10 Best Kids’ Music CDs

January 29th, 2009 | by Jane Rytina 10 comments

While driving extensively around England last summer with my family, I listened to the Pokemon theme song 500 times. By the time I arrived in Dover, I was ready to hang myself. There’s got to be a better way, I thought, and I didn’t just mean the M25.

So I asked many of my esteemed friends and colleagues (you know who you are) if they could recommend some children’s music that wouldn’t make me want to swerve my car into a ditch.

Here are the results of that survey, in no particular order:

Wonderstuff by Recess Monkey (5 – 10 years) Twenty fabulous tracks tell the story of Everett the Wonderbee’s epic quest to save the Magical Meadows from The Gray (the baddie). Improves with every listening.
Mommy Says No! by Asylum Street Spankers (3 – 10 years) You can’t go wrong with a children’s CD that contains a song called, You Only Love Me for my Lunchbox (and you know what they mean, ladies). These crazy tunes have many layers and appeal to both kids and adults.
Lilo & Stitch [SOUNDTRACK] by Disney (1 – 7 years) Love or hate the movie, the soundtrack rocks! You have Elvis to thank for that.
Jazz for Kids: Sing, Clap, Wiggle and Shake by Various Artists (1 – 5 years) Ella Fitzgerald can even make Old MacDonald sound good! Fun, timeless songs for everyone.
Here Come The ABCs by They Might Be Giants (0 – 4 years) Primarily for toddlers, but such an appealing way to teach letters. Also try Here Come the 1, 2, 3’s by the same artist.
Meltdown! by Justin Roberts (3 – 8 years) Inspiring music from an artist who understands enough about kids’ pysche to write melodies such as “Maybe the Monster’s Afraid of Me” and “More than Just a Minute”.
Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Coldplay by Various Artists (Birth – 5 years). If you have kids who nap in the car, these beautiful renditions of Coldplay classics will send your little ones off into a slumber and simultaneously fill you with a warm, delicious feeling.
Some Assembly Required by Tom Chapin (4 – 10 years) Tom Chapin sings about relevant situations to children, such as picking a puppy and finding a shoe, in extremely entertaining ways. A true children’s performer, see him in concert if you can. Also, I have it on the best authority that he is really easy on the eyes.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang [SOUNDTRACK] by Various Artists (1 – 5 years) My personal favorite, you can’t beat a movie about a floating, flying car. And you can’t beat songs such as “My Ol’ Bamboo” and “Posh” found on the soundtrack.
Snack Time by Barenaked Ladies (1 – 9 years) Apparently written for the band’s kids, we can all enjoy lyrics such as “Raisins come from grapes. People come from apes. I come from Canada.” Good point.

Got a favorite CD for road trips? Please leave it in the comments. God knows, we could all use some new music. Want to expand your own kindie rock collection? Email jane@travelsavvymom.com for a chance to win the very lively kids’ music CD Make Your Own Someday by The Jimmies.

10 Responses to “10 Best Kids’ Music CDs”

jessiev on January 29th, 2009

we love laurie berkner, esp the victor vito cd. FUN!!

Sam on January 30th, 2009

I would head straight to Zooglobble’s blog for loads of recommendations. My latest favourite is Peter Himmelman’s My Green Kite. If I wasn’t so tired I’d walk across the room to check my iPod to see if that’s how you spell his name. Also good: Frances England’s Family Tree, the Terrible Twos, Audrarox’s I Can Do It By Myself, David Weinstone’s Taxi, the Hipwaders and Australia’s Justine Clarke, though latter a little too kid-music, kid-music. Personally, Dan Zanes doesn’t do it for me either… (I’d expect him on any list!)

Catherine on January 30th, 2009

The Putumayo Kids series of world music is one of our favorites – the kids somehow manage to sing along in languages they don’t speak.

I also recommend the For the Kids series – kiddie tunes sung by contemporary artists so both parent and child can enjoy. You gotta love a rocked up version of the old Sesame Street classic Manamana.

I’ll be watching this thread for more ideas!

Catherine Forth
http://www.havekidswilltravel.net

Linda on January 30th, 2009

#4 and #5 are in our car already but the others are new to us. Thanks for the suggestions!

I’d add other They Might Be Giants (No! and Here Come the 1-2-3’s); anything by the Baby Loves Jazz band, and the Mary Poppins soundtrack.

Elizabeth on January 30th, 2009

Is it bad that my kids love KISS and the album that we always play when we want them to calm down in the car is the KISS Greatest Hits album?

(NOTE: I’m not sure how this happened, my husband is from Mexico and had never heard of them and I only listen to them occasionally. But they really LOVE everything KISS. It’s kind of cool. And weird.)

Lani on January 30th, 2009

Check out San Diego favorites, Hullabaloo. http://hullabalooband.com

And have you heard any of Lisa Loeb’s kids’ songs? She has a great album with Elizabeth Mitchell called “Catch the Moon”.

Jenny Jensen on January 31st, 2009

Thanks for the ideas! I’m ready to stock up- we love Laurie Berkner and They Might Be Giants “No!” but haven’t tried the rest. My kids lately have been into the Oklahoma! soundtrack- I like to sing along too so it’s good for me, my husband is not as delighted.

Jorge on February 2nd, 2009

Boy oh boy! We started with Here come the ABC’s with both our daughters but Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is tops for us.

Heather Galligan on April 4th, 2009

Ah, this is easy for us. We road trip at every school break. The band Princess Katie & Racer Steve was suggested to us and now is in constant rotation for all trips. There are 2 cds that I know of – both of which we own. Even my husband loves the music and it’s joyful to hear the kids singing about being truthful and sharing.

RJoy on April 16th, 2009

Laughing Pizza is another awesome choice, great family band! Nice to have some music that can entertain not only my 3 year old daughter but her 6 & 9 year old cousins…a rare find.