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

Tall and Small by BIG TRUCK MUSIC LLC

On Rebecca Frezza’s new album, “Tall and Small,” listeners will note influences ranging from rock ‘n’ roll and jazz to Celtic and bluegrass, with a depth of instrumental color that is unusual in a children’s album. In addition to two backup vocalists singing harmony and the usual guitar, bass, keyboard and drums, “Tall and Small” features flute, harmonica, pennywhistle, djembe, bongos, cajon, mandolin, ukulele, fiddle, bodhran, clarinet, trombone, trumpet, electric violin and washboard. Kids will enjoy hearing the varied sounds. It won the following 2006 awards: NAPPA Gold Award, Parents' Choice Recommended Award, iParenting Media Award, Children's Music Web Award, and American Library Association Booklist Editors' Choice. Launch date: July 5, 2006. 5/23/2006 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

BABY MUSIC by KIDDIE VILLAGE

This album of online includes soothing and stimulating classical music that is arranged with babies in mind, but the music can be enjoyed by all ages. It features musical highlights from Kiddie Village's award-winning DVD line and can only be downloaded from iTunes. 5/23/2006 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Beethoven for Kids by KOCH ENTERTAINMENT

Beethoven for Kids is a compilation of Beethoven's most known, listened to and performed pieces for piano. Children learn these timeless pieces as part of their music and general education, creating a lifelong love of music. The pieces are performed on the piano, the instrument for which they were intended, in a child-friendly style. The CD insert tells a little bit about each song and gives a brief description of Beethoven's life. Roberto McCausland-Dieppa is the featured artist. 5/22/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gregory's Shadow by LIVE OAK MEDIA

This CD and book set allows kids to read along on their own while award winning story teller Jim Weiss tells them the tale of Gregory the shy groundhog on the CD. Written by Don Freeman, the tale focuses on Gregory who is only comfortable when his shadow is near. When he loses it, he wonders, will he find it again by the time it hits Groundhog Day? 5/22/2006 (Price: $18.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Mole Music by GREATHALL PRODUCTIONS

This CD and book set allows kids to read along on their own while award winning story teller Jim Weiss tells them the tale of violin-playing Mole on the CD. The story, written by David McPhail, focuses on kindhearted Mole who sends away for a violin and teaches himself to play underground. 5/22/2006 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Eloise by KOCH ENTERTAINMENT

Based on the beloved character Eloise from Kay Thompson's best-selling children's books with illustrations by Hilary Knight, the character comes to life in this collection of 11 tracks. The songs all reflect the 6-year-old's fun world of the haughty Plaza Hotel in New York City where she plays and lives. Songs include, "Welcome to the Hotel," "Room Service" and "Playing in the Lift." 5/22/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Meltdown! by JUSTIN ROBERTS

What used to be known as children’s music gets a new genre-bending twist with Justin Roberts' alternative rock release, Meltdown! The CD features 13 original songs exploring kid and family life, lushly enhanced by complex songwriting, arrangements and “wall of sound” production. Justin's warm voice, witty lyrics and infectious melodies will leave the kids screaming for more. 5/22/2006 (Price: $15.98)

Way Out by JUSTIN ROBERTS

Justin Roberts is the indy-rocker of children’s CDs. His vocal style has been compared to James Taylor, Elvis Costello, Loudon Wainwright III and even Green Day, but his style and songwriting are unique. The lyrics are rich with a comedic, sharp insight and sensitivity to the core audience of parents and kids. This CD has won a Parents’ Choice Gold Award and has been named one of the 10 best children’s CDs of the year by Child Magazine and Amazon.com. Los Angeles based artist Sarajo Frieden created the cover art for the album. A new music video is in the works, with clever multimedia featurettes of hits like “Willy Was a Whale,” “Airplane of Food,” “Tie Your Shoes” and “If You Got 1,” produced by Oil Factory (Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, Madonna) and directed by Tomorrow's Brightest Minds (Death Cab for Cutie, Dandy Warhols). 5/5/2006 (Price: $15.98)

Interactive Pushbutton Display by FUN TUNES FOR KIDS

This unique display case holds 42 CDs from Fun Tunes for Kids. Now retailers can display every album that Fun Tunes for Kids makes, including "Moose Tunes for Kids" and "Cow Tunes for Kids" among others. The display panel on the case's front allows customers to sample a song from one to six titles displayed. The price of the pushbutton display is offset with 27 free CDs. The case is 14.25" wide by 18" deep by 11.75" high. 5/5/2006 (Price: $399.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Quiet Time by ROUNDER RECORDS

Raffi's slow songs bring a welcome calm to otherwise hectic days. The album includes such popular tracks as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Row Row Row" as well as new songs such as "Sunflower" and "Slow Day." Raffi has been charming children since his first musical release in 1976. Running time is 35 minutes. 5/5/2006 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Tot's Teaching Tunes by TIMEOUT TOT

Tot's Tunes is a CD collection of songs from the award-wining TimeOut Tot DVD, with musical role-play games using their social skills. Tot's Acorn Treat is passed like a "hot potato," and when the music stops the person holding the acorn role-plays the "appropriate behavior" for a given situation. Learning "the rules" has never been more FUN! 5/4/2006 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Marvel Heroes Music for Me! by KIDS JUKE BOX

Supercharge your sales with Marvel Heroes Music for Me!  This is the first-ever retail-friendly personalized music CD.  It features eight fun and entertaining songs all about a child and his or her favorite superheroes.  On these CDs, the child’s name is used more than 30 times.  Stop trying to guess what names to carry and let Spider-Man and his friends do the selling for you.  No rack system and no special equipment or mass amounts of inventory are required. Each of the eight-song music CDs represents thousands of names in any spelling.  Using “Grab and Go” technology, the customer simply buys the CD from you and completes the personalization at home using their computer and the Internet in less than 2 minutes. Our fun and friendly instructions guide the parent or child through the process from start to finish.  The CDs come pre-packed in a colorful and informative countertop display with audio samples built in to help sell the product for you. Generate more profit per square foot with this revolutionary technology. It retails for $14.95 to $19.95. Launch date: September 15, 2006.
— Daryl Ragsdale of Kids Juke Box told TDmonthly, “With this innovative technology, we can generate more profit per square foot than any other personalized product on the market. While our music CDs have been an exciting addition to the toy market, what we are working on now will change the face of personalization forever.” 4/28/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cowboy - Bath to Bedtime Musicals by TIPPY TOE TOONS

The Cowboy CD stars Jimbo and his horse Rufus. These two ornery characters love gettin’ dirty by ridin’ and ropin’ and roamin’ the range... but not as much as they love takin’ a bath! Let these two “fellers” introduce kids to their friends. There’s Fannie Soakly, the fastest washcloth in the west. And the Warblin Wranglers, the rootin’, tootin’-est, singin’-est cowboys you’ll ever meet! From the bath, through putting on pajamas, toothbrushing, picking out a book, to a lullaby, the TippyToeToons® Cowboy CD takes kids on a musical journey from Bath to Bedtime! They'll be ready to play on May 1, 2006. 4/27/2006 (Price: $13.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Sing-A-Long With Barney & Friends by JUST ME! MUSIC

The fourth CD in the Just Me! Music personalized product line, this CD features 27 “super-dee-duper” tracks, including 13 great Barney songs and 14 separate talking segments where Barney, Baby Bop and BJ talk directly to the child. In fact, the child’s name is heard about 80 times throughout the CD. This product is now available in retail stores through a touch-screen, listening and burning station. 4/25/2006 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Girl Authority by ROUNDER RECORDS

Girl Authority is a self-titled CD by a new pop singing group made up of nine girlfriends between the ages of 8 and 13. Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer and Rounder vice president of A&R, Scott Billington, the record features covers of popular "girl-power" hits from yesterday and today, including "Dancing Queen," "Material Girl," "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "Hollaback Girl." 4/25/2006 (Price: $9.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Beethoven's Wig 3: Many More Sing Along Symphonies by ROUNDER RECORDS

Beethoven’s Wig 3: Many More Sing Along Symphonies, the newest release in the wildly popular, two-time Grammy Award nominated Beethoven’s Wig series arrives May 2, 2006 on Rounder Records. Zany lyrics add a fresh new dimension to classical music pieces that celebrate specific musical instruments, from the familiar to the fascinating. Kids can sing along with pieces by Beethoven, Bach, Bizet, Rossini, Tchaikovsky and Handel, among others, and learn amusing facts about the composers’ lives. 4/25/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Road Games 2—BINGO by MASTERMIND TOYS

This is B - I - N - G - O on the move. It includes hours of fun with a CD and Bingo Cards and makes that far away destination seem just around the corner. It includes bingo cards, pencils and instructions. 4/21/2006 (Price: $8.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Road Games 1— Sound Effects by MASTERMIND TOYS

It's an all new guessing game on CD that the whole family will enjoy. From power tools to 10-pin bowling, Road Games 1: Sound Effects challenges families to put their listening skills to the test — whether en route to the cottage or running errands around town. Over 80 digitally-recorded sound effects are included, categories ranging from easy to almost impossible. 4/21/2006 (Price: $8.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Lullabies by CASABLANCA KIDS INC.

This is a collection of some of the best old and new songs designed to ease babies and young children to sleep. From traditional nursery rhymes to gentle island rhythms and amusing dream adventures, each song is performed with love by such award winning artists as Sharon, Lois and Bram; Banana Slug String Band; Parachute Express; Fred Penner; and others. A coloring page is included. 2006 National Parenting Publications GOLD Award winner. 4/13/2006 (Price: $8.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Jack Grunsky — My Beautiful World by CASABLANCA KIDS INC.

Jack Grunsky has been creating music and entertaining children for over 25 years. His unique multicultural approach to music incorporates authentic instruments, rhythms, melodies and arrangements from around the world. A winner of many awards, including two JUNO Awards for Best Children’s Recording, several Parents’ Choice Gold Awards, a NAPPA Gold Award and an iParenting Media Award, Jack has been compared to Paul Simon and Justin Timberlake in the world of children’s music. With My Beautiful World Jack Grunsky takes children on a journey through a day in their own lives and with energetic, upbeat songs, clever lyrics and Jack’s trademark rich, cultural sounds helps children to see themselves as part of a beautiful world. This album received a 2007 JUNO Award, Canada’s highest music award, for Children's Album of the Year. Other awards include iParenting Media Award 2006 Excellent Products Call, 2006 National Parenting Publications GOLD Award, and Our Choice 2007 Award. 4/13/2006 (Price: $14.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bratz – Genie Magic by UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

The latest Bratz album includes five songs featured in their new DVD (“Make You Wanna dance,” “Never Gonna Give Up,” “The Way We Shine,” “Life’s a Wild Ride,” and “All Together”), as well as songs from the Bratz TV series, including the popular TV theme song. Genie Magic hopes to emulate the success of Rock Angelz, which rocketed to #1 on the Kid Audio chart and debuted in the Pop 100. Matthew Gerrard, one of today’s most in-demand and successful pop writer-producers, has penned all of the songs on the album. The Genie Magic album embraces the Bratz philosophy of self-expression, being who you are and feeling empowered. The album debuted in April 2006. 4/12/2006

Bear Tunes For Kids by FUN TUNES FOR KIDS

Bear Tunes For Kids features the fine vocals of Bernie the Bear and Brent Holmes. The only CD ever produced all about bears, the songs help children learn about counting, multiples, forest animals, and, of course, bears. It contains 12 "Beary Silly Songs" followed by a beary educational spoken track: "Fun Facts About Bears". 3/30/2006 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magic Melody Upright Keyboard with Stool by GOLDMEN ELECTRONIC

This full-featured electronic keyboard set includes 4 different color lights which flash as the child plays the keyboard; 8 musical instrument sound effects; 8 types of music; 4 kinds of animal sound; 4 drum sounds; bright color volume control knob; replay, record, stop function; demo song volume hi/low/off. Requires 4 "C" batteries (not included). 3/30/2006 (Price: $39.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

World Without Windows by KIDS CREATION MUSIC LLC

Creation, a group of seventh grader musicians — Thomas (bass/vocals), Raechel (lead vocals/guitar), Peter (keyboards), Sam (drums/percussion), Molly (lead vocals/guitar) and Josh (guitar) — formed to rock out their message of diversity and multiculturalism, and that they do in full force in "World Without Windows." It is filled with 10 engaging, dance-inducing rock anthems ripe with passionate, thought-provoking lyrics. Clarence Clemmons performs with the group on "Only for You." 3/30/2006 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Alphabet Jam by RIVANNA MUSIC

Wonderfully energetic and full of fun, "Alphabet Jam" will have young ones involved and wanting to join in. The creative songs have varied rhythms and use a number of different instruments that will make children want to get up and move, especially as children are naturally drawn to other children's voices. There are 36 lively tracks that teach the letters of the alphabet — from "Abby Alligator" to "Zany Zebra Zack" — as well as a special "Vowel Family" song and a unique "When Y Is at the End" song that teach children letter sounds through repetition and sing-alongs. The lively album is fun for the whole family. 3/28/2006 (Price: $15.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]