family music Archives - NAPPA Awards

December 16, 2020 by

One of our favorite childhood memories is looking through toy catalogs and circling the ones we loved and hoped would arrive wrapped with a big bow. Flipping through the pages and dreaming about each item was a big part of the whole holiday experience – the anticipation of something wonderful. We want to give you that feeling again with our Jingle Holiday Gift Guide. We have been busy all year testing and evaluating to bring you this wonderful collection featuring more than 250 award-winning toys, games, books, family music and other unique finds. NAPPA Awards has been celebrating the best in family products for 30 years. This year’s selection includes products with positive messages of kindness, inclusion and community – products that celebrate diversity and uniqueness. This year, watching those smiles on our kids’ faces when they rip open their holiday gifts will be even more special. Happy Gifting!

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

Gifts with a Positive Message
Unique finds, including items perfect for those who love cozy and warm
Toys to spark imagination
Products that are all about creativity
Outdoor Fun
Book, music and games

June 15, 2020 by

This summer will be different, but as parents we need to do all we can to create fun and a sense of calm for our kids. So this summer, turn your backyard into the FUN ZONE! Our NAPPA Awards Guide to Summer Fun is here to help you bring that carefree vibe home. We have toys, family games, music, recipes and much more. Happy Summer!

December 16, 2019 by

Give the gift of music and joy with Kitten Kaboodle from The Cat’s Pajamas. This CD is a joyous celebration of play, wonder and FUN, perfect for children of all ages and their grown-ups. With The Cat’s Pajamas, dreams become real: the library comes to life, parents walk the plank, and chickens sing, dance, and cluck their way around your kitchen. Grab your bangers, your shakers, your friends and noisemakers and join us in a play-along parade that will capture the imagination of the child in ALL of us. $15, www.howlinrecords.com

“With Kitten Kaboodle, The Cat’s Pajamas usher us into the theater of Janet Schreiner’s Broadway romp of a brain where The Andrew Sisters meet Barnum and Bailey. Sophisticated, playful and vibrantly visual!”
– Morgan Taylor of Gustafer Yellowgold, two-time Grammy® nominee

This Is Our Time

“This Is Our Time,” by Sir Dapp & The Paw Prints, embraces meaningful messages for kids about self-image, kindness and respect, and the power of words while providing toe-tapping, dance-worthy fun! The album incorporates multiple music genres the whole family will enjoy. The real-life singers on the album are Eli Jacobson (“Sir Dapp”), of NBC’s “Sing-Off” and the popular acapella group VoicePlay, and Rachel Potter (“The Dollie”), of Broadway and Nashville’s Steel Union band. $9.99, ages 3+

Positronic

Marsha and the Positrons clever lyrics about science and how the world works, positive messages and catchy sound will definitely entertain kids and grown-ups alike. This 12-track album skillfully weaves science with themes of friendship and kindness, underscored with an infectious rock beat. Playful, educational, and engaging, this record features collaborations with other children’s musicians such as Barry Louis Polisar, Lori Henriques and Billy Kelly. Produced by talented indie rocker, TJ Lipple. $15.00/physical or $9.99/digital, for the entire family.

For more award winning music, visit nappaawards.com

April 10, 2019 by

So excited to share our latest NAPPA-Award winning music CDs perfect for the whole family to enjoy together!

Stripes with Platypus by Seanster and the Monsters

Seanster and the Monsters’ second full-length album pushes deeper into the absurd, silly humor that has become their trademark, while exploring some of the more heart-felt matters that are so important in childhood. Stripes with Platypus features some of the best artists, from groundbreaking pioneers like Al Simmons to Francophone star Madame Diva. This album is primed and ready for your family. $15.00 physical, $9.99 digital

Total Eclipse of the Rainbow

The Rainbow Rock Band, performing more than 120 live shows each year, is one of the brightest stars to come out of the DC metro area kids’ music scene. The band’s second studio album, Total Eclipse of the Rainbow, is a wonderful collection of songs. The band, guided by singer/songwriter/educator Dr. Kate Moran, has been praised for its positive, joyful, high-energy music, which engages young listeners and gets them moving to an irresistible beat while also enhancing their learning and social development. $9.99.

CARNAVAL — French Learning Songs

From calypso and reggae to New Orleans brass and Latin rhythms, embark on a musical celebration with this lively collection of French-learning children’s songs from Whistlefritz’s award-winning line of French and Spanish language programs. Carnaval includes lyrics and translations as an easy reference for parents who want to learn French along with the kids. Join the Carnaval and you’ll be singing along in French in no time. $14.99.

August 30, 2018 by

We have some great tunes for your whole family. Check out these great NAPPA Winners!

Howdy Do! Songs of the Urban Cowpoke

Hailing from the wilds of New York City, Hopalong Andrew populates Howdy Do! mostly with witty Western-style parody updates of old standards. He cleverly turns the old Gene Autry classic “Back In The Saddle Again” into “Back In The City Again,” and “Jingle Jangle Jingle” into “Ice Cream Dude,” for example. Most impressive is his nimble-tongued name-checking of NYC neighborhoods on “I’ve Been Everywhere In New York City (based on Johnny Cash hit “I’ve Been Everywhere”). See if you replicate his rapid-fire recitations! While Hopalong Andrew’s twangy tunes may be parodies they never cross the line into being camp hokum. Written with affection and a fun-loving spirit, his “urban cowpoke” music provides a great soundtrack for barn dances and cattle drives – or backyard parties and car rides.
$12
Ages: For the entire family

Songs for Sisters and Brothers

The songs on Songs For Sisters And Brothers are certainly for sisters and brothers, but they will entertain mothers and fathers too. Vered not only has composed a wonderful set of songs that explore various aspects of childhood and parenthood, but she has done so in an inspired variety of ways. She uses an African-style melody on the stand-out song “Little Bit Tough,” and veers into doo-wop on another highlight, “Library of the World.” Notable numbers too are “One Family,” with its “we are all brothers and sisters” message,” and “It’ll Be,” a charming duet with Walter Martin where they imagine growing old together. And parents, you will not want to miss the funny confessional “PR Agent” that closes this fantastic family album.
$10.99
Ages: entire family

Snorkel by Randy & Dave

Randy Sharp & Dave Kinnoin have established themselves as one of family music’s top duos on their first two collaborations. On album three they continue their high standards, filling Snorkel with a dozen great tunes. They are particularly expert on constructing wildly hilarious story-songs, and numbers like “Everybody’s Ignorant,” “Mr. Berschmicker,” “Oh, Wait, That Wasn’t Me,” and the title track will draw big laughs from listeners of all ages. Randy & Dave also excel here on their “maybe-not-as-zany” tunes, where they serenade you about curly cat, a berserk squirrel, a cute little dog, and the joys of having “absolutely nowhere to go.” Snorkel is a superb CD whether you have somewhere to go or not.
$14.98
Ages: 4-8 years

We Are One by Animal Farm

On We Are One, Animal Farm has assembled a marvelous menagerie of songs about animals – which probably isn’t a surprise considering the band’s name. These songs, however, aren’t your typical little ditties about lions, tigers, and snakes. There are imaginative tunes about an awesome possum and a two-headed tortoise. “Snow Bird” actually is about a penguin who longs to fly, while “Nocturnal Me” concerns a bat with a fear of the dark. Then, there’s the delightful “Ear Worm,” a funny, hummable number about getting a song stuck in your head. We Are One, in fact, is stocked with many songs that will stick in your head.
$15
For Ages: For the entire family

Move, Move, Move

Little ones will be shouting “more, more, more!” after listening to Move, Move, Move. As the CD’s title suggests, Vincent Nunes creates very active music. On his upbeat album, he sings about dancing, bouncing, walking a tight rope, moving his feet, playing guitar, and (on the “bonus track”) banging on the drums. While these tunes certainly add up to a highly enjoyable, energetic album, two other tunes are particularly worth noting: the clever alphabet song “ABC Jones” and the delightfully kooky “Fly Like A Dog.”
$15
Ages: 2-6 years

Shoebox Town by Tracy Newman

What will you find in Shoebox Town? There will be a “little bitty fish (in a) little bitty pond,” a “zilli billionaire,” and “a sticky little lollipop (and ) a little kitten curled up in daddy’s shoes.” It also has old-fashioned amusements like a “magic penny” and a merry carousel down by a pier. Tracy Newman’s follow-up to her equally excellent I Can Swing Forever reveals her gift for writing songs filled with a kid-like sense of wonder and whimsy that are dusted lightly with some gentle messages too. On the title track, for example, she lovingly sings about making her “Shoebox Town,” complete with a cereal bowl pool, while also portraying the brother as being helpful (and not destructive) to his sister’s creation. Newman makes Shoebox Town a great place to visit.

$14.99

For Ages: 0-7 years

On The Road with The Music Class

The Music Class receives high marks for their new album. Guided by Rob Sayer, the large ensemble of singers and instrumentalists takes listeners on an entertaining musical road-trip. The songs touch on some familiar kids music topics – animals, vehicles, counting – but the Music Class presents them in an impressive variety of songs and styles. Mixing originals and traditionals, the CD’s 20 tracks hold touches of African and Spanish music as well as jazzy and folky numbers. The enthusiastic performances and spirited songs make On The Road quite a fun ride.”
$9.99
Ages: 1 to 5

La Luna by 123 Andres

This is a truly lovely collection of lullabies from Latin Grammy winner Andrés Salguero and his wife Christina Sanabria. The songs basically are all sung in Spanish; however, the music has a soothing, gentle quality that is perfect for quiet times whether you know Spanish or not. They also welcome a number of guest musicians from around the Latin American world: Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Mexico, to name a few. While it would have been nice if the lyrics and translations were included in the CD package, they are available on the artists’ website.”
$15
Ages: 0 to 5

Enjoy the music! #PlayLearnConnect with #NAPPAAwards!Elena Epstein is a mom of two and the director of NAPPA Awards, the longest running and most respected awards program in the industry, celebrating the best in family products for 28 years. For more product reviews, visit nappaawards.com.

July 5, 2018 by

We have some great summertime tunes that your whole family will enjoy. Perfect for your next road trip, a day at the beach or just an impromptu dance party in the kitchen! Listen and enjoy!

Strawberry Wind by Jessie Baylin

Jessie Baylin, a Nashville based songwriter and mother of two young children, aimed to create an honest album for kids and parents that represents what she calls the “beautiful divide” of juggling family life with her creative life. Strawberry Wind is a dreamy collection of original tunes produced by Baylin’s longtime collaborator, producer-songwriter-musician Richard Swift (The Shins, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats, Foxygen). Our NAPPA music judge calls this album “a gorgeous set of songs drawing upon pop, country and rock sounds from mainly the 60s and 70s. Exuding a dreamy, child-like quality, the music is not tied to any one generation. This is an album that you will be playing even when the kids aren’t around.”
$11.98 CD, $9.49 digital, $16.69 vinyl
Ages 3+

Why Why Why? by Ants Ants Ants

With stylistic nods to the Beatles, 1970s era Sesame Street, School House Rock, and “The Point” by Harry Nilsson, Why Why Why? celebrates a childlike wonder at the natural world, beginning with the first track, “Morning Song” and continuing with songs about where the moon goes, what the largest mammals on Earth are like, the lilting “Willow Tree” and the soothing “Stars” above. Our NAPPA music judge says “Ants Ants Ants is great, great, great. The main characteristic of Why Why Why is the hooky, sunny quality of this Portland, OR-based group’s songs. If you like the Beatles (particularly George in his “Apple Scuffs” mode) or the heavily Beatles-inspired power pop line of music, then you will be dancing around with joy to tunes like “Helicopter Leaves,” “Morning Song,” “Where Does The Moon Go,” “Pinwheel” or the title track. Meanwhile, children will dig the catchy little tunes about the fun little things in life. So, why, why, why not give this delightful disc a listen?”
$15, $9 digital
Ages 2 to 10

Hand in Hand by Suzi Shelton

Hand in Hand is Suzi Shelton’s fourth album filled with sweet songs that delve into more sophisticated stylings and production. The nine original songs encourage self-discovery, expression and kindness. Some of the tunes are childlike and whimsical, about things like ladybugs and raindrops and blue fin fish. Others are meant to be inspiring and socially conscious. Our NAPPA music judge says “it is easy to imagine youngsters immediately responding to such friendly, upbeat tunes” and many of lively numbers “will engage kids and have them acting along with the songs.”
$10
Ages 2+

Camp Andyland by Andy Z

Camp Andyland is the camp every kid will want to go to. Filled with strikingly crafted pop songs for kids, with stick-in-your-head lyrics and catchy melodies – plus a memorable cast of characters that bring kids into Andy Z’s world. An infectious collection of songs compiled from the popular Andyland series that takes kids on a destination-based musical adventure. Our NAPPA music judge calls this album “a marvelous amusing CD populated by all sorts of creatures (bees, butterflies, squirrels, and dinosaurs) and kooky characters like Cecil the Serpentine Dragon (not to be confused with Cecil the Sea-Sick Dragon from the old Beany and Cecil TV show), the Spanish-speaking Como C. Llama, and the laidback Rancher Dude. Additionally, Andy Z keeps the album zipping along with a whimsical range of musical styles (poppy ditties, camp-fire sing-alongs, funny tunes and message songs) as well as boosting the humor level by singing in a variety of different character voices. Highly entertaining.” $14.98
Ages 3 to 7

I am 4, 5, 6 by Margot Bevington

“I am 4, 5, 6” is twelve original songs about imagination, creative problem solving, and finding your heart. As the name suggests, families with children ages 4-6 can enjoy this fun and reflective mix of folk, rock, and classically inspired tunes- all about the 4-6 year-old’s tremendous developments of creativity and empathy. Our NAPPA music judge says “enjoying I Am 4, 5, 6 is as easy as 1, 2, 3. The dozen tunes here deliver a cheery set of music that adds up an entertaining album for youngsters. Bevington composes songs that hold subtle complexities in the music while keeping the lyrics easy for youngsters to understand.”
$12.97- CD $9.99- digital
Ages 4 to 6

Wild Is Everywhere by Sara Lovell

An award-winning songwriter and producer known for “imaginative lyrics, sparkling harmonies, intriguing musical layers” and “a voice rich in both purity and nuanced detail,” offers a new album, Wild is Everywhere, of 14 original songs. With a wide range of topics and musical styles, Sara takes listeners on a journey through a landscape populated with flying children, misplaced animals of a certain size, and insects or flowers that turn up in the most unexpected places.
$15, $9.49 digital
Ages 5 to 9

Happy Listening & Dancing. Remember to #PlayLearnConnect with #NAPPAAwards!

Elena Epstein is a mom of two and the director of NAPPA Awards, the longest running and most respected awards program in the industry, celebrating the best in family products for 28 years. For more product reviews, visit nappaawards.com.

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