The Gift Of Music

Let’s dance! And sing! Kids and music are like peanut butter and jelly: they just naturally go great together. Here are five albums that will keep little toes tapping in your house, now that it’s getting too cold for dancing in the streets.

“Morning Wish Garden” by The OHMies
Bailey Butterfly, Carlin Caterpillar and their friends take your child on an interactive journey to wake up Mr. Sun. That’s how their garden of wishes grows!

This is the group’s first full-length musical album with 10 original songs like “Grasshopper Hop,” “Wag Your Tail,” and “Shake ‘Em Off Shuffle,” all meant to get kids up and moving with fun, participatory activities that promote healthy, active living in an amusing and exciting way. theohmies.com

“ABC Fiesta” by Mister G
“Hola Amigos,” “Cocodrilo,” and “Bongo Bongo” are just a few of the 12 songs by this kid-friendly bilingual rock star.  The album is an invigorating blend of Latin rhythms accompanied by a funky acoustic guitar, world beat-inspired celebrations of letters, words and reading in both Spanish and English, lilting reggae lullabies, plus tunes influenced by zydeco (a mix of Cajun music, blues, and rhythm & blues). mistergsongs.com

“The Sounding Joy” by Elizabeth Mitchell and Friends
Elizabeth Mitchell and a list of musical luminaries such as Natalie Merchant, Aoife O’Donovan, Amy Helm, John Sebastian, Dan Zanes, Happy Traum, including special guest Peggy Seeger, add their voices to pay tribute to Ruth Crawford Seeger, the modernist composer and an American folk music specialist.

This album is a spirited collection of 24 folk carols drawn from her 1953 songbook American Folk Songs for Christmas and celebrates the spirit of community and homespun traditions. folkways.si.edu

“Recess” by Justin Roberts
The latest album from the Judy Blume of kiddie rock is unrestrained, and explores the world from many perspectives – kids who love to play, proud yet exhausted parents, and a loyal pet dog — with gigantic electric guitars, intricate vocal harmonies, and catchy melodies. “Hopscotch,” “Recess,” and 10 other original songs will add energy to any day. The limited-edition CD Package includes a pop-up robot, and secret web links to craft activities and bonus media. justinrobertsmusic.com

“S.S. Brooklyn” by Lloyd H. Miller
Set sail on the good ship S.S. Brooklyn. The musician’s first solo album offers 16 songs based on his legendary sing-alongs. “Gowanus Canal,” “Brooklyn By Bike,” and “Carroll Street Bridge” encourage families to explore their neighborhoods and build a community, which is easy to do when everyone’s singing, clapping and dancing along with the music. As Miller says, “We’re all in the boat, we gotta get along.” lloydhmiller.com

“Everyone Together Now!” by Mil’s Trills
“Mother May I,” is the standout hit on this merrily chaotic debut album that deftly combines music from around the world: urban funk, blues, honky-tonk, and Calypso. Talk about a spirited rhythmic adventure. The album enlists the use of over 42 instruments, including a sousaphone, cuica, mellotron, even a blade of grass! These original, quirky and highly interactive tunes are an effective and fun tool for broadening horizons, building community, engaging parents and children, and teaching early music education. Mil’s Trills, aka Amelia Robinson, is a composer, Suzuki trained pianist, vocalist and self-taught ukulele-ist who charms audiences with her whimsical songs and enchanting voice. In stores January 26, 2014. ameliarobinson.co.uk/mils_trills