Kidz STEM Songz

Kidz STEM Songz. Performed by Dan Crow and others. 2 CDs and 1 DVD. KidzMusic Records. 2018. $12.99 download only.

The first CD is Dan Crow’s Concoctions, which I reviewed 8/29/16. See my review in this blog for details.

The second CD (approximately 50 minutes) includes 16 original songs by a variety of well-known children’s music professionals, such as Grin Brigade, Katherine Dines, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, The Brian Waite Band, Marla Lewis, Hap Palmer, Roger Day, Eric Ode, Billy Harley, and several others. Children’s choruses join in on several of the songs. They perform in a variety of musical styles, including rock, pop, funk, Western, Latin, rap, Chinese folk, and chipmunk voices. The songs are “Weightless,” “It’s Amazing What You Can Do With Your Brain,” “Gato Astronauta,” “Five Cool Cats,” “Sedimentary Rock,” “E=mc²,” “The Abacus” (a story about a competition between an abacus and a calculator; the calculator was faster, but got the wrong answer), “Counting by Twos with the Odd Numbers,” “The Brain Train,” “When I Only Have a Minute” (which takes 1 minute, 3 seconds to sing), “I’m an Engineer” (train engineer, that is), “Poor Planet Pluto,” “Milky Way,” “Thank a Plant” (should be thanking God for creating plants for us instead), “Jump,” and “Botany.” 

Included in the set is a DVD, which has computer animation accompanying “Science, Science, Science,” “Technology,” “You’re an Engineer,” “Seven,” and a bonus track: “Tooth Fairy Take Me Home.”

This is a good, professional album that encourages children to pursue math and the sciences.
Here is a link to the song "Seven": 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43ifpAv9-xE 

I Am 4, 5, 6

I Am 4, 5, 6. Performed by Margot Bevington. CD.  Approx. 40 min. Produced by In and Out of the Clouds. 2018. $12.99.

Ages 4 - 6

Bevington presents 12 gentle pop melodies with lovely harmonies. Bevington and her fellow musicians perform beautifully on guitar, piano, bass harp, flute, drums, and percussion. On several songs, she is joined by an enthusiastic children's chorus. The songs are all about using imagination and creativity, and include "From There to Here," "I Saw a Fairy," "Sense to Me," "Storytime," "Make-Believe Zoo," "Invent," "Recycle It With Heart" (making things with recycled materials), "S-Superhero," "Can I Play, Too," "Swinging," "I Am 4, 5, 6," and "Heart, Pencils, and Crayons." These songs will encourage listeners to explore their own imaginations.

The Journey for the Giant Jelly Bean

The Journey for the Giant Jelly Bean. Performed by Jarebear. CD. Approx. 31 min. Produced by Burger Records. 2018. Digital download: $7.00.
Grades K - 3

This journey is a rock musical told in 12 songs in various styles of
rock, including classic rock.  A young boy named Otis learns that a
giant jelly bean exists that could save the city from psychological
depression and just plain meanness. After learning that the giant candy is in a secret hidden cave, Otis gathers a team to go find it. When their way is blocked by the Big Bad Barrel Man, they scare him away with some simple math. They find a key and solve a riddle, and finally find the giant red jelly bean. However, once they bring the jelly bean back to the city, they discover that people depend too much on the candy, and stop working on their problems. So ultimately, Otis has to destroy the jelly bean, making everyone angry.  Song titles include "The Freedom Song," "It's the Giant Jelly Bean," "Gather a Team," "Here We Go," "The Big Bad Barrel Man," "The Secret Key," "The Riddle," "We Got the Jelly Bean," "We Want the Bean," "Destroy It," "I Did the Right Thing,: and "Coming Home." This musical will help young listeners learn that there are no magical solutions to problems.

Home Earth

Home Earth. CD. Performed by Wendy and DB. Approx. 39 min. Prod. By Planet Wendy Publishing. 2017. $15.00. 

Grades K - 3

Parent’s Choice and NAPPA award-winners Wendy Morgan and Darryl Boggs present 13 original songs in a variety of musical styles, including rock, R&B, folk, and dance music. A children’s chorus greatly enhances these musical offerings. Backup musicians give great performances on bass, piano, percussion, guitar, violins, drums, harmonica, and saxophone. In “Home Earth,” no matter where one travels in the solar system and universe, Earth will always be home. Building wells for fresh, clean water is the subject of “Water Song.” People enjoy watching “Olly the Orca” play in the ocean, acknowledging that orcas are large dolphins rather than whales. “I Like Bees” is a celebration of those helpful insects. This “Girl Superhero” helps clean up the planet. “Hopscotch” will have listeners hopping and jumping. “We Bop” teaches listeners some dance steps. The remaining tunes include “Plant a Seed,” “Buzzin’ Bee Be Happy,” “Bugs That Give Hugs,” “It Takes All Kinds of Trucks,” “Miracle,” and “People Are People.” Fun and lively songs that will have listeners hopping and bopping.

One Little Song Can Change the World

One Little Song Can Change the World. Performed by Kid Pan Alley. CD. Approx. 35 min. Produced by Paul Reiser. 2017. $14.98.

            The award-winning Kid Pan Alley presents 10 songs in rock, jazz, pop, reggae and country musical styles. Guest vocalists include Jevon McGlory, Sweet Honey in the Rock members, Alison Rapetti, Jon Carroll, and Justin Hopkins. The backup instrumentalists give excellent performances on guitar, bass, piano, organ, mandolin, fiddle, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, harmonica, drums, and percussion. “We Need No Excuse for Dreaming” encourages listeners to break free from the chains inside. “Skin” exerts that everyone is of value, regardless of their skin color. “I Don’t Think So, You’re a Bully” takes bullies to task for hurtful words. “Best Friends” stand by your side and stand the test of time. “One Little Song Can Change the World” asks listeners to stand up and be heard. “Wake Up” predicts ecological disaster. “Don’t Put Me Down, Or My Dog” asks listeners to respect others’ pets. “No Doubt” explains that it is not necessary to fight over a disagreement. “I’ll Never Change the Way I Feel” about you. “True to Me” is all about being true to oneself. An impassioned album that helps listeners face up to different life situations.

Walking Around With Giants

Walking Around With Giants. CD. Performed by The Dilly Dallies. Approx. 44 min. Prod. by Schoolofdrums. 2017. $12.98. 

PS – Gr K—

            Steve Slater and Jenn Ekman present 13 original songs in folk rock, folk pop, and lullaby musical styles. Their voices blend beautifully together to create some lovely harmonies. The talented musicians create background music with ukuleles, piano, glockenspiel, marimba, vibraphone, vibraslap, shakers, triangle, finger cymbals, mini gong, cowbell, wood block, and kazoo. “Superhero” includes a job description. “I Get Up” to see what amazing things are going on after bedtime. “Share the Sun” encourages listeners to share. “School Day” can be very busy. A child believes the “Closet Monster” is having a dance party in the closet. “We Could Be” envisions what children might be able to attain with hard work. The other songs include: “Little Tiny Toes,” “Rainy Day” (which includes the sound effects of rain sticks), “Dreams Await,” “Taken Over by Robots,” “One Big Heart,” and “You Are Me and I Am You.” A great album for bringing the family together.

Gonna Be Great!!

Gonna Be Great!!. CD. Performed by David Tobocman. Approx. 37 min. Prod. by Very Helpful Songs. 2017. $12.00. ISBN unavail.

K-Gr 3—

            A songwriter for Nickelodeon’s Robot and Monster, David Tobocman performs 12 original songs on his fourth album for children. His goal for these songs was to infuse them with optimism, and encouraging children to face adversity with hope and strength. With some great instrumental backup, Tobocman performs in a variety of musical styles, including Beatles-style and 70’s rock, blues, calypso, reggae, Tex-Mex, folk, country, ballad, funk and rap. In his title song, life is “Gonna Be Great.” Tobocman encourages listeners to “Take the Spider Outside” instead of killing it, although he makes it sound as if spider bites are harmless (bites from brown recluse spiders are very dangerous). “Dalia” is an elephant who skates. He encourages “Singing Together” with a friend. And he sings about working at “The Cookie Factory.” The other songs include “Keep Your Hands to Yourself (in the style of Taj Mahal), “Have Some Fun Out There,” “Tell Mama I Love Her” (about the first day of school), “Something Called King Lear” (a trip to the theater), “The Driveway” (in the style of T-Rex), and “Smile For Me.” A lively and fun album the whole family will enjoy.

           

Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library