27 Terrific Children's Albums



It’s pretty safe to say that there’s a lot more good music for kids than there used to be.

I have always turned on lots of diverse music for myself in the house, but when Abraham was three, I gave him his own little CD player, CDs, and a good tutorial about how to use it and treat CDs well.  It has been great for him to feel ownership over CDs, and listen to what he wants to, when he wants. He now shares with his two younger siblings.  They have a good, diverse collection, that they (and I) love!

While there are a lot of great choices, there is also plenty of mindless, crazy, and just plain bad music. I feel about music the way I feel about food: if it’s not good enough for me, it’s not good enough for my kids.  If they don’t learn to like the best now, how could I expect them to like it “when they grow up”?  There’s plenty to choose from, so skip the junk.

Here are our favorite 27 great children's albums.

Folk

• Elizabeth Mitchell--A wonderful folk children's artist, with lovely, mellow, and traditional songs.  If you like her and her style, give her Pandora station a listen, and you will find lots of really great artists with a similar sound.

• Raffi--Banana phone.  'Nuff said.

• Jack Johnson--Curious George--If you like Jack Johnson, this is quite a fun kid's CD. In fact, of his different CDs we have, this could be the best.

• John Denver—All Aboard--A really fun, classic John Denver CD all about trains!  Who could resist?

• Train Songs--If you're into train songs, that's what this CD has!  The whole CD is very vintage-sounding, and includes wonderful classics like "Drill Ye Tarriers," "Casey Jones," and "Down by the Station."

Classical & Other

• Children’s Songbook--You can download all 285 LDS Children's Songbook songs for free!  (Also in Spanish, Portuguese and French.)

• Three Musical Fables with music by John Rutter--This one has a lot of talking, but the stories (The Wind in the Willows, Brother Heinrich's Christmas, and The Reluctant Dragon) and accompanying music are lovely.  They're great for quiet time.

• King Singer’s Kid Stuff--The King Singers, Judi Dench & Mother Goose = triple-win combination.  Probably my favorite CD on this list.

• Carnival of the Animals--This one is especially great because it has the Ogden Nash poems too.  It's a really fun way for young kids to get excited about classical music.

• Peter and the Wolf--I don't have this version, but it seems well rated, and it has narration too!  My boys love this story and the music.

For Fun

This music is a little more for kids who are a little bit older and want more funny lyrics and a bit faster tempo.

• Tom Chapin--I grew up on this music, and in my opinion, his earlier music is better.  Kids get a kick out of his lyrics, and he covers a variety of genres in each CD.

• Bert and Ernie's Greatest Hits--Hilarious and sweet. . .

• Classic Disney--It's fun when you can find a good medley of great Disney classics.  Or you can just buy individual songs and make your own of all your favorites!

• Songs from the Street

• Shirley Temple--The Very Best of

• Any Putumayo Kids, especially Animal Playground--Another of my very favorites.

• Sandra Boynton’s Frog Trouble--Sandra Boynton has lots of fun illustrated books with accompanying CD's.  They all look pretty fun, but this is the only one I can speak for.

Musical Soundtracks

We all love musicals in my family, and this is perhaps the boys' most listened to genre.  Whether or not they know the movie or stage versions, they love the energy and fun of these classic musicals. These are our favorites.  Some of them only have a handful of songs worth having, so again it might be better to buy the songs individually when possible.

• Mary Poppins--Please take a moment to imagine my boys marching around to "Sister Suffragette."

• The Music Man

• The Sound of Music

• The Wizard of Oz

• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

• Pirates of Penzance

• Newsies

• Frozen--I have to admit, the new soundtrack is pretty singable!

Go to Sleep Music

Any good, peaceful classical music will work for this.  These are just two of our favorites.

• Libera--Extremely peaceful and beautiful, my kids fall right asleep to this "angel music."  I secretly want to move to London so my boys can be in this choir.

• Putumayo Presents Dreamland--Lovely world lullabies.

As a bonus, here are three artists I've been listening to lately: Eric Bibb, Eva Cassidy, and The Lower Lights.

What do you and your kids enjoy?

A Christmas Story: "Christmas is for Sharing"

I love Christmas stories. This one is from the childhood of my great uncle, Richard Warner (as told to his sister, Emma Lou Thayne). My mom read it to me when I was a girl, and before bed tonight, I read it to my inseparable boot-loving boys. I hope that as they grow, they will be as loving and good to each other as the sweet boys in the story. Enjoy!

source

Christmas is for Sharing

I knew that Homer had wanted canyon boots for as long as I could remember. He was eleven and I ten, and we had spent many nights under the blue quilts at the cabin talking about how great it would be to have some real boots — boots that would climb through thorny bushes, that would ward off rattlesnakes, that would nudge the ribs of the pony; we had planned the kind of leather they should be and what kind of decoration that should have.

But we both knew it was just talk. The depression had been hard on Father's business, and even shoes for school were usually half-soled hand-me-downs.

Christmas that year had promised as always to be exciting, though mainly because of the handmade things we'd worked on in school for our parents. We never had money to spend on each other, but we had caught early in our lives a sort of contagion from our mother. She loved to give, and her anticipation of the joy that a just-right gift would bring to someone infected our whole household. We were swept up in breathless waiting to see how others would like what we had to give. Secrecy ruled — open, exaggerated secrecy, as we made and hid our gifts. The only one whose hiding place we never discovered was my Grandmother's. Her gifts seemed to materialize by magic on Christmas morning and were always more expensive than they should have been.

That Christmas I was glowing because Mother had been so happy with the parchment lamp shade I'd made in the fourth grade, and Father had raved over the clay jewelry case I had molded and baked for him. Gill and Emma Lou had been pleased with the figures I'd whittled out of clothespins, and Homer had liked the Scout pin I'd bargained for with my flint. Then Grandma started to pass out her presents.

Mine was heavy and square. I'd been in the hospital that year and then on crutches, and I'd wondered how it would be to have an Erector set to build with. Grandma had a knack at reading boys' minds, and I was sure that's what it was. But it wasn't. It was a pair of boots, brown tangy-smelling leather boots.

I looked quickly to Homer's package. His was a sweater. He'd needed one all fall. I wanted to cover my box before he saw what it was. I didn't want the boots; they should have been his. He came toward me, asking to see, and I started to say, "I'm sorry, bruv."

But he was grinning. And he shouted, "Hey everybody — look what Richard's got." He swooped the boots out of the box, fondled them like treasure, and then sat on the floor at my feet to take off my half-soled shoes and put on the brand new boots.

I don't remember how the boots felt, nor even how they looked. But Christmas rang in my soul because my brother was glad for me.


Richard Warner
As told to Emma Lou Warner Thayne
December 1964

Tea Party Food

The tea party for our sweet baby's first birthday was really fun.  I tried to design the setup and food for the birthday girl and the other babies to be comfortable and enjoy themselves. And I think they did.

Birthday Princess

We had three little tables, one for the babes, one for the big girls, and one for the mamas.  They all had variations on the same food. 

The Mama's Table

The Mother's Table had herbal tea, banana cupcakes, cucumber sandwiches and oranges.

Cucumber Sandwiches
Mix softened cream cheese with dill-weed, a little lemon juice and a bit of Tabasco, salt and white pepper. Peel and slice cucumbers thinly, let sit in salty ice water for up to an hour or more in the refrigerator. Drain and pat dry with clean dish towel or between paper towels. Assemble on good quality sliced bread, and use cookie cutters to cut them into cute shapes :)

The Big Girl Table

The Big Girl Table had apple juice, mini banana cupcakes, and jam and cream cheese sandwich

The Baby Table

The Baby Table had water, cheerios, bread stars, and tiny cupcakes (in ketchup cups).  It was all in plastic, and baby-proof, and they were very happy to wander around a table their height and browse the food at will.

The banana cake is a sugar-free recipe I have (that works equally well as a muffin or banana bread). 

BANANA SPICE CAKE

Beat together in a bowl:
3 ripe bananas
2 eggs
¼ cup natural peanut butter (I use chunky)

Stir together in another bowl:
2 cups whole grain flour (I use oat)
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon ginger (do not use fresh ginger root, use the powdered ginger)

Directions:
Combine all ingredients.  Pour into greased pans.  For a 8" square cake pan, bake at 350 for about half an hour, until a knife comes out clean.

For frosting, I beat equal parts Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cream Cheese and Butter until fluffy, and then added a sweetener of choice until desired consistency. 

A Nice Sunday App

I try not to let Peter have much time on my tablet (he only really got interested about 2-3 weeks ago).  But I found an app that I really love for quiet Sunday time: a sing-along of LDS Primary hymns.

http://ldssingalong.com/lds-childrens-sing-along-lite/

The music is tastefully arranged and sung, and is accompanied by photos of happy faces and pretty nature scenes that a child can flip through while singing along.  Words are displayed for those who can read, but Peter likes to listen and watch, while I sing.  Older children can sing along, either because they already know the words or can read them.  I've learned a few new primary songs myself this week, by singing along!

Once a song is over it automatically moves on to the next song, so it could be used as background music for a Sunday afternoon as well.

There is a free version with twenty or so songs, and then a (rather expensive) version you can buy.  I splurged.

http://ldssingalong.com/lds-childrens-sing-along-lite/

I love so many of the primary hymns!  They can bring peace, simplicity, and clarity to a child's life.

The Poems of Alan Alexander Milne

Jonathan Jo

Has a mouth like an "O"

And a wheelbarrow full of surprises;

If you ask for a bat,

Or for something like that,

He has got it, whatever the size is.

If you're wanting a ball

It's no trouble at all;

Why, the more that you ask for, the merrier––

Like a hoop and a top,

And a watch that won't stop,

And some sweets, and an Aberdeen terrier.

Jonathan Jo has a mouth like an "O"

But this is what makes him so funny:

If you give him a smile,

Only once in a while,

Then he never expects any money!

source

Some of my strongest childhood memories include the poems of English writer A.A. Milne (1882-1956). I can still hear my dad's voice reciting "Lines and Squares," "Disobedience," and "Jonathan Jo" and my mom's voice in "The King's Breakfast" and "The End." I'm sure I say them to my children now with the exact intonation my parents once spoke them to me. Many other Milne poems adorned my childhood in some way or another (e.g. King's Singers albums, Muppets sketches...).

Best known for his stories about the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh in the Hundred Acre Wood, A.A. Milne's poems are absolutely not to be missed. I never tire of them. Based on my memories of childhood and observations of my own little boys, I think he thoroughly understand the workings of a child's mind and heart (in fact, for this reason, all adults should read them). Ernest Shepard's accompanying "decorations" are equally charming. Whether or not you have children at home, the poetry books When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six are worthy additions to precious bookshelf space.

Call any nearby children to your knee right now and enjoy a few of my favorites together. If you are alone, no matter. You might be pleased to catch a glimpse of yourself in some of these words.

Market Square

I had a penny,
A bright new penny,
I took my penny
To the market square.
I wanted a rabbit,
A little brown rabbit,
And I looked for a rabbit
'Most everywhere.

For I went to the stall where they sold sweet lavender.
("Only a penny for a bunch of lavender!")
"Have you got a rabbit, 'cos I don't want lavender?"
But they hadn't got a rabbit, not anywhere there.

I had a penny,
And I had another penny,
I took my pennies
To the market square.
I did want a rabbit,
A little baby rabbit,
And I looked for rabbits
'Most everywhere.

And I went to the stall where they sold fresh mackerel.
("Now then! Tuppence for a fresh-caught mackerel!")
"Have you got a rabbit, 'cos I don't like mackerel?"
But they hadn't got a rabbit, not anywhere there.

I found a sixpence
A little white sixpence.
I took it in my hand
To the market square.
I was buying my rabbit
(I do like rabbits)
And I looked for my rabbit
'Most everywhere.

So I went to the stall where they sold fine saucepans.
("Walk up, walk up, sixpence for a saucepan!")
"Could I have a rabbit, 'cos we've got two saucepans?"
But they hadn't got a rabbit, not anywhere there.

I had nuffin',
No, I hadn't got nuffin',
So I didn't go down
To the market square;
But I walked on the common,
The old-gold common . . .
And I saw little rabbits
'Most everywhere!

So I'm sorry for the people who sell fine saucepans,
I'm sorry for the people who sell fresh mackerel,
I'm sorry for the people who sell sweet lavender,
'Cos they haven't got a rabbit, not anywhere there.


Happiness

John had
Great Big
Waterproof
Boots on;
John had a
Great Big
Waterproof
Hat;
John had a
Great Big
Waterproof
Mackintosh––
And that
(Said John)
Is
That.


Come Out with Me

There's sun on the river and sun on the hill . . .
You can hear the sea if you stand quite still!
There's eight new puppies at Roundabout Farm––
And I saw an old sailor with only one arm!

But every one says, "Run along!"
(Run along, run along!)
All of them say, "Run along! I'm busy as can be."
Every one says, "Run along,
There's a little darling!"
If I'm a little darling, why don't they run with me?

There's wind on the river and wind on the hill . . .
There's a dark dead water-wheel under the mill!
I saw a fly which had just been drowned––
And I know where a rabbit goes into the ground!

But every one says, "Run along!"
(Run along, run along!)
All of them say, "Yes dear," and never notice me.
Every one says, "Run along,
There's a little darling!"
If I'm a little darling, why won't they come and see?


Knights-in-Armor

Whenever I'm a shining Knight,
I buckle on my armor tight;
And then I look about for things,
Like Rushings-Out, and Rescuings,
And Savings from the Dragon's Lair,
And fighting all the Dragons there.
And sometimes when our fights begin,
I think I'll let the Dragons win . . .
And then I think perhaps I won't,
Because they're Dragons, and I don't.


The Engineer

Let it rain!
Who cares?
I've a train
Upstairs,
With a brake
Which I make
From a string
Sort of thing,
Which works
In jerks,
'Cos it drops
In the spring,
Which stops
With the string
And the wheels
All stick
So quick
That it feels
Like a thing
That you make
With a brake,
Not string . . .

So that's what I make,
When the day's all wet.
It's a good sort of brake
But it hasn't worked yet.

Vespers

Little Boy kneels at the foot of the bed,
Droops on the little hands little gold head.
Hush! Hush! Whisper who dares!
Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.

God bless Mummy. I know that's right.
Wasn't it fun in the bath tonight?
The cold's so cold, and the hot's so hot.
Oh! God bless Daddy––I quite forgot.

If I open my fingers a little bit more,
I can see Nanny's dressing-gown on the door.
It's a beautiful blue, but it hasn't a hood.
Oh! God bless Nanny and make her good.

Mine has a hood, and I lie in bed,
And I pull the hood right over my head,
And I shut my eyes, and I curl up small,
And nobody knows that I'm there at all.

Oh! Thank you, God, for a lovely day.
And what was the other I had to say?
I said, "Bless Daddy," so what can it be?
Oh! Now I remember. God bless Me.

Little Boy kneels at the foot of the bed,
Droops on the little hands little gold head.
Hush! Hush! Whisper who dares!
Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.

Do you have a favorite you'd like to share?
What other children's poets do you love?