ants on a log – Kids Rhythm and Rock

2024 Children’s Music Roundup

January 5, 2025 Veronica Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Welcome to Kids Rhythm and Rock’s annual Children’s Music Roundup! At the end of each year, rather than doing a “Top 10” or a “Best of” list, I compile a list of albums that have come to my attention during the last 12 months and separate them into fun categories. The total number of albums that are included varies from year-to-year. The richness and depth that is family music just keeps growing and this year, 54 (!) albums make an appearance in the list below.

Let’s say hello to 2025 by taking a look back at the “year that was” in children’s music. Don’t see your favorites? Please add them in the comments.

Beautiful Beats

Big performed by Kim Noller

Community Through Music performed by Suzi Shelton

Songs to Howl & Sing performed by Little Coyotes

Steppin’ with Cory performed by Cory McAtee

Funky Fun

Bombtastic! performed by Todd ‘n’ Tina

Everyone On Board performed by Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate

Imagination Time with Patrick performed by Patrick Adams

Mood Food performed by The Microphone Doctors and Doctor Noize

Oh, to Be Young

Each of these albums contains songs that would be good additions to storytimes.

Circle Round to Joy performed by Pam Felber

Jamming with Jules! performed by Jules

Pop Pop Bubbles performed by Sweet Potato Music

Seasons: Songs to Celebrate All Four Seasons performed by Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Music

Simple Action Songs performed by Kath Bee

Talk Read Sing Play performed by John and Jo-Anne Keenan

Our Friends to the South

Wonderful music is coming from the Southern Hemisphere!

Levity Beat and the Aotearoa All Stars performed Levity Beat and the Aotearoa All Stars

Little Wild Learning performed by Claudia Robin Gunn

The Magic Circle performed by Fabulous Lemon Drops

Pop Jams

Imaginology performed by Mama B

Love Is… performed by Suzanne Jamieson

Rock Together performed by Birds of a Feather

Potpourri

I always loved this category on Jeopardy. No common theme, just fun to explore.

Head in the Clouds performed by Mr. Elephant

Helping Out! performed by Pep & Perk

Solid Rock Revival by Rock for Children

Rockin’ Rhythms

Everyone in this group is a little bit rock ‘n’ roll!

All Together Now performed by Steve Elci and Friends

Let Us Rock performed by Mr. Evan V

Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful performed by Mr. Jeff

World Wide Playdate performed by Divinity Roxx

Showstoppers

These vocals and arrangements would be welcome on any stage!

All the Feels performed by The Wise Channel

Back Home performed by Wendy and DB

Shine Your Light performed by Davey and Peter

Why Do We Sing? performed by Sam Tsui and Casey Breves

Sleep Tight

Songs to send you off to bed

Dreamland performed by Jenn Cleary

Sweet Dreams a Bedtime Routine by Lavender Blues

Try a Little Tenderness

Messages of love and acceptance for oneself and others

Just the Way You Are performed by Miss Katie Sings

My Favorite Dream performed by John Legend

The Power of Positivity performed by Stacy & Athena

Rainbow Seekers performed by Ants on a Log

Unique Musical Stylings

& the never-ending haint blue melody performed by Mista Cookie Jar

Buddy’s Magic Remixes performed by Mega Ran

Confidence Juice performed by Miss Tutti and the Fruity Band

Let Me Be Real performed by Star Forest

Reset performed by Beppie

Speak Hope Sing Joy performed by SaulPaul

Unstoppable Beats

Jamming on the Job, Vol. 1 performed by Pierce Freelon and 123 Andrés

Key Change World performed by The Story Pirates

Ronnie Boy Land performed by Ronnie Boy Kids

Sing! Dance! Play! Learn! performed by Station Little

Visiting with Old Friends

Penny Penguin performed by Raffi with Good Lovelies

Pieces of Home performed by Dan + Claudia Zanes

Wide World of Music

Au Zoo by Whistlefritz

Brillo, Brillo! performed by Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band

Creciendo performed by Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats

Familiar performed by Musiquita

The Children Are Our Future

Twelve performed by Makayla Malaka

Leave a comment 123 andres, ants on a log, beppie, birds of a feather, claudia robin gunn, cory mcatee, dan and claudia zanes, davey and peter, divinity roxx, fabulous lemon drops, hunk-ta-bunk-ta music, jenn cleary, john and joanne keenan, john legend, jules, Kath Bee, kim noller, lavender blues, Levity Beet, little coyotes, lucky diaz and the family jam band, lucy kalantari and the jazz cats, makayla malaka, mama b, mega ran, microphone doctors and doctor noize, miss katie sings, Miss Tutti and the Fruity Band, mista cookie jar, mr. elephant, mr. evan v, mr. jeff, musiquita, pam felber, patrick adams, pep and perk, pierce freelon, raffi, rockin' ron the friendly pirate, ronnie boy kids, sam tsui and casey breves, saulpaul, stacy and athena, star forest, station little, steve elci, suzanne jamieson, suzi shelton, sweet potato music, the story pirates, the wise channel, todd n tina, wendy and db

Album Spotlight – Rainbow Seekers performed by Ants on a Log

June 2, 2024 Veronica Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Happy Pride Month! I am very excited to kick-off this June with the newest album from the Philadelphia-based trio Ants on a Log. Rainbow Seekers is a collection of eight original tracks that uplift queer youth through the power of engaging, inclusive, celebratory songs. Things kick off with “Rainbow Seekers,” which is not just the album’s title track, but also a song from the group’s musical of the same name. The album then dives into several empowering messages of self-expression. “River’s Coming Over,” which features performers Evan Greer and Fureigh, is a song about nonbinary friends playing together doing things that they find fun – making a rainbow unicorn cake, having a tea party with Wolverine or Wonder Woman being the captain of the football team. This is followed by “Terry the Nonbinary Canary” (which is just clamoring to be made into a picture book) and “My Suspenders” which encourages kids to dress in ways that bring them joy. The Alphabet Rockers join Ants on a Log for “The History of Blue and Pink,” and updated versions of “Some Girls Have Short Hair” which talks about the various kinds of hairstyles anyone can have, and “They’re My Best Friend” which was the first song on national radio with all nonbinary pronouns and now includes harmonies by Carrie Ferguson and Lavender Blues are also included. Some of the album’s quieter moments come during the lullaby “Moppa” which includes some of the many names that children may call their nonbinary parents and features the beautiful vocals of Strawbitty Yops and Lindz Amer. Be a Rainbow Seeker and listen to this shiny, shimmery celebration of and for queer families (and all families) not just during Pride Month, but all year through! Rainbow Seekers is now available on your favorite streaming platforms.

Leave a comment album spotlight, ants on a log, pride

Make it Myself! Performed by Ants on a Log

March 22, 2023 Veronica Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Julie Be and Anya Rose (Ants on a Log) are back with their third full-length family album. On this latest outing, Make it Myself!, the duo’s talent for combining social justice with silliness is beautifully on display in a collection of 14 songs that encourage children to think creatively about challenges they may face in life. Those challenges range from something simple like finding ways to stay entertained while waiting in line to more complex challenges like finding the courage to stand up against the injustices that a child may encounter in every day life. On the sillier side is a buzzy lullaby to a mosquito and a yummy twist on King Midas where the king turns things into cheese rather than into gold. Also included is the stellar “They’re My Friend,” an accessible introduction to nonbinary pronouns, and “What Book?” a song sung from a girl’s perspective as she implores adults to see more than just pretty appearances. Whether the lyrics are serious or silly, Ants on a Log creates a sound that engages and entertains. Check out the video for the title track, “Make it Myself” below.

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