TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Audio & CD Product Category

Multiplication Hip-Hop by SING 2 SCHOOL INC.

This CD teaches the multiplication facts from zero through 12. Ah-Choo uses catchy choruses, R&B vocalists and captivating hip-hop music. Songs include “That’s My Six” and “Yeehaw.” “'Multiplication Hip-Hop' is an ideal product because most elementary students have problems learning the multiplication facts. This CD is currently the No. 1 Hip-Hop Multiplication CD on the market,” Ronald Speed-Bey Jr., vice president of Sing 2 School Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2001. 11/17/2006 (Price: $13.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

We Wanna Rock by THADDEUS REX PRODUCTIONS

“You Can Tell a Boy by His Smell,” claims award-winning songwriter Thaddeus Rex. Or at least he sings it. On his new children’s CD, “We Wanna Rock: Non-Fiction & Nonsense From the Heartland,” Rex has “A Song for the Girls,” too, as well as genderless tunes such as “I Stepped in Dog Doo.” Hailed “part Monty Python, part Dr. Seuss” (Washington Post), Rex gets kids excited about reading with highly interactive acoustic rock concerts, utilizing songs inspired by "Alice in Wonderland," "Captain Underpants," non-fiction experiences and more. Launch date: 2006. 11/10/2006

Fascinating Creatures by FRANCES ENGLAND

This indie-rock album featuring Frances England's distinctive voice is a unique and clever option for preschool listeners. Compared to Norah Jones, Sarah McLaughlin and Liz Phair, England's sound and sophisticated songwriting have been garnering critical acclaim from music critics, parents and children alike. It is the sole winner of the 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award in the audio category. Launch date: 2006. 11/10/2006 (Price: $12.97) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Flushed Away: Music From the Motion Picture by ASTRALWERKS

This soundtrack features music from the computer-animated film “Flushed Away” from DreamWorks Animation and Aardman Features. It includes a selection of instantly recognizable classics from the ‘60s up to the present, as well as key original score elements and character cues from the film. Alison Tarnofsky, publicity director for Astralwerks, told TDmonthly the “soundtrack has music that both parents and kids can enjoy together.” Launch date: October 31, 2006. 11/10/2006 (Price: $15.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Phonics Hip-Hop Featuring "Ah-Choo" by SING 2 SCHOOL INC.

Award-winning children’s entertainer Ah-Choo uses catchy choruses with melodic Hip-Hop music to teach the letter sounds, the short vowel sounds and the long vowel sounds. This CD was named one of the 100 Best Children’s Products of 2006 by Dr. Toy and has been approved by the Parents' Choice Foundation. “Ah-Choo is the premiere children's Hip-Hop entertainer who produces both family music and educational songs,” Ronald Speed-Bey Jr., vice president of Sing 2 School Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2006. 11/9/2006 (Price: $13.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Toilet Buddies CD by JECKIDA INC.

The Toilet Buddies are at it again, this time with their first full-length CD featuring original toilet learning songs fused with exciting dance rhythms including rock and roll, reggae, country, instrumental and more. With live performances at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas, T.O. Kids Show in Canada, British Toy Fair in the United Kingdom, and the American Baby Fair in New Jersey, the Toilet Buddies CD is a must have for any family considering toilet training their children at an early age. Launch date: November 11, 2006. 11/7/2006 (Price: $9.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Brainy Baby® CDs by BRAINY BABY

Brainy Baby offers six outstanding CD collections. "Sleepy Baby," "Playful Baby," "Cheerful Baby" and "Peaceful Baby" are a compilation of instrumental melodies with a variety of tempos for the many facets of baby’s day. "Classical Tunes" and "Sing-Along Songs" are enjoyable collections of music taken from the Brainy Baby DVDs, along with some brand new originals. 11/6/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Mr. Stinky Feet's Christmas by WARNER BROS TOYS

Families can celebrate the holidays with this 35-minute CD featuring Jim Cosgrove and the Hiccups in an eclectic mix of upbeat, clever originals and beloved holiday classics. The album blends Cosgrove's soothing voice and playfulness with the beauty and strength of the Kansas City Children's Chorus. “Mr. Stinky Feet's Christmas introduces original danceable holiday music combined with some of the most-loved kids' classics. It has songs you won't hear anywhere else,” Jeni Cosgrove of Hiccup Productions Inc. told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 31, 2006. 11/2/2006 (Price: $9.98)

Princess – TippyToeToons Bath to Bedtime Musical by DUET

This CD will make bath time and bedtime fun for children as they sing along with "Sir Washalot" and "Lady Elizabeth," and meet "Sydney Scrubbins" and "Merry Maidens.” This item was named one of the Top 100 Best Children’s Products of 2006 by Dr. Toy. The creator of TippyToeToons, Geoff Koch, told TDmonthly that “TippyToeToons CDs are the only CDs designed to entertain and move a child through their entire nighttime routine….reinforcing a consistent routine while providing plenty of giggles through great characters and catchy songs that will make parents smile.” Launch date: June 2006. 10/26/2006 (Price: $13.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

There's a Light in You: A David Grover Sampler by KOCH ENTERTAINMENT

David Grover teams up with Terry a La Berry  & Kathy Jo to turn out 14 tuneful melodies. Songs include “Mashed Potatoes” and “Midnight March of the Dinosaurs.” Reissue launch date: 2006. 10/26/2006 (Price: $11.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

As Different As We Are by KOCH ENTERTAINMENT

This album from David Grover and The Big Bear Band is lovingly dedicated to boys, girls, men and women with Down’s syndrome. Songs include “The Hello Song,” “Dog Named Blue” and “Long Live Love.” Reissue launch date: 2006. 10/26/2006 (Price: $11.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Passin' It On by KOCH ENTERTAINMENT

David Grover and The Big Bear Band cover some of their favorite folk and children’s songs, creating perfect sing-along, hand-clapping moments. Grover has garnered 12 awards just since 2003, including Emmy and Grammy nominations and top awards from Parents’ Choice. Tunes include “Froggy Went a-Courtin’” and “Golden Slippers.” Launch date: October 3, 2006. 10/26/2006 (Price: $11.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Googol Power Crazy 4 Math by GOOGOL LEARNING

Children join Mr. I, Susan and the MATHeMANIACS on a MATHeMAGICAL trip with this 64-minute audio CD. They meet historical characters and discover how math is everywhere — in music, science, nature, art and architecture. Great music and the Googols’ universal powers help kids build a math force. The CD features 11 songs and dialogue, entertaining characters, multiple lessons, historical facts and cool ideas for practicing math. It was nominated in the Canadian Independent Music Awards for Canada's Favourite Children's Artist. Susan Jarema at Googol Learning told TDmonthly that “parents love our products because their kids are learning without even knowing it. We use a combination of music, stories and interesting characters to make learning math exciting for families.” Launch date: October 2006. 10/25/2006 (Price: $15.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bratz Forever Diamondz™ by UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

Bratz Forever Diamondz is the third installment in the Bratz CD music series. The CD features brand new songs by some of today’s hottest pop songwriters and producers, notably Matthew Gerrard and leading entertainment hit-making firm, Engine. Some of the tracks include “Let Go”, “Hang On” and “You’ve Got It”. Additionally, the CD includes “Wazz Up” and its Spanish version, “Que Tal,” as well as a cover of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and a brand new remake of David Bowie’s “Fashion.” An initial release will include bonus tracks and special packaging that accommodates a stylish bracelet with cool charms for girls to wear. Launch date: September 2006. 10/11/2006

Beatles Hits for Kids, Vol. 2 by BINGO RECORDS

The Bingo Kids present their own renditions of classics such as “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “Blackbird.” Launch date: 2006. 10/3/2006 (Price: $14.99)

Sam Hinton: Whosoever Shall Have Some Good Peanuts by SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS RECORDINGS

This reissue of musician-biologist Sam Hinton’s delightful retelling of traditional songs and stories allows present and future generations to enjoy what Hinton accomplished more than 40 years ago: He took traditional songs and made them his own. A 24-page booklet accompanies this 38-minute CD. Songs include “Frog Went Courting” and “Jolly Old Roger.” Launch date: August 29, 2006. 10/3/2006 (Price: $11.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Elizabeth Mitchell: You Are My Little Bird by SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS RECORDINGS

“This is the family music that I love – soulful, mysterious, inclusive & rollicking!” – Dan Zanes
Mitchell performs homespun renditions of songs by Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley, The Velvet Underground, Vashti Bunyan and more. It was named one of the 100 Best Children’s Products of 2006 by Dr. Toy. “This is real, honestly recorded acoustic music…[that] parents will want to sing along with their children and enjoy for years to come,” Beth Blenz-Clucas of Sugar Mountain PR told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 29, 2006. 10/3/2006 (Price: $11.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Story of Classical Music by Darren Henley by NAXOS OF AMERICA

This lively recording is a perfect way to introduce classical music to the entire family. It looks at the music through the lives of the great composers and their environment, from the churches and cathedrals that produced the familiar sound of Gregorian chant, to Johann Sebastian Bach, the family man composing for the glory of God 9/18/2006 (Price: $28.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Famous Composers by Darren Henley by NAXOS OF AMERICA

Following on the success of The Story of Classical Music, Darren Henley and Marin Alsop combine forces again to tell, in more detail, the lives of six key composers Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, Dvořák and Shostakovich. Their colourful lives and their love of music is told against the backdrop of some of their finest works – an ideal combination. 9/18/2006 (Price: $17.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Treasure Island by R.L. Stevenson by NAXOS OF AMERICA

Treasure Island must be the most enthralling adventure book ever written for children. As we listen to the voice of Jim Hawkins telling his extraordinary tale, and later that of his companion Dr Livesey, we are plunged into a world of pirates, buried treasure, mutiny and deceit. We meet Billy Bones, Blind Pew, Black Dog and, of course, the charming buccaneer Long John Silver. 9/18/2006 (Price: $17.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Great Inventors and Their Inventions by David Angus by NAXOS OF AMERICA

Nine remarkable men produced inventions that changed the world. The printing press, the telephone, powered flight and recording and many others have made the modern world what it is. But who were the men who had these ideas and made reality of them? 9/18/2006 (Price: $17.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Farmer's Market by TIMMY ABELL

The first of Timmy's five award-winning CDs offers refreshingly thoughtful lyrics and plenty of playfulness. The depth of production, the variety of acoustic instrumentation and Timmy's inviting voice all create a rich and engaging experience that children and parents can enjoy repeatedly. The album was produced by Steven Heller. 9/12/2006 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Toddler Toons by THINGAMAKID

This DVD and CD combo will entertain kids with 10 new animated sing-along classics, three educational animated shorts and 10 karaoke video tracks. The CD has 15 sing-along songs with split tracks. 9/5/2006 (Price: $9.99)

Violet's Alphabet Jamboree Music CD by INCREDIBLE KID

Children will learn all about the alphabet with this original music compilation. 9/5/2006 (Price: $10.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Asian Dreamland by PUTUMAYO KIDS

A harmonious collection of tranquil lullabies and soothing songs from ancient Asian lands. 9/5/2006 (Price: $14.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]