Category: Teachers

Are YOU Ready for Valentine’s Day?

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Are you looking for just the right songs to share in your classroom, during storytime or as a family on Valentine’s Day? From today through Tuesday, February 14 the wonderful variety of songs listed below are available as free downloads. There’s a little something for everyone. Pass along the love and kindness!

“Valentine (I Don’t Want to Be Yours)” – Justin Roberts
“Lovestruck Unicorn” – Recess Monkey (2017 GRAMMY nominee)
“L.O.V.E.” – Little Miss Ann
“Love Bug” – Raffi
“Closer to You” – Frances England (2017 GRAMMY nominee)
“You Can Count on Me” – Lisa Loeb
“Your Love Turns the World Around” – Brady Rymer (2017 GRAMMY nominee)
“Loving and Kind” – Aaron Nigel Smith
“Til There Was You” – Lucky Diaz
“Cancion de Amor” – 123 Andrs

Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , ,

Bubble Wrap Rap

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Anyone who thinks rap isn’t for young kids hasn’t heard Koo Koo Kanga Roo’s “Bubble Wrap Rap.” Bubble wrap already has kid (and ok, adult) appeal as proven each year when we put a box with small pieces of bubble wrap in it on the desk at work. No one can resist the perceived forbidden activity of popping the wrap in the library. With a hook that repeats, “Oh snap, it’s a bubble wrap rap,” this song perfectly captures the allure of that mysterious material. And with completely clean lyrics, this song is the perfect way to introduce older kids to the art and poetry of rap.

Leave a comment ,

We Stood Up: Reflections on the Civil Rights Movement

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

We Stood Up: Reflections on the Civil Rights Movement
Target Audience: Grades 3 to 6

we-stood-upStudents have many options nowadays when learning the lessons of history – they can read  a book, a newspaper or magazine article written at the time, or watch a movie, documentary or news clip. Or, sometimes most powerful of all, they can close their eyes and listen to those who lived through that period tell their stories in their own words. And that’s what We Stood Up does – provides students and teachers with the opportunity to hear from those who experienced the Civil Rights movement first hand. People like Congressman John Lewis, former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, Greensboro Four member Franklin McCain and Julian Bond, activist and founding member of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The 41 tracks follow an arc beginning with “The Value of Freedom,” that leads to “Reflections on the Civil Rights Movement” and concludes with “Continuing the Legacy.” Each section contains interviews and first hand accounts, poems and original songs. We Stood Up, along with an educator’s guide, are available as free downloads for teachers and community groups and can be accessed here. We Stood Up is a fantastic resource for classroom lessons, homeschooling families and those who want to learn more.  View the trailer for this resource below (Note – the CD was released on iTunes in August).

Leave a comment , , ,

Hello 2017! Let’s Live in Colour

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

When looking through my social media feeds, it looked like the last week or so of December was spent bemoaning how horrible 2016 was as we continued to deal with the results of the presidential election, what felt like the almost daily deaths of our childhood/teen icons and the normal stresses of the holiday season. I admit that I often found myself quickly empathizing during both in-person and online conversations with this feeling of good riddance to a year that couldn’t end soon enough. But was what I was feeling a true reflection of the year I had just had? All it took was a couple of hours of organizing pictures for my yearly scrapbook to realize that I was wrong. I had actually had a really amazing year during which I was fortunate enough to do many really fun, fantastic things with friends and family that I love.

And that’s what I need to remember as I welcome in 2017. That just as there will be times of sadness, stress and upset, there will also be times of happiness, love and joy. At the beginning of December, I was sent an email with the links to a couple of children’s music videos from Canadian artist, Marlowe & the Mix. I didn’t have time to watch them until this afternoon, but I think I’m going to carry one of the songs, the title track from their newest album, with me as a resolution for the new year. In 2017, rather than wrapping myself in those times of gray, I’m going to try and do as this song says and, “Live in Colour.” I think those are wise words to live by, no matter your age, don’t you?

Leave a comment

Some Holiday Fun with Laurie Berkner

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Looking for some kid friendly holiday songs to share during your family gatherings? Try this compilation of four of Laurie’s videos that are perfect for the holidays- “Candy Cane Jane,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “Jingle Bells” and the Laurie and Brady Rymer duet, “Children Go Where I Send Thee.” Do you have any favorite children’s holiday songs?

Leave a comment , ,

Wake Up It’s Christmas Time – Sara Lovell

Librarians, Parents, Teachers

On Saturday, Sara Lovell debuted this video for her new holiday song, “Wake Up It’s Christmas Time.” If you’re looking for a new tune to share with your kids that seamlessly talks about the excitement of Santa’s arrival as well as the importance of listening to the stories of those who might believe in holidays different than yours, then this song is for you. I love the lyrics toward the end, “And if you family celebrates another holiday, tell me all about it, I’ll come over when you call, We’ll sing the songs you sing and I’ll listen when you tell me what matters to you most of all.”  Enjoy this catchy, beautiful song of the season!

Leave a comment ,

GRAMMY Award Nominations Announced

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

The 59th GRAMMY Award nominees were announced today and, as always, they are fantastic. The Best Children’s Album category is filled with amazing artists, each with a unique sound. If you don’t own them, pick them up today. They all deserve a spot in every library collection.

francesengland

Frances England, Explorer of the World

infinity-plus-one

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Infinity Plus One

CDBookletOutsideTemplate

Recess Monkey, Novelties

press-play

Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could, Press Play

okee-dokee2

The Okee Dokee Brothers, Saddle Up

Leave a comment , , , , ,

School Library Journal’s Top 10 Music of 2016

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

School Library Journal released its list of the Top 10 children’s albums of 2016. Compiled by the SLJ music reviewers, all of these albums are great additions to every collection. Did your favorites make the list?

phineas-mcboof-crashes-the-symphony_rgb

 

 

Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , ,

Feel What U Feel by Lisa Loeb

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

In the past few weeks, there has been much written about how to talk about tolerance, kindness, and acceptance with children. Most of what has been written has focused on using books to address these topics. I’d like to offer up the importance of using music as well.

Looking back through the children’s albums that have been released this year, one of the welcome trends is the increased emphasis on not only accepting one another for each other’s differences but also being proud and confident in ourselves and those qualities that make each of us unique. The songs have ranged from silly to serious but all speak to children in a way that they can embrace and understand.

lisa-loeb-11-16One of the most recent albums that focuses on kindness and acceptance is the newest release from Lisa Loeb, Feel What U Feel. Chock full of beautiful messages that are wrapped in gentle hugs or disguised in upbeat melodies and lyrics, this album is fantastic from beginning to end. The opening song, “Moon Star Pie (It’s Gonna Be All Right,” sets the tone and leads into “Say Hello” a lovely song about how the simple act of being brave and saying hello, or goodbye, or excuse me can be a great show of kindness. From there listeners fall into the groovin’ title track, “Feel What U Feel,” a duet between Loeb and Craig Robinson (from The Office) that lets children know that all those emotions inside them, both good and not so good, are ok. The catchy chorus, “Guess what? It’s okay!/go on and feel what u feel today/Feel what u feel/what u feel what u feel/what u feel what u feel,” will keep the message fresh in listeners minds. Robinson returns with another positive message regarding emotions on the classic tune, “It’s All Right to Cry,” which first appeared on Free to Be You and Me (1972). There are many other great songs on this album, all of which can be shared in a storytime, classroom, or family setting.

With so much music to choose from, I’d love to hear from you. What are some of your favorite songs about kindness, acceptance, emotions, etc. to share with children?

Leave a comment , , , , ,
1 … 23 24 25 26 27 28