February 2009 New Specialty Toys — Audio & CD

The Laurie Berkner Band present a series of 24 songs for kids that take them through adventures such as "Going on a Hunt," "Jump and Fly," and "Walk Along the River." Launch date: 2008.

This 14-track educational album helps kids remember facts and history by setting them to music. Songs include "Revolution, Revolution," "Grew to the West," "Pledge of Allegiance" and "Branches of Government.

Once called a "musical Dr. Seuss," Jim Copp recorded nine children's albums from 1958 to 1971. These critically acclaimed, clever rhyming stories told through song won Copp many passionate fans. Now his most popular characters — Kate Higgins, Miss Goggins and the gorilla, and Martha Matilda O'Toole — hop, stomp and skip to life on the pages of the "Jim Copp, Will You Tell Me a Story?" picture book illustrated by Lindsay DuPont.T he book comes with a CD featuring three of Jim Copp's original recordings. Hardcover, 56 pages, color. Launch date: September 2008.

Robert Schneider, the mind behind one of indie-rock's seminal music groups, The Apples in stereo, will be releasing his debut children's music album under the character name Robbert Bobbert. The album, entitled Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine will  include a humorous comic book designed by artist Todd Webb, introducing kids and parents to his inventor/scientist character, Robert Bobbert. "Kids' ears are very tuned in to unusual sounds, so I threw many of my regular instruments out the window in order to come up with a whole new palette of colorful noises,” Schneider explained. “It forces me to be extra creative because you are writing for an extra creative audience."  Schneider tests his tunes with live audiences and his son Max. Launch date: January 20, 2009.

Created by Rob and Lisi Wolf, this 14-track, 42-minute album features acoustic version of songs by Neil Diamond, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles and others. The product is made in the United States, using recyclable materials.