flor bromley – Kids Rhythm and Rock

Sounds of the Season

December 18, 2024 Veronica Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

As a child, whenever I heard adults use the phrase, “where does the time go?” I always thought, “I don’t know where it goes, but it sure goes slow.” Now, as an adult, I too wonder where the time goes, and why it goes so quickly. It feels like Halloween was just yesterday yet the first day of 2025 is only two weeks away. I had every intention of writing several posts over the course of the past month highlighting various new holiday songs, but alas, best laid plans and all. Instead, here is one bigger post to celebrate the sounds of Christmas.

graphic of a running gingerbread man cookie

Let’s kick things off with one of my favorite things about the holidays – cookies!! First up is the new song “Gingerbread Man” from Stacey Peasley. This movement song is filled with actions including running, skipping, hopping, and spinning, making it the perfect song to include on Noon Year playlists or to wear out the kids after too many sugary treats. Take a listen to “Gingerbread Man” by clicking on this link.

Next up is the clever “360 Million Cookies,” a new song performed by Suzanne Jamieson about all of the cookies that Santa has to eat in one night as he makes his way around the world. The Mid Century Modern flair of the graphics in this lyric video blend well with the modern pop sound to create a tune that children young and old will enjoy.

Now that we’re full of cookies, let’s celebrate Christmas with some old friends and new. Our first stop is in Canada where Heather Feather shares her beautiful new song “When Santa Comes to Visit Me” in English, French, or a bilingual version. Take a listen at this link.

For another bilingual song, let’s visit Flor Bromley who, along with the cute chicks from Canticos, bring us “Navidad.” This lyrical video is in Spanish and English and features a Latin beat that will have viewers dancing along.

Next up is a quick trip to a tropical island for “Christmas Island Time” written by Freddy Wexler and performed by Teacher Pete to accompany Wexler’s new picture book, Everett Green: The Not-So-Christmas Tree.

And finally, a visit to our friend Mr. Jeff and his family. By this point in December, Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” has popped up on every streaming list more times than I can count. But just as I’m getting tired of it, along comes Mr. Jeff and his adorable back-up singers to give the tune a fresh new look and sound.

Looking for even more holiday music to share during your family gatherings or last minute Christmas events? Check out this playlist curated by Esther Crow. Featuring over 75 contemporary and classic Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa songs from performers from around the world, this list can’t be beat. Still don’t see your favorite holiday song here? Please add it to the comments. With Christmas (December 24-25), Hanukkah, (December 25-January 2) and Kwanzaa (December 26-January 1) all falling within days of one another this year, we want to lift up all of the sounds of the season at this time.

Wishing everyone a holiday season filled with love, peace, and joy!

Leave a comment christmas, esther crow, flor bromley, heather feather, holiday music, mr. jeff, stacey peasley, suzanne jamieson

2021 Children’s Music Roundup

January 4, 2022 Veronica Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Welcome to Kids Rhythm and Rock’s fourth annual Children’s Music Roundup! For those of you new to the blog, each year rather than doing a best of list, instead, I compile a list of my favorite albums.

2021 was an amazing year for children’s music with innumerable new artists making their way into the spotlight while more established acts continued to create incredible music and forged new musical partnerships with those they met along the way. Let’s say hello to 2022 by taking a look back at “the year that was” in children’s music. Don’t see your favorites listed below? Add them in the comments!

Be Mindful, Be Kind

Music to guide our everyday lives.

A Mind of Your Own performed by The Bright Siders
Maybe by Next Year performed by Kid Pan Alley
Frogs and Birds performed by Lindsay Munroe with Raffi
Yoga Dreamland performed by Putamayo

Beautiful Beats

Fun, fantastic tunes to brighten any day.

A Colorful World performed by Falu
You Are Magic performed by Allison Faith Levy
28 Days performed by Little Miss Ann
Make it Happen! performed by Stacey Peasley
I Am performed by Shine and the Moonbeams

Potpourri

This was always my favorite Jeopardy! category. In this case, it’s a fun way to group the jazziest jazz, the quirkiest tunes, and songs on some popular topics together.

Seconds performed by Ben Tatar and the Tatar Tots
It’s for You performed by Flula Borg and Go Banana Go!
What Kind of World? performed by Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats
Planetary Promenade performed by Billy Kelly
From My Head to My Toes performed by Music with Mandy
Ponderosa Bunchgrass & the Golden Rule performed by The Oot N’ Oots

Regional Superstars You Should Know

It’s easy to forget that our talented local performers aren’t well known all across the country. Here’s some from the past year everyone should give a try.

All Together Now performed by Esther Crow (New York)
Music Makes Me Happy performed by Katie Dwyer (New York)
The Grumpytime Club performed by Carrie Ferguson (Massachusetts)
Sing Your Song Performed by The Harmonica Pocket (Washington)
All Together performed by Kathryn the Grape (California)

Rockin’ Rhythms

I dare you to try and sit still while listening to these albums!

Crayon Kids performed by Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band
Ready, Set, Go! performed by Divinity Roxx
Invisible performed by Father Goose
Family Tree performed by Fyütch
Slow Clap performed by Koo Koo Kangaroo

Unique Musical Stylings

There was nothing else quite like these albums this year.

Young Maestros, Vol. 1 performed by Tracy Bonham (these could be showtunes)
Black to the Future performed by Pierce Freelon (Afrofuturism)
Folk for Little Folk, Vol.1 performed by Gordie MacKeeman (award-winning fiddling)
Okay to Be Different performed by SaulPaul (rap)
The Beat Bach Symphonies performed by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (rap with a symphony orchestra)
The Strawberry Band performed by The Story Pirates (music based on children’s stories)

Visiting with Old Friends

Let’s Go! performed by Laurie Berkner
Love Me for Who I Am: The Remix performed by Brady Rymer
Sharon, Lois & Bram Best of the Best Live performed by Sharon, Lois & Bram
We’re All Fruit Salad performed by The Wiggles

Wide World of Music

These albums feature music in Spanish, Spanish and English, and music from as far away as New Zealand.

Activate performed by 123 Andrés
Pachamama performed by Flor Bromley
Danilo & Chapis, Vol 1 performed by Danilo & Chapis
Esperanza performed by Sonia De Los Santos
Sing Through the Year performed by Claudia Robin Gunn
A Mi Me Gusta Ser Yo *It’s Ok To Be Me performed by Twinkle Time

With a Little Help From My Friends

2021 was a year of amazing partnerships and collaborations.

All One Tribe performed by 1 Tribe Collective
Let It Out! performed by Mil’s Trills
Let Love Be Your Guide performed by Dan & Claudia Zanes

Leave a comment 1 tribe collective, 123 andres, allison faith levy, ben tatar and the tatar tots, billy kelly, brady rymer, carrie ferguson, claudia robin gunn, dan and claudia zanes, danilo and chapis, divinity roxx, esther crow, falu, father goose, flor bromley, fyutch, go banana go, gordie mackeeman, kathryn the grape, katie dwyer, kid pan alley, koo koo kangaroo, laurie berkner, lindsay munroe, little miss ann, lucky diaz and the family jam band, lucy kalantari, mils trills, music roundup, music with mandy, pierce freelon, putamayo, saulpaul, secret agent 23 skidoo, sharon lois and bram, shine & the moonbeams, sonia de los santos, stacey peasley, the bright siders, the harmonica pocket, the oot n oots, the story pirates, the wiggles, tracy bonham, twinkle time

2020 Children’s Music Roundup

January 5, 2021 Veronica Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Welcome to Kids Rhythm and Rock’s third annual Children’s Music Roundup! For those of you new to the blog, each year I compile a list of my favorite albums, then organize them by categories that change from year-to-year. Normally I would have had this list up by the middle of December, but 2020 being 2020, it threw a last minute curveball that delayed things a bit.

The past year was a time filled with incredible challenges for children’s music. The pandemic found performers having to completely redefine how they brought their music to the masses, racial and social justice came to the forefront, and the GRAMMY controversy spurred the children’s community to action. Through it all though, one constant remained – children’s music continued to grow in ways that left listeners enthralled, enriched, and entertained. So let’s say hello to 2021 by taking a look back at the year that was in Children’s music. Don’t see your favorites in the list below? Add them in the comments!

Note: There has been a lot of discussion in the past few weeks regarding albums by BIPOC performers. I have denoted those albums with an (**).