloved family movie and school musical. Guide vocals and a lyric booklet are provided. "Kids can practice with the guide vocal version of each track, then sing with the accompaniment version. This album is a great rehearsal tool for kids practicing for their school musical," Stage Stars Marketing Director Malinda Boothe told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Parents' Choice Approved 6/16/2010 (Price: $23.95)

Lullabies to Celebrate Mother and Child by LULLABYLAND LLC

"Lullabies to Celebrate Mother and Child" is a collection of 10 original lullabies written and performed by Paige Stroman. The album is recommended by a psychologist for its beautiful lyrics and soothing sounds. The music also has nature sounds woven throughout the CD to enhance a baby's state of relaxation. "This CD was produced by a world-renowned rock producer, Jack Richardson, who produced Bob Seger's 'Night Moves,' Alice Cooper's 'School's Out' and The Guess Who's 'American Woman," Lullabyland Singer/Songwriter Paige Stroman told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2001 Silver NAPPA 6/14/2010 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Hollywood Musicals by LANGENSCHEIDT PUBLISHING GROUP

This book and postcard package is an informative visual feast of pop-culture iconography. Featuring spreads on movie icons and individual musical classics, Hollywood Musicals covers show-stopping classics such as "Singin' in the Rain," toe-tapping favorites like "Jailhouse Rock," and modern romps like "Mamma Mia!" "Not only is there an informative book, written by an expert on film and media, about the iconic and glamorous Hollywood Musicals, but there is also the added bonus of six, full-colored oversized postcards," Andrea Sper, Langenscheidt Publishing Group marketing assistant, told TDmonthly. 6/14/2010 (Price: $14.99)

I Can Do It by CHILDREN INC.

Based on resilience theory research, the songs from this album are specifically designed to help children build creativity, independence, planning, people skills, optimism, confidence and problem-solving skills. "Our music is research-based. We take the latest findings on child development and translate this research into practical and entertaining products for teachers and parents," Growing Sound Sales and Marketing Director Emily Sandul told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Product Award 6/4/2010 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

It's a StoryTime Jam, Volume 1 by STORYTIME BY DESIGN

“It’s a StoryTime Jam, Volume 1” is designed for mommy-and-me, preschool and elementary classrooms, quiet time at home, a family vacation in a mini-van, or any time a child wants to be transported to a musical, magical world. It includes educational, catchy original songs and musical stories. "This is a musical story hour that gets kids and their families excited about reading! It also provides an auditory listening experience encouraging kids to focus through the StoryTime By Design motto,"1-2-3-It is time to read!" StoryTime By Design Co-Owner Cori Cohen told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Product 6/4/2010 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]