- Napper's Delight
- Dean Jones
$15
As the lead singer of Dog on Fleas, Jones has shown his aptitude for raucous party-pleasers. Here, he proves he knows his way around a lullaby, too. The tunes are properly peaceful, yet each is catchy enough to make you sing along. —Ages 2 and up
- No Ordinary Day
- Suzi Shelton
$15
This singer-songwriter packs 'em in at live shows, thanks to her enthusiastic stage persona. The same bright, playful energy is evident on Shelton's second CD, which covers subject matter that ranges from frivolous (bubble gum) to serious (shared custody). —Ages 2 and up
- Cheek to Cheek
- Blair Casdin
$15
Standards and pop tunes, from the title track to the Beatles' "Your Mother Should Know," are twisted into sparkly jazz arrangements on this great quiet-time album. Casdin's vocals project an audible smile. —Ages 2 and up
- Uncle Rock U.
- Uncle Rock
$15
There's something pure about Uncle Rock: He's just a dude having fun with a guitar. Whether he's crooning about the deliciousness of "Hippie Harvest Kitchen" or playing a medley of superhero themes, he makes sure listeners share his enthusiasm. —Ages 2 to 8
- Let's Go Everywhere
- Medeski Martin & Wood
$17
Experimental-jazz trio John Medeski, Billy Martin, and Chris Wood may be reaching out to a younger audience, but their trademark funkadelia remains intact. Far from alienating, the early-'70s groove on these tracks (some of them instrumental) can transform Hokey-Pokeying birthday partiers into a pretween Mod Squad. Meanwhile, parents can close their eyes and go back to a cooler version of their own youths—you can almost hear the wood paneling, lava lamps, and shag rugs. It's still kid music, though: The requisite pirate song is present and accounted for, as are multiple nursery rhymes. MMW (as their adult fans know them) even make "All Around the Kitchen"—possibly 2007's most covered children's song-fresh and different. —Ages 2 to 6
- Have You Never Been Yellow?
- Morgan Taylor
$15
Renaissance man Taylor (who not only wrote and played the songs but also animated the videos on this CD-DVD set) revisits the absurd life of Gustafer Yellowgold, the cone-headed alien from the sun introduced in last year's Wide Wild World. This time, we are privy to his budding friendship with the Mustard Slugs, his love of long beards, and his new pastime: punching cheese. The music is the true star: Taylor's snappy indie rock has cross-generational appeal. There's even a legit rock anthem (it just happens to be about eating pinecones).
