An Offbeat Guide to Kids' Music

Repeatability

Perhaps one of the most important attributes of any music, a great tune is one you can listen to over and over and over again and still enjoy. Better yet, when you can go back years later and still enjoy it.

When I recently bought the CD reissue of Really Rosie I was amazed to realize that I still knew all the words to the fabulous songs Carole King wrote for her soundtrack to this Maurice Sendak book. I took another walk down memory lane with the 1970s classic Free To Be You and Me from Marlo Thomas. I wore out both albums as a kid and I suspect my daughter will do the same.

Finding good children’s music isn’t hard. Ask any parent with older kids which CDs they could still listen to today without cringing, and those are the kids’ songs that stood the test of time for them. A search on Amazon.com can be helpful too, listing the CD you searched for along with other titles people who liked that CD recently purchased. Amazon will also let you listen to snippets of songs off the CD so you can hear them before deciding on a purchase.

CDs mentioned in the article:

Singin’ in the Bathtub, by John Lithgow
No!, by They Might Be Giants
Not For Kids Only, by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman
El Elefante, by Ben and Leo Sidran
Silly Songs with Larry, by Veggie Tales
Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals, CD#1, by David Weinstone
How Sweet it Is, by The Sugar Beats
Bad Mood Mom, by Jamie Broza
Really Rosie, by Carole King
Free To Be You and Me, by Marlo Thomas and Company

Other CDs worth a listen:

Le Hoogie Boogie, by Michael “Beausoleil” Doucet
Night Time!, by Dan Zanes and Friends
For the Kids, Various Artists