This CD will truly change the way children perceive opera for generations to come. This collection showcases 14 of the best-loved arias performed in English by the world’s finest opera stars and rising stars. It features works from some of the most popular and important operas across a wide range of genres, eras and composers. It´s also available in a teacher’s guide CD format ($31.96) designed to bring opera to life in the classroom with connections across the curriculum. - Aire Norell

This collection (release date May 2005) of hip and happy danceable tunes from around the world will have the whole family swing-dancing in no time. Full-color multi-page liner notes, in English, Spanish and French, include cultural information about each artist and country, and background about the swing music genre. Putumayo’s collection of music and multicultural activity kits has won dozens of top national awards.

This is a wonderful addition to the Pocket Snails educational series for preschoolers. Original upbeat tunes will get children singing and clapping along to the catchy lyrics as they learn the alphabet, vowels and more. Favorites include “We Love the Vowels,” which focuses solely on the vowels and teaches how they each have two sounds. “Tell Me All About (Phonics)” recaps the exercise to seal the lesson. The CD was named a Toy of the Year by Creative Child Magazine and received a five star rating from the Dove Foundation.

Four-piece kids´ rock superstars the Imagination Movers are here to inspire kids of all ages with their debut DVD. Fifteen songs cover such joys as cleaning your room and making it through the night on your own without calling out to mom. You can´t miss the blue coveralls on these guys, or the fact that they´ll even use a trashcan as a drum if it´ll get kids to dance. — Melissa Kaplan

Strawberry Shortcake´s second full-length CD is a follow-up to Strawberry Shortcake´s debut CD, "Strawberry Jams," a Top 10 title on Billboard´s Children´s Music Chart upon its release in February 2004. The new CD includes 17 upbeat music tracks, a colorful 24-page booklet complete with all the lyrics and a special enhanced-CD program featuring two Strawberry Shortcake music videos, video previews of Bandai´s new line of Strawberry Shortcake toys and internet links.

A cool little colorful songbook kids (and their parents) will love, this book/CD pack contains the melody line, lyrics and chords for 38 favorite songs, with beautiful full-color illustrations throughout. To make learning the tunes easier, the accompanying CD includes a full-performance track for every song, recorded by a man, woman and children singing in unison. Learn both traditional favorites like "London Bridge" and modern classics like "Yellow Submarine." - Aire Norell

The latest Joy Story features Lucky, a newborn squirrel, who falls from a tree. He is rescued and nurtured by Lauren-a n eight-year-old girl-and nurtured back to health. The story serves as a model for a child to accept doctor´s visits; hospital stays and the illness of loved ones. Joy Stories(tm) are metaphorical stories that are supported by positive messages for raising self-esteem. These stories and the affirmations, which are based on sound research and principles of confidence building, are especially effective at bedtime. The imaginative story line, along with soothing background music, will ease your child into a deep restful sleep while delivering a subtle and effective message that will build his/her self-esteem.

This new release contains 38 entertaining songs for families. With a running time of 72 minutes, this playful symphony of guitars, train whistles, banjos, accordions, and even clanging spoons and old-fashioned whistling, will delight and inspire little ones as well as their parents. Rediscover familiar favorites and uncover beloved tunes from yester year in clever new arrangements. - Aire Norell

This award-winning CD containing 17 original songs is designed to offer a fun way for children to learn manners. It teaches basic social skills and releases parents and teachers from nagging. Kids can enjoy singing along at home or in the classroom, without even knowing it’s educational. The album is written and produced by Steve Megaw and performed by Steve and the “Cool Kind Kids.” Each song teaches a different social skill. This CD has won 10 national awards, including Teachers’ Choice, Parents’ Choice, Toy and CD of the Year, and The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval.

Billboard´s #1 Kid Artist for 2004, the Kidz Bop Kids are back again singing your favorite songs. This new release is the seventh in a series of gold-selling, aggressively marketed children´s albums. Featuring today´s catchiest pop songs, sung by kids for kids, titles include "Pieces of Me," "Let´s Get It Started," "Leave (Get Out)," "1985," "My Boo" and many more hits. - Aire Norell

The retro favorites are back! The Care Bears are a team of adorable bears, each with its own way of sharing feelings and its own bright tummy symbol. The CD features a collection of 12 original songs and traditional favorites celebrating key Care Bear values.

With original lyrics by Grammy®-nominated producer Leib Ostrow and also Dennis Westphall, this album ($6.98 CD; $3.98 cassette) contains original songs as well as new lyrics and arrangements to traditional childhood sing-along favorites that are performed by both adults and children. The result is a delightful, educational music experience. The music is wacky and fun, and just scary enough for a little bit of adventure.

What a fun and exciting way to musically celebrate any child’s birthday! In this innovative recording, a child’s name will be sung 35 times in the entire album of five songs. Each album has a list of up to 2000 names. Song titles include, “Your Special Day,” “Make a Wish,” “Birthdays Around the World,” and other unique birthday songs This special album is available on cassette or CD,with a list of over 200 names. 

Kindergarten through third-grade students will enjoy this developmentally-appropriate collection that features the original artists singing the very best of their movement songs. Among other well-known recordings are Lee & Sandy Paley singing “One Green Jelly Bean,” and “Sam the Robot Man.”

Putumayo Kids invites children and families on a fun musical cruise to the Caribbean with "Caribbean Playground." Filled with upbeat songs, informative liner notes and colorful artwork, this album is a festive carnival. "Caribbean Playground" includes full-color liner notes in English, Spanish and French with song descriptions and cultural information. Launch date: 2004. (This album was re-released in early 2010, in response to the major earthquake in Haiti, with 100-percent of proceeds donated to the Red Cross.)
— “Putumayo is a standout,” Kai Rady, owner of Shenanigans in Charlottesville, Va., told TDmonthly in January 2010.
— Elizabeth Dahl, owner of Calico Cat Toy Shoppe in West Bainbridge Island, Wash., said in early 2010 that Putumayo is her best-selling music item. “We sold so many of them over December.”
— Of 48 retailers interviewed in January 2010, 12 percent named Putumayo CDs as a top seller.

Preschool and kindergarten teachers will appreciate these songs and fingerplays, including familiar favorites and new selections, perfect for circle time. This album has already won an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award for 2005, Parents´ Choice Silver Award, NAPPA Award and iParenting Media Award. Booklist says, "This welcome pick-and-choose compilation will keep kids interested - and wondering." - Aire Norell

Parents and caregivers will appreciate this CD, produced by the host of the long-running PBS series, "Wai Lana Yoga," that offers a subtle approach to successfully calming down restless children at naptime. Tired, anxious or upset kids will learn easy yoga-based relaxation techniques while enjoying soothing sounds of the ocean, ambient music and original songs. - Aire Norell

Koto Tales are unique recordings of Japanese folktales with music. Looking for tales with friendly conflict resolution? Meet Plum Boy! How about stories of gratitude that make you giggle? Listen to Hana and the Dragon. Silly tales of adventure that incorporate Japanese phrases so naturally your kids will be singing along with them? Take a listen to Once Up On A Lilypad. And experience the elegant Crane´s Story, told from the viewpoint of Crane herself. Koto World story titles have all received recognition from Parents´ Choice, NAPPA, iParenting and Storytelling World.

Songwriter and music producer Lanny Sherwin and singer Gene Miller created the 15 tracks featured in "Dream With me Tonight, Vol. 2 – A Father’s Lullabies," on Sandman Records. What’s especially unique about this lullaby compilation is that it expresses the feelings of a father-child relationship.