- Here Come the 123s
- They Might Be Giants,
(Disney Sound, $19)
The offbeat alternarockers continue their winning formula of offering grown-up fans the same slightly twisted but ultra-catchy tunes they've always loved while simply shifting the lyrical focus of those songs to kid-friendly subject matter. Here, musical tribute is paid to numerals zero through twelve (and 813, of course). They mix things up musically, offering a bossa nova about zero, a vaudeville-style piano piece about number two, and a kickin' disco salute to five. The numbers are used in imaginative way (six likes to stand on its head and pretend he's nine), and basic math comes into play with the sing-along "I Can Add," and a danceable ode to geometry titled "Nonagon." The videos on the accompanying DVD feature fantastically entertaining flash animation and puppetry. If Schoolhouse Rock had been this cool, we'd all be rocket scientists by now.—Ages 2 and 9
- Very Derryberry
- Debi Derryberry,
(Very Derryberry Productions, $19)
Nickelodeon viewers may recognize Derryberry's voice as that of boy genius, Jimmy Neutron. But here in musician mode, she turns her perky, childlike voice to the task of creating fun, snappy, good-time kids' songs. Boogie-woogie piano accompaniment keeps the mood and the tempo up through this sunshiny set.—Ages 2 to 7
- Wonderstuff
- Recess Monkey,
(Monkey Mama, $20)
In an incredibly ambitious undertaking, Seattle trio Recess Monkey has churned out a 2-disc rock opera about who save nature from an evil force called The Gray. And they have more than succeeded. While always remaining accessible to kids (the band writes with the help of music camp students), their music is undeniably hip. Parents won't need to rush off and listen to a Keane or Pavement album to cleanse their musical palette afterwards.—Ages 2 to 9
- The Dragonfly Races
- Ellis Paul
(Black Wolf Records, $15)
Ellis Paul has the ideal voice for a singing storyteller, very Harry Chapin–esque, with the ability to imbue every lyric with soul and meaning. And he puts his natural abilities to excellent use in both sweet, rolling lullabies and guitar-plunky up-tempo numbers. He even manages to translate a good old-fashioned protest song into kidspeak with "The Million Chameleon March."—Ages 2 to 9
