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Marilyn Horne, world-renowned opera singer and recitalist, celebrated her 84th birthday on Wednesday. To acknowledge her work, not only as one of the finest singers in the world but as a mentor for young artists, I give you one of my favorite performances of hers:
Sesame Street has always been a powerful advocate for utilizing music in teaching. “C is for Cookie,” a number that really drives its message home, maintains its cultural relevance today despite being first performed by Cookie Monster more than 40 years ago. Ms. Horne’s version appeared about 20 years after the original, and is an excellent re-imagining of a classic (with great attention to detail—note the cookies sewn into her Aida regalia and covering the pyramids).
Horne’s performance shows kids that even a musician of the highest caliber can 1) be silly and 2) also like cookies—that is, it portrays her as a person with something in common with a young, broad audience. This is something that members of the classical music community often have a difficult time accomplishing; Horne achieves it here in less than three minutes.
Sesame Street produced these segments not only to expose children to distinguished music-making, but to teach them about matters like counting, spelling, working together, and respecting one another. This final clip features Itzhak Perlman, one of the world’s great violin soloists, who was left permanently disabled after having polio as a child. To demonstrate ability and disability more gracefully than this would be, I think, impossible:
American children’s music, as described in the new article on Grove Music Online[subscription required], has typically been produced through a tug of war between entertainment and educational objectives. The songs on Sesame Street succeed in both, while also showing kids something about classical music itself: it’s not just for grownups. It’s a part of life that belongs to everyone. After all, who doesn’t appreciate that the moon sometimes looks like a “C”? (Though, of course, you can’t eat that, so…)
Oxford Music Online is the gateway offering users the ability to access and cross-search multiple music reference resources in one location. With Grove Music Online as its cornerstone, Oxford Music Online also contains The Oxford Companion to Music, The Oxford Dictionary of Music, and The Encyclopedia of Popular Music.
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My family has found a wonderful way to relieve stress -- dancing! Just crank up the music, let it all go and sing and dance away. It's amazing how much better you feel after just a little spontaneous movement. Plus, if you add kids to the mix, smiles and laughter are all but guaranteed. Kids have the best moves!
Primrose Schools is currently holding a Family Dance-off Contest that benefits Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. To enter the contest all you need to do is visit www.FamilyDanceoff.com and upload a 30 second video of your family boogying to the beat. Three winners will receive cash prizes and Primrose Schools will donate a total of $65,000 to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in the top three winning families’ hometowns. Last day to enter is March 19th. Visit the Family Dance-Off website for full details and official rules.
Thanks to Primrose Schools and MomSelect, my family recently held our own little dance party. They sent us a party pack that an awesome CD, t-shirts, gift card, ideas, recipes and a FLIP Camcorder. We especially love the Kids Dance Party: The Party Cats CD. The CD includes many lively party songs, and we've listened to it numerous times already. Both kids love dancing along to the familiar "I Like to Move It" and have their own dizzying version of a "Cotton Eye Joe" dance. My husband and I relived some of our school days when we heard "U Can't Touch This," and we tried to explain baggy "Hammer" pants to our kids.
This week, in anticipation of the upcoming St. Patrick's Day holiday, we've started practicing our Irish dancing. Here's a short clip of the kids dancing to The Chieftains version of "Cotton-Eyed Joe" from the album The Wide World Over: A 40 Year Celebration.
Primrose Schools hopes the promotion will increase awareness about the need for exercise and a healthy lifestyle in preventing childhood obesity. Dancing together as a family is one fun way to add physical activity to your daily schedule. If you are interested in supporting your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, you can donate through the link provided on the Family Dance-off Website.
"The Family Dance-off supports Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals, which collectively treat 17 million children annually for every illness and injury imaginable. The grand prize winner of the Family Dance-off receives a $5,000 cash prize and a $30,000 donation to their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital."
I received a party kit from Primrose Schools and MomSelect to help facilitate this review. I am an Amazon affiliate and may receive a very small commission for products purchased through my Amazon links.
0 Comments on Primrose Family Dance-off Contest as of 1/1/1900
Not too spooky and fun to sing, I'm sure these videos will be a hit with your kids at home or in the classroom. We liked watching them and singing along.
"The Halloween Song" from HeidiSongs - A counting song that's a great alternative to the 5 Little Pumpkins Song
Bring back some memories with the songs on this library.thinkquest.org Halloween music list. Remember "Ghoul Days", "Boogie Woogie Ghost" or "Skin and Bones" (There was an Old Woman) with the Ooo, Ooo, Ooo, Ooo refrain? The lyrics are all there and some include music links.
The Silly Book with CD. Stoo Hample. 2010/2004/1961. Candlewick Press. 32 pages.
Candlewick Press has reprinted Stoo Hample's The Silly Book; it was originally published along with the Silly Record (LP) in 1961. This latest edition--there was another reprint in 2004--includes the CD containing twenty-three minutes of silly songs and poems. How silly is silly? Very! It's silly nonsense through and through.
I had to listen to the CD a few times before I started to enjoy it. But. Once I gave it some of my time and attention, I must admit that *some* of the silliness worked for me. (Not that I'd want to listen to it continuously for weeks or anything.)
Here's one of my favorites:
Silly Recipe
Cook three pieces of spaghetti in a pan of water for two years.
Add one teaspoonful of chocolate syrup and mix well.
Spread on bread and freeze.
Feed to teddy bear.
I also enjoyed "Silly Backwards Talk" and "Silly Story."
The hardcover which I received to review features a "musical" CD. The CD includes a reading of the picture book (complete with "special" effects.) It also features six "songs" inspired by the classic story by Audrey Wood. These songs include: Rainy Day Song, Sweet Dreams, The Napping House Song, Wake-Up Jamboree, Shoes Off, Shoes On, and Catch a Piece of the Rainbow. Perhaps I would have been less hopeful if I'd realized the music/lyrics are all copyrighted in the late 80s.
I was disappointed--to put it nicely. I was actually shocked at how horrible it was. It seems to get worse with each song. Just when you think it can't get much worse. Well, it does.
Music fans are excitedly awaiting the 52nd GRAMMY Awards, broadcast on CBS tomorrow night, January 31st. Six albums are up for the Best Musical Album For Children award.
American Heroes #3 - Jonathan Sprout
Banjo To Beatbox - Cathy & Marcy With Special Guest Christylez Bacon
Family Time - Ziggy Marley
Great Day - Milkshake
Jumpin' & Jammin' - Greg & Steve
Pete Seeger Tribute: Ageless Kids' Songs - Buck Howdy
The six Best Spoken Word Album For Children nominees are:
Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales - (Various Artists including Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johannson, Helen Mirren, Forest Whitaker & others) - Sharon Gelman, Michele McGonigle & Alfre Woodard, producers
The Phantom Tollbooth - David Hyde Pierce
Scat - Ed Asner
Through The Looking-Glass And What Alice Found There - Harlan Ellison
According to Zooglobble blog, these awards will be handed out on Sunday and you can watch live streaming video at GRAMMY Live. (No prime-time coverage for these children's media awards, the way it sounds.) We're excited to find out which albums will receive a GRAMMY.
The kids and I recently had the chance to listen to American Heroes #3 by Jonathan Sprout. This album by singer-songwriter Jonathan Sprout is the third in an educational series of biographical songs highlighting famous Americans. In American Heroes #3, Sprout focuses on the 10 following remarkable individuals: Milton Hershey, John Muir, Elizabeth Blackwell, Jonas Salk, Jane Addams, George Washington Carver, Wilma Rudolph, Thomas Jefferson, Pocahontas and Cesar Chavez. The CD, released in 2009, has won eight awards and a GRAMMY Nomination.
When I was in eighth grade, my history teacher taught us about the War of 1812 and played a recording of the song, "The Battle of New Orleans." Now I don't remember too many of my history lessons, but I do clearly recall listening to the song in class and thinking it was a fun, catchy and interesting way to learn about history. (The song was orginally written by Jimmy Driftwood to teach history to his high school students and Johnny Horton's version hit number one on the charts in 1959.) I can still recite the lyrics to this day, so I am
1 Comments on 2010 GRAMMY Awards / American Heroes #3: Jonathan Sprout - CD Review, last added: 2/1/2010
Cold weather makes for stir crazy kids. We've been listening to lots of music and Peter Yarrow has been on rotation in the CD player (yes, we have an iPod but downloading is a lot of work so for the kid's music, we still use CDs). His folk music doesn't get them too riled up, and, better yet, they're learning some of the classic melodies I grew up singing. Today, it's all Peter Yarrow on Brimful Curiosities because that's what we've been listening to and reading!
Peter Yarrow, the folk singer/songwriter from the musical trio Peter, Paul & Mary, has been making some waves in the children's book world for the past couple of years. In 2007, he published a picture book version of one of his most famous songs (co-composed with Lenny Lipton), Puff, the Magic Dragon. At the time of the book's publication, I was working as a children's librarian at a small rural library. I pre-ordered a copy thinking that it would be fun to read or sing aloud during storytime. As soon as I saw the actual book, I knew I also wanted a copy for my own home library. The clothbound book came with this beautiful, shimmery foil-enhanced dust jacket and inside gorgeous, full page bleed illustrations by the talented Eric Puybaret.
The land of Honalee, as imagined by Puybaret, is a colorful, magical one. Puff looks very friendly and approachable, the perfect companion for a little boy named Jackie Paper. The song really comes to life in the illustrations and, thankfully, there's even a happy ending. Sad Puff isn't abandoned forever in his cave. Both my kids really like the book and, for the past couple months, my toddler son has requested "Puff" frequently. First he wants to sit and look at the pictures while I sing the song and then he asks for the CD so he can dance to the music. The book comes with a CD recording of Yarrow singing "Puff, the Magic Dragon" with his daughter, Bethany (plus a couple of bonus songs). The beautiful book could easily become a collectible, but I'm afraid ours has already experienced some wear and tear. That's OK though...after all, I'd rather see the book in my children's hands than sitting on the shelf. A worn book signals a good book.
Wow - a lot in one post to comment on! Although I recognise the book, I didn't know that Peter Yarrow was the Peter in Peter Paul and Mary (I guess that's due to being from the UK and of a certain age!) Hmm. A good excuse to go and listen to some music I think. I love the look of your flying dragon - have you seen this amazing kite: http://gddweb.org/dragon.html
Wow! That is a very cool craft. My youngest is afraid of dragons right now, so it would probably be her worst nightmare - but once, she's over her anti-dragon phase, we'll have to revisit that one.
Hey. I just wanted to say thanks for commenting on my post. Three cheers for happy endings. (Though I have to say Puff the Magic Dragon, the song, at least, always gets me kinda weepy!) I love your craft! We're definitely trying that!
That's a neat craft. We just learned a new paper airplane technique at the Museum of Flight, and I think it could definitely handle a dragon passenger. We'll try it out!
(I'm doing the comment challenge.) It is so nice to see `Puff, the Magic Dragon` and `Let's Sing Together` mentioned. It has been a long time since I've heard about ole` Puff and I just wanted to sing when I saw "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt". What a fun review you have here. Thanks
These books sound like fun. I'll have to add them to my collection at my Elementary Media Center. I am a long-time fan of Peter, Paul & Mary (in fact, their's was the first album I bought when my parents finally got a record player that could play 33 1/3 LPs).
Since I come from a different culture, it's hard for me to know and appreciate English songs. Books make them more appropriate sometimes. But for whatever reason I thought that Puff the Magic Dragon had something to do with drugs? My daughter is also in anti-dragon phase now, but maybe later we will visit this book.
I uploaded the Jack Frost song yesterday on A Storytelling of Crows. You might wonder why I don't simply post these songs on this blog. However, I like to have a separate site with a specific focus of audio-visual resources for storytelling and music.
"Clap like this Swing like that Twist like this Move like that Shake it shake it shake it like this shimmy shimmy shimmy like that Rock like this you got to rock like that" - "Rock Like This" song by Rebecca Frezza & Big Truck: Rockin’, Rollin’ and Ridin’
If a top kids party/dancing music list exists, Rebecca Frezza & Big Truck's latest CD, Rockin’, Rollin’ and Ridin’ should be up at the top of the charts. With funky rock guitar riffs and great dance tunes, kids (and adults) can't help but get on their feet, shaking and shimmying to the beat. This newest album even includes a song sung with Roscoe Orman (Gordon from Sesame Street). Now that's star power!
I can't believe that I hadn't heard of Rebecca Frezz & Big Truck before receiving this review CD! Regularly featured on Noggin Channel and PBS KIDS, the seven-piece kids band has received numerous awards from the likes of Parents' Choice, Nappa Gold and iParenting and more. Their sound is similar to Laurie Berkner or Milkshake, but with a little heavier rock beat. Our only complaint is that the CD is too short, with only eight songs. We could easily listen to this music for a much longer period!
True to its name, Rockin’, Rollin’ and Ridin’ features several transportation themed songs, "Big Truck", "Motorcycle Boy" and "Rocketship." But our favorites are the rockin' and rollin' songs, especially the catchy echo-song "Hey-O" (featuring Roscoe Orman). The kids love repeating after Rebecca and Roscoe and singing back the "Hey-O" phrase. Another favorite is "Robot Dancer", with the psychedelic, boinging noises perfect for energetic jumping exercises. The "Rock Like This" get up and dance lyrics tell you exactly how to rock like that.
Liven up your children's music collection and add this up-tempo album to the repertoire. The songs are appropriate for all ages of children, not just the youngest crowd, and parents will appreciate the rock and roll sound as well. Highly recommended by both my toddler and preschooler (and me).
Rebecca Frezza & Big Truck has kindly offered to give away a copy of their newest CD, Rockin’, Rollin’ and Ridin’.
Musician and early-childhood music educator Brian Vogan has a new video out for his song That's How a Pumpkin Grows from his debut album "Little Songs". Last year, I gave his album a mini-review, which you can read here. Not long after, my family enjoyed one of his performances in a parking-lot outside of a children's shop in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood. The video manages to be both
0 Comments on That's How a Pumpkin Grows as of 1/1/1900
I have a wonderful little thunder stick I take with me when I visit schools. Many teachers and families have asked about where to get one. Below are some links and photos. I like getting a nice array of instruments together to make storm sounds and then read THUNDER-BOOMER! I point to each child to indicate when he/she is to play his/her instrument. I’m sure an upturned bucket would also suffice for thunder. But the thunder tube is so much more unexpected and exciting. They come in various sizes and are fairly inexpensive. And the frogs are fun, too. Enjoy!
What kind of music did you listen to as a kid? I bet it wasn't music specifically marketed toward children. I'm a fan of "all-ages music," songs with a broad appeal. I like to introduce my children to music that teaches the importance of diversity and garners appreciation of different genres. Albums that feature lively, upbeat rhythms are also tops here.
Funky Kidz is all that and more. It's a compilation of classic children’s songs performed by talented New Orleans’ artists, sung with the jazzy, funky twist that you expect. Among those in the 12 fabulous musical groups featured are Ivan Neville of the Neville Brothers; The Radiators; George Porter Jr. of The Meters; and Bonerama. Their swinging melodies full of expression and energy get you on your feet, dancing up a storm and singing along all the while. Truly a spicy feast for little (and big) ears, listeners can hear the New Orleans roots in each rendition, the blaring brass pieces intermixed with more funky, modern styles and distinctive rhythms throughout.
Our favorites off the album include Bonerama's awesome version of "You've Got a Friend," and the snazzy "Froggy went a Courtin" (love the Uh-huh's). Ingra Lucia performs a very unique, vibrato-filled rendition of "This Little Light of Mine." Amanda Shaw sings "Garden Song" with such gusto that her garden is sure to grow without "fiddling" around.
Swing, stomp and groove to the syncopated beat of Funky Kidz and let the good times roll! You won't regret looking into this collection of some fine N'awlins styled-songs.
Funky Kidz producer Lauren Busch Singer has kindly offered to giveaway one Funky Kidz CD to a Brimful Curiosities reader.
To enter, visit Funky Kidz Bands Links and leave a comment with the name of one of the bands featured on the CD.
• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section. • Contest is open to US only • Contest ends on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. • Winner will be chosen at random
Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4): 1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader 2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section. 3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.
40 Comments on Funky Kidz CD - Review and Giveaway, last added: 7/27/2009
I've had Charlotte Diamond's "Octopus" song (aka "Slippery Fish") going through my head the past few days. You can find the lyrics here. The song itslf is on Charlotte Diamond's album 10 Carrot Diamond.
Here is a YouTube video of the song with flip-board visuals:
Slippery Fish
And here it is in Spanish:
Una Sardina
I've got family in town, so posting will be light this week. However, I'll have
3 Comments on Song of the Week: Octopus aka "Slippery Fish", last added: 11/26/2008
A band named Elbow wants to make an album of children's music. Here is a quote from the article:
"We initially thought that it would be great to make music for children because the lads in the band have got kids and they were saying how little really decent music for children there is. The more that we thought about, it the more that we liked the idea," frontman Guy Garvey tells Billboard.com. "
6 Comments on Why Elbow reminds me of Ms. Ciccone, last added: 9/26/2008
Hi, Alkelda... Yeah, no doubt. I think a statement like that MIGHT have been valid, or at least acceptable, about 10 years ago, but really there's been so much great kids' music coming out over the last several years, you just have to actually take the time to look for it at your library or online. And IMO, even a lot of the old stuff that people like to call vapid and trite is still classic stuff that kids really like. Maybe today's uber-hip parents don't like it so much, but it's still good music (emphasized) for children.
Eric: Uber-hip grownups forget that their parents probably didn't like their music when they were teenagers, and these same people who despise Barney may have adored Alvin and the Chipmunks. (Disclaimer: Gah!) However... I'm sure that had I been younger when they came out, I would have been a big Jem and the Holograms fan, leaning more toward their rival band, The Misfits.
I just watched a few Jem/Misfits clips on YouTube. Oy gevalt.
Barney is to kids music what Madonna is to kids books. Bleh!
But those damn "hip" parents who rush off to take their kids to Dan Zane "kids" concerts go right past Pete Seeger, Sharon,Lois and Bram, Fred Penner, Burl Ives and a whole lot of other "kids" singers who do fun music that adults can enjoy too.
There's always been good music for kids. There was good stuff 10 years ago, and 20 years ago too--I know, because I've had it in my library that long :)
And if you really hate kids music that much, better to just play the REAL stuff for them instead of vapid kiddy music made by adult bands who think that they can write stuff for kids!
Library Lady: As a matter of full disclosure, I love DZ. However, there is this tendency to overlook the good children's music that musicians like Pete Seeger, Ella Jenkins and Burl Ives produced in earlier years, and think that it all began with Zanes. (Do people think that? I'm not sure, but I had a father who seemed to know just about everything about music, so I don't have a proper perspective.)
A recent email from Red Tricycle brought my attention to “Little Songs,” the first CD released by Seattle early childhood-music educator Brian Vogan. We just received our copy from CD Baby, and have listened to the album a number of times already. Favorite songs include the elegantly simple “That’s How a Pumpkin Grows,” “Animal ABCs” and “Racecar.” Most of the songs have a quiet, vibrant energy
2 Comments on Little Songs, by Brian Vogan, last added: 9/19/2008
Head on over to Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast to read everyone's weekly kicks as they roll in. Here are mine, written on Saturday night:
1) Thursday, we attended a wedding on the beach of the Golden Gardens, and then partook of a potluck dinner afterward. Years before I met Bede, I thought that if I ever got married, the Mennonite in me thought a potluck for the reception was a grand
10 Comments on My Sunday Kicks, last added: 8/30/2008
Thanks for new-music tip. I'm so going to look into that.
I've considered reading Mary Poppins to the girls, too. Isn't Poppins, the character, totally different than the one in the film, not as nice or something? I read that someplace. I've never read that book myself.
Jules: "Not as nice" is not quite the way I'd describe the book MP. I'd describe her as "crusty." It's quite obvious that she does love the children, but hides it beneath a crusty exterior. I think she does it for disciplinary reasons. FYI, even though the "Bad Tuesday" chapter has been rewritten, there are still 2-3 passages that make the reader say, "Whoah! Product of its times!" And that's just the way it goes-- I'm glad to know about them so that I can recommend the books using recent knowledge, and not the rosy glow of childhood memories (cue music). There are a lot of books like that.
We just saw Mary Poppins on Broadway, and I was surprised at her "crustiness." I attributed it to the understudy who was playing the role that day, but, after reading your post, I'm thinking that she was spot-on. We'll have to get the book to read aloud. Jr. liked the musical.
The House of Glee attended Eric Herman's Cool Bug Tunes for Kids concert as part of King County Library System's summer reading program, "Catch the Reading Bug!" Bede took photos for Eric, and I got to judge the dance contest for the compact disc giveaway. Afterward, we had dinner at the food court and caught up on music, gaming and storytelling gab. Here's a photo:
And here's a video I put
4 Comments on Eric Herman's Cool Bug Tunes for Kids, last added: 8/12/2008
This is a pretty good interview with Dan Zanes on PlumTV, intersperced with recent concert footage:
You'll note the part in the Dan Zanes interview where DZ recommends you don't invite a stranger into your house to perform for your kids' birthdays, but have friends work on three songs and perform them at the party as a birthday present. In general, that's good advice. Specifically, though,
5 Comments on Dan Zanes Interview on PlumTV, last added: 6/24/2008
Those are exactly the qualifiers I put in your mix notes! But you're right. So right about the need to stop. Finally. Whew. Thanks to people like Ms. Mitchell and such.
Jules: Ha ha! I've put them in my notes, too. But truly, I was not directing my comments at you, but in response to all the interviews with musicians these days in which the reviewers reassure the potential listeners that the music won't drive them crazy. Eric Herman has a good point about the idea that children' music is stuff that the grownups must also like:http://cooltunesforkids.blogspot.com/2006/07/my-rules-for-good-kids-music.html
I'm still not going to play Raffi for Lucia! But I get his point anyway.
Aw - I like Raffi. And he has a song with your name in it.
Hey I just finished a book that I only realized in the middle was written by one of your commentors - Robin Brande. Really good book. The LSG is reading it now.
LSM: I actually got that book with the song used because of my name! I feel the way about Raffi the way I feel about Bob Dylan: good songs, but I can't really deal with his voice.
This is one of the many reasons I love your blog. I've been introduced (or reintroduced) to so many musicians that are just simply good musicians that everyone in the family can enjoy.
I am (at this very moment) listening to my daughter sing "It's Only Little Charlie Just Off the Pickle Boat" while playing with her stuffed animals, courtesy of one of the Ella Jenkins CDs.
Today I'm sharing with you two videos taken from Nancy Stewart's concert at the Crossroads Shopping Center last night. The first one is Bee-Boppin' Bugs:
The second one is Sadie the Slimy Slug:
2 Comments on Nancy Stewart: Two Videos, last added: 6/17/2008
Last night, Phil and I met some friends at the Borders Books and Music store in Redmond, Washington for the Sam Phillips concert. I filmed some concert footage for the benefit of Jules and her Phillips Phanatics (oh, I don't know what they're really called), plus stood in line to chat with Sam and get a card signed for Jules. It took as long to stand in line as it did for the actual concert, as
2 Comments on Sam Phillips in concert, last added: 6/15/2008
Every Sunday, Jules and Eisha of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast host 7Imp's 7 Kicks, and invite all readers to do the same. It's a way to take stock of the week and recognize one's blessings. Thinking up seven positive things that happened each week is good for me, because I tend to be a grumbling camel. Fortunately, I can always finesse the list by listing "the first cup of coffee" if
8 Comments on Seven Kicks for a Sunday in June, last added: 6/9/2008
So, out of habit, I left comments about this at our site. Here's what I wrote:
*****
Alkelda, yes, T Bone Burnett, with all due respect, managed to make "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" sound like a dirge on the Plant/Krauss CD. Sam does it right. But, of course; it's her song.
And congrats on the great gig! Woot! (I didn't know Zanes had a new CD either.)
****
I love it when people leave kicks at their own site. And, Lone Star Ma, come join in the fun. (Not trying to drive blog-traffic, I promise. I always feel like I have to say that. Reading others' kicks really and truly is just...nice).
So glad you like the CDs, Alkelda. Let me know which become your favorites.
P.S. I love your first-cup-of-coffee technique, though I never have trouble finding kicks. This is notable, 'cause I'm also a grumbling camel.
The coffee just tastes good and helps wake me up.
My word verification is "hnogus." I'm gonna name our next pet that. After "Rog G. Biv." I've always wanted to name a pet for that spectrum-of-colors mneumonic (sp?).
Glad the birthday party went so well; it sounds wonderful. I liked reading the rest of your kicks, too. Today is an easy one for me: seeds coming up in the garden, breakfast at the Silver Diner, playing Settlers of Cataan during the hottest part of the day, fiddle music, a trip to the pool, a new book to read (Mysterious Benedict, Perilous Journey), popsicles.
I wish I knew more about music. I do love Dan Zanes, though!
LSM: Please do feel welcome to leave your kicks over on their site (or your own).
Jules: Hey, Hnogus, I do like the Krauss/Plant version, but Sam's is better, and that probably means I'm going to play the song differently when I had JUST gotten it down solidly. Hah!
Anamaria: Yay for seeds! As far as music goes, I rely on Cool Tunes for Kids, Children's Music That Rocks, Zooglobble, and whatever the other bloggers tell me to listen to. My father is also a great resource, and has sent me gobs of cds of the oldies. It's a lovely area to explore, and we really can't talk anymore about how rare it is to find children's music that grownups enjoy too, because there's a lot of it out there.
Great list! I sure would like to hear you tell stories. We attend storytime at the local library. My daughter loves having books read to her, and I think I do it pretty well, but it's good to get a change of scenery and let someone else do the reading for a while. Still, there's nothing like hearing an "oral" story--one not read directly from the page. My little girl is always asking me to tell her a story, and I have the hardest time coming up with something original and entertaining. I need to read some of the stories you link to and learn them!
Kelley-- Thanks for stopping by again! I've got to admit that I'm pretty lousy at making up stories with active plot on the spot, though it gets a bit easier once one has been telling folktales for awhile (because you get certain styles and motifs down). Most of my made-up stories involve little root children going on picnics with elaborate descriptions of what they ate.
Margaret Read MacDonald has The Parent's Guide to Storytelling, which might be helpful, plus there's also Anne Pellowski's drawing and string story books: The Story Vine and The Family Storytelling Handbook.
I too love it when someone else tells stories to my child.;)
Blurry photo taken with Bede's phone as we didn't want to carry around the old clunker
Dan Zanes and Friends opened with Water for the Elephants:
"Circus came to town and to the circus I went
Didn't have a ticket didn't have a cent,
Circus man said, "To see the show without a cent,
You gotta carry water for the elephants."
Of DZAF, Colin Brooks, the drummer, was the only original member on
8 Comments on Dan Zanes in 2008, last added: 4/30/2008
That concert looks like it was really cool! Is that an accordion I saw???
Lone Star Ma said, on 4/27/2008 3:38:00 PM
Seattle sounds like such a happening place.
HipWriterMama said, on 4/28/2008 10:22:00 AM
So were you all dancing around? Looks like a blast!
Alkelda the Gleeful said, on 4/28/2008 12:04:00 PM
Lady K: Yes indeed! And the accordion player is a cutie.
LSM: It has its moments. It would be better if you were here.:)
HWM: The grownups were mostly crouched down or in their seats so that the people in the rows back could see. It was fun!
Lone Star Ma said, on 4/28/2008 8:33:00 PM
Thanks. Me and the Diablo Chocolate.
Noodle said, on 4/28/2008 9:01:00 PM
FUN! Looks like a great concert! We love the DZaF concert DVD.
Alkelda the Gleeful said, on 4/28/2008 9:17:00 PM
Noodle: I like that DVD, too. I wish I had known about DZ when he was less known, because then I could have gone to his smaller concerts in Seattle. Then again, I did get to see Loreena McKennitt at a Borders Bookstore in Seattle when she was big (during her Mask and Mirror tour)-- that was cool. She had a big concert that evening, but brought her harp and a fiddle player for a small, free concert at Borders. What a treat.
Jules at 7-Imp said, on 4/30/2008 1:03:00 PM
Oh I'm so jealous.
Jules, 7-Imp
Susan T. said, on 5/1/2008 7:10:00 PM
Alkelda, you've got the scoop! Dan Zanes has a show heading to B'way? I'm so there! I'd love to see him perform.
Susan Chicken Spaghetti
Alkelda the Gleeful said, on 5/2/2008 5:19:00 PM
Susan, Excellent! You'll have to let us know how the official debut goes. Zanes is playing here on December 6, which is as excellent a St. Nicholas Day present as ever I've received.
You can't keep a good mosh pit down
The House of Glee attended Eric Ode's CD release concert yesterday. The new album is out, and it's called When You Smile. It's got my favorite Ode song, which is "This Song Has No Elephants." We had a good time at the concert, bought the new album, and chatted with Eric for a bit after the show. Eric Ode is one of the performers I interviewed for Spinning
0 Comments on "When You Smile" CD release concert as of 1/1/1900
Lone Star Ma said, on 3/2/2008 5:05:00 PM
Pretty Lucia.
Fridaysweb said, on 3/4/2008 12:37:00 PM
Oh my goodness! Look how grown-up our lovely Miss Lucia is, now. She is as beautiful as new spring tulips. The photo of the "mosh pit" is darling. Looks like the concert was a big hit.
limpy99 said, on 3/4/2008 12:45:00 PM
The Mosh Pit comment should be nominated for some kind of "best caption of the year" award.
Alkelda the Gleeful said, on 3/4/2008 4:08:00 PM
LSM: Thanks!
Friday: Hey, you. I'm glad you popped by. I'll pass along the compliment to Lucia-- she'll get a kick out of it.
Limpy99: Cool! Thanks.
Parenting has worn me out today. We had a good morning with speech/motor therapies, then went to get some plants, and as a treat, went out to the conveyor-belt sushi restaurant afterward. We popped by Pottery Barn Kids afterward just so Lucia could play with the dollhouses there. When it was time to go, the meltdown came. It was too much of a good thing, apparently. King Lear's words about serpents' teeth and unthankful children came to mind!
I'm plumb tuckered out.
jules said, on 3/4/2008 6:08:00 PM
That just looks like so much FUN.
Ode said, on 3/5/2008 9:52:00 PM
Thank you so much, Farida, for catching the show! I'm very glad you and yours enjoyed the afternoon. We had a blast! Keep singing. Peace and joy, Eric
CD. The CD includes many lively party songs, and we've listened to it numerous times already. Both kids love dancing along to the familiar "I Like to Move It" and have their own dizzying version of a "Cotton Eye Joe" dance. My husband and I relived some of our school days when we heard "U Can't Touch This," and we tried to explain baggy "Hammer" pants to our kids. 
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by Jonathan Sprout. This album by singer-songwriter 
. At the time of the book's publication, I was working as a children's librarian at a small rural library. I pre-ordered a copy thinking that it would be fun to read or sing aloud during storytime. As soon as I saw the actual book, I knew I also wanted a copy for my own home library. The clothbound book came with this beautiful, shimmery foil-enhanced dust jacket and inside gorgeous, full page bleed illustrations by the talented Eric Puybaret. 
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Available at:
Those are way too cute! Thanks for sharing them.