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Songs and Nursery Rhymes for Kids

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The Hollow Trees: Hello Friend!

by admin Leave a Comment

On my first listen through of The Hollow Trees’ newest album Hello Friend I connected with the familiar strains of bluegrass music that weave together with jazz, folk, country and more to create this lively musical feast. And what a feast it is. The first track is called “What Do You Want on Your Taco” and definitely gets your mouth watering for the next Taco Tuesday. This song is the most requested by our children.

Hello Friend!Hello Friend is a wonderful combination of covers and original songs that work together to capture the humor and experiences of childhood. “Merry Go Round” was inspired by a particularly exhilarating carousel ride. My favorite song on the album is “Harmony Hills” a lullaby that captures the golden hour of dusk in the band’s fictional universe of Nelsonville.

Hello Friend Track List

  • What Do You Want on Your Taco?
  • Merry Go Round
  • My Dog Has Fleas
  • I Can’t Dance (I’ve Got Ants in My Pants)
  • It Ain’t No Fault of Mine
  • Hello Friend
  • My Metaphor
  • Guitar You Going to Sing Along?
  • Poor Papa
  • Backward Bill
  • She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain
  • I Like to Draw
  • The Harmony Hills

The Hollow Trees

Hello Friend! for Use in Storytime

Many songs on this album are written in a call-response style making it easy to play the song and engage children (and adults) in singing along. Several songs also fall into common themes used in storytimes and preschool themes.

Call and Response Songs on Hello Friend!

  • Hello Friend
  • I Can’t Dance (I’ve got Ants in My Pants)
  • Guitar You Going to Sing Along?

Themes on Hello Friend!

  • Food (What Do You Want on Your Taco?)
  • Dogs/Pets/Animals (My Dog Has Fleas)
  • Art/Creativity (I Like to Draw)
  • PJ/Bedtime (The Harmony Hills)

You can connect with The Hollow Trees on Facebook or learn more about their music and upcoming performances on their website. Hello Friend! is available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released July 1, 2016.

Now through June 8 you can enter to win your own copy of The Hollow Trees’ newest album as part of Bundle #3. Just fill out to form on this post for the Kids Music Giveaway.

 

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: reviews, The Hollow Trees

Diana Panton: I Believe in Little Things

by admin 2 Comments

Whimsical and melodic, with tendrils reaching from her voice to affectionately unlock our imagination, Diana Panton brings to life some of our favorite classic songs in her latest album, I Believe in Little Things. Diana meticulously curated magical songs from Disney, Sesame Street, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Muppets, Willy Wonka, reinventing them through her unique jazz style.

I Believe In Little ThingsWhile the album speaks to the child in all of us, I Believe in Little Things was born of Diana Panton’s desire to present a personal musical offering to her many fans who are parents of young children.  Diana explains, “I started to hear from moms that they were using songs from my albums like ‘Moon River’ and ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ to put their children to bed.  This inspired me to put together a collection of songs that would hold special meaning for children (and their parents). The recording process was a real treat, as every effort was invested in using the best musicians and production values to make this record equal in quality to any of the jazz albums I’ve previously released.”

Diana PantonOur family has thoroughly enjoyed I Believe in Little Things. It is a terrific addition to our music library. We have enjoyed arts and crafts time with Diana Panton’s voice inspiring our creativity. We’ve also brought her along on car rides for some much needed crooning which soothes all our car-cramped crankiness and exhaustion from running errands with four kids in tow.

Since I Believe in Little Things includes many songs from my childhood, this album proves to be a great way for me to share those memories with my children and bring them to life again for the next generation. Parents and children can bond over these timeless melodies and the unique way Diana Panton has preserved them in her album.

I Believe in Little Things for Use in Storytime

Songs from I Believe in Little Things would work for the following themes:

  • Alice in Wonderland (In a World of My Own, Alice in Wonderland)
  • imagination (Pure Imagination, Imagination)
  • friendship (I’m Going Back There)
  • lullabies or bedtime (When You Wish Upon a Star, Everybody Sleeps, Sleep Is a Precious Thing, Hushabye Mountain, Slumber My Darling)
  • colors (The Rainbow Connection)

You can connect with Diana Panton on Facebook or learn more about her and her music on her website. You can purchase I Believe in Little Things on Amazon or on her website.

Now through June 8 you can enter to win your own copy of Diana Panton’s I Believe in Little Things as part of Bundle #1. Just fill out to form on this post for the Kids Music Giveaway.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Diana Panton, reviews

Kids Music Giveaway

by admin 2 Comments

I’m excited to bring this kids music giveaway to you! For the next two weeks I will be introducing you to the kids music artists that we have grown to love over the last few years and some new artists we are quickly falling in love with. More than anything, these artists want to get kid-friendly music into the hands of families who will be able to bond, create memories and laugh together while engaging in this music. More than anything, I want to get kids music into library and classroom collections so it is available to kids and families year after year.

Kids Music GiveawayThis giveaway will, hopefully, reach families, teachers and librarians and provide another opportunity to get kids music into the hands of those who know and love kids on a daily basis.

Kids Music Bundles

Giveaway Bundle #1

Kids Music Bundle #1

Hullabaloo: I Chew

Diana Panton: I Believe in Little Things Review: click here

Boxtop Jenkins: You’re Happier When You’re Happy!

Giveaway Bundle #2

Kids Music Bundle #2

Eric Herman: Bubble Wrap

Charity and the JAMband: EARTH

Laurie Berkner: Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs

Giveaway Bundle #3

Kids Music Bundle #3

The Hollow Trees: Hello Friend! Review: Click here

Miss Nina & The Jumping Jacks: Every Day’s Your Birthday

Lisa Loeb: Nursery Rhyme Parade

Giveaway Bundle #4

Kids Music Bundle #4

 

Doctor Noize: Phineas McBoof Crashes the Symphony (release date July 15, 2016)

The Singing Lizard: Club Called Awesome

Pete Seeger: Pete DVD/CD set

Kids Music Artists

I’m excited to introduce you to the musicians that keep us moving, laughing, bonding, and sharing our love of music. These are artists who love connecting with kids and families at their events. Some go on concert tours, some teach music and movement classes, some perform at libraries and schools, and all of them enjoy seeing children learn and grow through the power of music.

Diana Panton: website, Facebook

Boxtop Jenkins: Facebook

Hullabaloo: website, YouTube, Facebook

Charity and the JAMband: website, YouTube, Facebook

Eric Herman: website, YouTube, Facebook

Laurie Berkner: website, YouTube, Facebook

Lisa Loeb: website, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest

The Hollow Trees: website, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram

Miss Nina: website, YouTube, Facebook

Paul Winter & Pete Seeger: website, Facebook

Doctor Noize: website, Facebook

The Singing Lizard: website, YouTube, Facebook

Kids Music Giveaway

You can win one of these amazing bundles to add to your home, classroom or public library collection. Just fill out the form below. Giveaway is open May 24, 2016-June 8, 2016. Open to all US residents, ages 18 and over. One entry per individual. Winner will be notified via email on June 9 and must reply with mailing address by June 10 to claim kids music bundle. Good luck!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Boxtop Jenkins, Charity and the JAMband, Diana Panton, Doctor Noize, Eric Herman, Hullabaloo, Laurie Berkner, Lisa Loeb, Miss Nina, Pete Seeger, The Hollow Trees

Music Video: Bubble Wrap

by admin Leave a Comment

We love Eric Herman! My daughter really fell in love with his album Party Animal a few years ago. We just received his latest project, Bubble Wrap, and the first time I played it in the car, my daughter immediately recognized his style and voice. He’s definitely a great addition to your musical collection.

Today he’s released a music video to go with the title song, Bubble Wrap, from his newest album. My boys begged to watch this captivating video again and again. Not only is the song fun and catchy, the video is a perfect visual accompaniment to tell the story of a boy who just can’t stop popping bubble wrap.

You can find his album on Amazon or subscribe to his YouTube channel.

Tomorrow I’m launching a multi-CD giveway and Bubble Wrap will be one of the amazing albums you  have a chance of adding to your music collection.

Eric Herman band photo

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Eric Herman, music videos

Summer 2016 Road Trip Playlist

by admin Leave a Comment

I’m so excited to partner with Sugar Mountain PR to bring you a playlist of songs for summer. This playlist is full of some of our favorite musicians for kids and families. And the very best part, they are available for download for FREE until May 25, 2016.

Meet the Kindie Artists

Frances England – www.francesengland,com
Charity and the JAMband – www.jamjamjam.com
Raffi – Rounder Records/Concord Music Group –www.concordmusicgroup.com/artists/raffi/
Aaron Nigel Smith – www.aaronnigelsmith.com
Alphabet Rockers – www.alphabetrockers.com
Sugar Free Allstars – www.sugarfreeallstars.com
Red Yarn – www.redyarnproductions.com
The Not-Its! – www.wearethenot-its.com
The Whizpops – www.thewhizpops.com
Okee Dokee Brothers – www.okeedokee.org
Brady Rymer and the Little Band that Could – www.bradyrymer.com
123 Andres – www.123andres.com

Download this awesome summer road trip playlist while it’s still free.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 123 Andres, Aaron Nigel Smith, Alphabet Rockers, Brady Rhymer, Charity and the JAMband, Frances England, Okee Dokee Brothers, Raffi, Red Yarn, Sugar Free Allstars, Summer, The Not-Its, The Whizpops

Sing a Summer Song for EARTH

by admin Leave a Comment

I am so excited to partner with Charity and the JAMband to debut a song from their new album EARTH. Today’s song is Sing a Summer Song. I’ve had the privilege of working with Charity Kahn before when she released an album in 2012 called Family Values. You can read my interview with her here.

Earth from Charity and the JAMbandWhat has impressed me so much with Charity and her music is her message of kindness and caring for all living things, including the earth itself. Charity and the JAMband definitely rocks the kindie scene with guitars and drums that get little ones up and moving.

EARTH is a mellower side of Charity and the JAMband, but still with a driving message of the power of love and intentional living. “EARTH is a celebration, like all of our albums,” notes Charity Kahn. “Whenever we record a song, there’s a metaphorical looseness, an organic earthiness that we embody. We hope to convey the feeling of openness, of aliveness…the sense that anything can happen.”

Sing a Summer Song

Today Charity is telling the story of Sing a Summer Song on her blog. Included with the story, Charity shares a free download of Sing a Summer Song. Head on over and add this song to your music library. Charity also includes activity ideas you can use with this song.

CLICK HERE for your free summer song.

If you’re looking for ideas for storytime or circle time, check out 15 Flower Poems for May. This post is a great collection of fingerplays, chants, and songs for flowers. Sing a Summer Song is featured in this post as a great companion song for flower-themed programs.

Connect with Charity and the JAMband

You can keep up with Charity on her blog.

You can see the latest news from the JAMband on their website.

You can share your own passion for taking care of the planet with Charity and the JAMband (@jamband) on Twitter using #EveryDayIsEarthDay

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Charity and the JAMband, preschoolers, reviews, Summer, toddlers

15 Flower Poems for May

by admin Leave a Comment

Last month it was April showers and now we have moved on to May flowers. In honor of May Day (although I know I’m a few days late) I’ve collected 15 flower poems for you. I’ve tried to vary them so you have flower fingerplays, flower poems, and flower songs. There are also poems about flowers in general as wells as ones about tulips, daffodils and daisies. There is even a great bedtime poem. I’ve included it at the end of the list.

Flower PoemsIn addition to the flower poems you can teach your little ones and use in storytime programs, I’m also excited to share with you a new album from Charity and the JAMband. This album, Earth, has a great message for kids and families about taking care of the earth and showing kindness to each other.

Flower Poems

  1. Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
  2. Growing
  3. If I Were a Little Flower
  4. Little Flowers
  5. Five Spring Flowers
  6. Daffodil
  7. I’m a Little Daisy
  8. Tulips
  9. Flower Garden
  10. The Flower Song
  11. A Song of Flowers
  12. I’m a Little Flower Pot
  13. Relaxing Flowers
  14. Five Little Flowers
  15. Bedtime

Be sure to click on the title of the poem to find the full lyrics. With 15 flower poems you will find something to work with any flower storytime program, or enough to create several programs around this theme.

I have heard that talking to plants encourages their growth. I thought of that nugget when I first heard “Sing a Summer Song” on the album Earth from Charity and the JAMband. The song speaks of singing a song for summer, singing a song for flowers, singing a song for dirt and singing a song for you and me. Music has such power to reach little ones. Music can guide them in their learning. Music can also broaden their understanding. This song would be a great addition to a storytime program. You could play it as a welcome song while little ones gather before storytime starts. Or it could be used as a song to play while little ones played with instruments.

Earth from Charity and the JAMbandYou can read more about the story of “Sing a Summer Song” on Charity’s blog. You can also connect with the band on their website or on Twitter (@jamband). You can also pick up a copy of Earth on Amazon or download it from iTunes.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: actions, Charity and the JAMband, counting, flowers, infants, newborns, preschoolers, Summer, toddlers, traditional song

Caterpillar to Butterfly Songs

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We went to the butterfly house at the zoo this past weekend. Oh my! Such beautiful butterflies. We had fun standing still and watching them flutter around us. We each held out a finger silently hoping a butterfly would land on one of us. Our favorite part of the butterfly house is looking through the window and seeing the caterpillar to butterfly process. All the cocoons of different sizes hung in rows; the newly emerged butterflies trying wings for the first time.

Caterpillar to Butterfly songs for kids

The process of caterpillar to butterfly is a great spring theme for toddlers and preschoolers. Spring brings so many changes to the world around our little ones. Butterflies are just one beautiful example of how spring transforms something plain into something colorful.

I love this list of songs because they all teach the caterpillar to butterfly cycle. Each song captures the beauty of this process in a unique way. These songs are a great way to reinforce the concepts taught in books, poems or activities. They would make a great soundtrack for a crafting session, a butterfly hunt, or free play time. They can also take front stage by letting kids explore instruments while listening.

Caterpillar to Butterfly Songs

  • Katy Caterpillar by Key Wilde and Mr Clarke on Animal Tales
  • Butterfly by Laura Doherty on In a Heartbeat
  • Flutter by Butterfly by Fun O’Clock on In the Nick of Time
  • Butterfly by Bari Koral on Anna and the Cupcakes
  • Butterfly Away by the Harmonica Pocket on Sundrops
  • Wooly Wooly Bear by Laura Doherty on In a Heartbeat

Caterpillar to Butterfly Life Cycle

Butterflies begin as an egg. When the egg hatches, a caterpillar emerges. The caterpillar grows, eating leaves. Then the caterpillar spins itself into a cocoon. Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. Once the transformation is complete, the butterfly breaks out of the cocoon. At first the butterfly’s wings are still damp. The butterfly cannot fly until the wings have dried off. Once the wings have dried, the caterpillar to butterfly transformation is complete and the butterfly takes to the sky.

Caterpillar to butterfly life cycle

Find this and more caterpillar to butterfly coloring pages at Super Coloring.

Bari Koral: Anna and the Cupcakes     The Harmonica Pocket: Sundrops     Animal Tales from Key Wilde and Mr Clarke

in-a-heartbeat      in-the-nick-of-time

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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: animals, Bari Koral, Fun O'Clock, infants, Key Wilde & Mr Clarke, Laura Doherty, newborns, preschoolers, Spring, the Harmonica Pocket, toddlers

5 Little Fish Finger Puppet Free Printable

by admin 3 Comments

My new favorite fingerplay is 5 Little Fish (Teasing Mr Shark) that I discovered via Pinterest on Developing the Whole Child. I always love ocean-themed programs as there are just so many variations. 5 Little Fish is a variation on one of our all-time favorites 5 Little Monkeys (Teasing Mr. Alligator). As I was trying to get my boys as excited about the little fish as I was, they were just not interested.

5 Little Fish Finger Puppet PrintableProblem solving how I could spark their interest in this fun and engaging poem, I thought of the finger puppets I made of snowmen for a few winter poems. I designed the little fish and then turned to my talented husband to create a shark. I printed off a practice sheet to make sure they were the right size. My boys immediately gave their full attention to the little fish and shark as I cut them out. They could hardly wait for me to finish taping the puppets. They each chose one fish as their own and I was allowed to be the shark.

5 Little Fish Finger PuppetsWe spent the next 30 minutes playing with the finger puppets and repeating over and over the poem. Success! We took turns being the fish and or the shark. They loved it so much they brought it back out to show their sisters when they got home from school. These little finger puppets were the ticket to engage them! (This time, at least)

5 Little Fish Finger Puppet Printable

There are two versions of the 5 Little Fish printable, a color version and a black and white version. Each printable contains the fish, the shark and a reminder card with instructions and the lyrics for the poem. You can also find the lyrics here.

5 Little Fish finger puppet printable color version

Free Download Color Version

5 Little Fish finger puppet printable black and white version

Free Download Black and White Version

Enjoy your 5 Little Fish (Teasing Mr Shark) finger puppet printable. I hope it sparks the enthusiasm of the little ones in your life.

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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: actions, animals, counting, ocean, Oceans of Possibility, preschoolers, toddlers

April Showers Poems and Songs

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“April showers bring May flowers”

This old adage has always had special meaning for me. My mom’s birthday is in April and my birthday is in May. I imagined this phrase was coined just for me that my mom, represented by April showers, brought me, represented by May flowers, into the world. Such is the innocence and simple understanding of a young child.

April Showers Poems and SongsIt is probably also the main reason why I love April showers so much. Rain, storms, thunder and lightning have always filled me with awe and appreciation for nature. I love the sound of rain dripping, dropping and tapping on my windows and roof.

So it’s no surprise that I’ve amassed quite a list of songs and poems about April showers. I’m excited to share this treasured collection with you today. I hope it will help in filling out your storytime program centered on your favorite book about rain. Side note: my all-time favorite book to read aloud about rain is Listen to the Rain by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault.

April Showers Poems

Just click on the title of the poem and you’ll be taken to the page with the full lyrics.

  • Pitter-Patter, Pitter-Pat
  • I Hear Thunder
  • Rain, Rain Go Away
  • It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
  • One Misty, Moisty Morning
  • Dr Foster Went to Gloucester
  • Eensy, Weensy Spider

 

April Showers Songs

Raindrops by The Harmonica Pocket on the album Sundrops

Thunder & Lightning by Recess Monkey on the album Hot Air

Rainy Day Dance Party by Milkshake on the album Got a Minute?

Rain Dance by Rachel Coleman and the TreeSchoolers on the album Plants & Flowers

In Belgian Rain by Hot Peas ‘n Butter on the album Catchin’ Some Peazzz, The Lullabies

Milkshake: Got a Minute?      Recess Monkey: Hot Air      The Harmonica Pocket: Sundrops

Hot Peas 'N Butter: Catchin' Some Peazzz      Rachel and the TreeSchoolers: Plants and Flowers

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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Hot Peas 'n Butter, Milkshake, Rachel Coleman, Recess Monkey, Spring, the Harmonica Pocket, weather

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Recently Added

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New on the Blog

  • The Hollow Trees: Hello Friend!
  • Diana Panton: I Believe in Little Things
  • Kids Music Giveaway
  • Music Video: Bubble Wrap
  • Summer 2016 Road Trip Playlist

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