Miss Tutti and the Fruity Band – 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

Confidence Juice performed by Miss Tutti and the Fruity Band

March 3, 2024 Veronica Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

When Free to Be…You and Me came out in 1972, there was nothing else like it. An album for children that celebrated acceptance and challenged gender stereotypes was absolutely unheard of and remained a pretty unique concept for decades to come. Over the past few years however, a very welcome trend has emerged in children’s music where songs, and sometimes even entire albums, celebrate self-love, confidence and inclusivity. The most recent entry in this important space is Confidence Juice from Miss Tutti and the Fruity Band.

Inspired by what she was seeing in the body positive movement, Miss Tutti, aka Gracie Nash, set out to write a collection of songs she wished she could have heard when she was a child. The result is eight tracks of joyful love for oneself and for others. Filled with retro sounding tunes, Confidence Juice inspires children to have confidence in themselves, not because of who they see in the mirror but because of the beautiful person they are inside. Throughout the album, children are encouraged to be themselves, take up space, wear what makes them feel good, and be ok with their bodies because as the “Belly Song” enthusiastically proclaims, we’ve all got bellies and and every belly is fine. Positive affirmations such as “I am worthy of the day today,” are woven throughout “Figg’s Song” and the supposition that “maybe normal does not exist,” in “What is Normal?” reminds listeners that everyone has a different way of living, doing, and believing and that should be celebrated. The album’s penultimate track, “What Love Can Look Like,” is a groovy, beautiful tribute to all the ways that love can look, highlights the LGBTQ+ community, and features queer youth advocate and singer-songwriter Emma Jayne.

Confidence Juice entertains and affirms from beginning to end, creating a delightful listening experience. Watch the psychedelic video below for the album’s opening track, “Take Up Space.” For additional albums that encourage confidence, and celebrate self love and inclusivity, try Calming a Panic by You and Us and What Does Love Look Like? by Strawbitty Yops.

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