Tag: shawny

2025 Children’s Music Roundup

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Welcome to Kids Rhythm and Rock’s annual Children’s Music Roundup! 2025 got away from me a little bit so this is coming to you a tad later than usual. Luckily, it’s never too late to celebrate great children’s music!

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. While 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 past year was no different.

Let’s kickoff 2026 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.

Introducing…

Debut albums you should know

Hang Out with Raven from City Birds

I Like the Sounds You Make from Eeme and Shan

Tunezies Vol. 1 from Jesse Palter

Alphabops from Bug Friend

Be Mindful, Be Kind

Empathy, inclusion, and loving one another (as kids and parents) are at the heart of these albums.

Together from Heather Feather

I Am Enough from Hopscotch Songs

Change is Inevitable from Mama Nous

Fun Machine Dream Vol. One from You & Us

Oh to Be Young

Music with the littles in mind. Many of the songs would be great for storytime.

My Voice from Andy Z

Imagine Shine Play from Miss Jessica

Family Friendly Songs, Vol. 5 from Tom Foote

Go Go Stop: Music and Movement for Kids from Shawny

Super Duper Awesome Day from Ashley Mills Monaghan

Warm Fuzzies from Katie Dwyer Music

Funky Fun

Silly, thoughtful fun for everyone!

Big Kid Stuff from Mr. Jeff

The Color Weasel from Todd ‘n’ Tina

Jesse Jukebox Sells Out from Jesse Jukebox

Slippery When Peeled from Go Banana Go and Flula Borg

Sweet Home Chicago

These artists all call Chicago home.

Get Your Sunny Side Up from Wendy and DB

After We Roam from Little Miss Ann

Brain Freeze from Justin Roberts

Keeping It Real

These albums all feature stories and experiences from real people.

Dandelion Songs: Inspired by Military Kids and Families from Greg Lato

The Story of U.S. Vol. 1 from Griot B

Herstory from Flor Bromley

Arise & Shine: Piano Music by Black Composers for Kids

Naturally

These albums celebrate the Earth, the animals, and the plants, and how we all fit together on this planet we call home.

Belong from Musiquita (bilingual)

Tree Sounds from Marko Polo

Pop Jams

The title says it all!

Wonder FULL from Dana

M.Y. F.A.M.I.L.Y. from Scott & Mark Hoying

Oopsie Daisy from Teacher Peter (bilingual)

Carry On! from Princess Backpack and Benjamin

Our Friends to the South

Just a sampling of the vibrant children’s music scene in New Zealand

Little Wild Singable Songs: Play, Help, Wonder from Claudia Robin Gunn

The Prose and Cons from Captain Festus McBoyle

BeetBite vol. 3 and 4 from BeetBite

Unstoppable Beats

Glam pop, hip hop, space folk and more!

Micro Party from Electric Blue Yonder

On the Stoop from Rolie Polie Guacamole

Buddy’s Magic Tree House from Mega Ran

A Non Fiction Fairytale from Twinkle Time

We Are Family

This year’s top duets were provided by two children’s music artists and their young daughters.

Ageless: 100 Years Young from Joanie Leeds & Joya

Harmony from Fyütch & Aura V

Potpourri

As in my favorite Jeopardy category, not the dried flowers.

Arise Together: Songs to Inspire from various artists

Sunny Side Up from Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

Dinosaur Spaghetti from City Love

Try Try Again from Mike Bryden

Hooray for the World! from Red Grammer

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Gift performed by Katie T.

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

This is the time of year when almost everywhere you go, Christmas music is playing. Whether it’s the grocery store, the gas station, or the laundromat, there’s a good chance that at any given time, at least one of them has Michael Bublé singing about the fact that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Now, don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love Christmas music. From the loud and silly to the divine, I listen to it all. But not everyone celebrates Christmas and sometimes a song that celebrates the themes of the season without talking about the holiday itself is just what folks are looking for. And that is why I would like to introduce you to the newest song from Katie T.

“Gift,” written and performed by Katie and featuring Matt Pace of Hopscotch Songs is a beautiful tune that makes you feel like you are being wrapped in a hug. Rather than celebrating the toys and games and physical items that children often get for the holidays or for other occasions throughout the year, “Gift” focuses on something that doesn’t cost a thing – the gift of heartfelt compliments. Based on a conversation that Katie had with one of her students, the lyrics of the song focus on the phrase, “I have a gift to say to you.” Accompanied by a single guitar, the words of “Gift” flow over you, while Katie and Matt’s vocals help to sooth your soul. Adding to the gentle tone of the track, toward the middle there is a break where parents and children from Katie’s school provide a wide array of compliments that will touch your heart. “Gift” is the perfect song to use in classrooms, library programs, or as a family to practice giving one another compliments. Whether it’s during the holiday season, or any other time of the year, as Katie T. reminds us, “Sometimes the best gift you can give is the one you say.”

Looking for other songs to play this month that aren’t celebrating a particular holiday? Give these songs a spin.

Shake Your Snowglobe performed by Jaden Michaels – great for storytime!

Happy Happy Holidays! performed by Shawny

Happy Holidays performed by Itty Bitty Beats

 

 

 

 

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If you like Justin Roberts, you’ll love…Shawny!

Uncategorized

Shawny Go Go StopIn the follow-up to his debut album, It’s So Sunny (2023), Montreal native Shawny once again proves that he knows the secret to making music that engages and entertains children. A former elementary school music teacher, Shawny showcases his solo voice and songwriting talents on his second album for children and families, Go Go Stop: A Music and Movement Album for Kids. Are you looking for songs to freshen up your storytimes? Try the upbeat “Hi Hello,” the slower “Goodbye Goodbye” and movement songs such as the title song freeze dance “Go Go Stop” and the swashbuckling movement song “Pirate Life.” Counting is an element in several of the songs including “Winter Clothes” which lists the items one needs to wear to go outside and play, while tracks such as “So Different” and “Rainbow Parade” (feat. Strawbitty Yops) celebrate our differences and the importance of inclusivity. The majority of the songs in this collection, such as “In My Airplane” and the lullaby “The Snoring Song,” have a pop-sound to them, calling to mind early Justin Roberts albums. Much like Roberts, many of Shawny’s songs are just a man and a guitar telling tales of every day life that children can easily relate to. Also like Roberts, Shawny’s Go Go Stop is music that families will return to again and again.

Cover for Justin Roberts Brain Freeze albumAnd speaking of Justin Roberts, the Chicago-based entertainer returns with Brain Freeze, his 17th album for children and families. The first third of the new collection is classic Justin, featuring upbeat tempos and songs told from a child’s perspective, including the title track about a visit to the ice cream truck. From there he plays with other genres such as the 1960s pop sounds of “Better Than a Saturday” and the rockabilly feel of “Backyard Baby,” as well as switching narratives from that of a child to that of a father on tracks like the beautiful, “Long Walk Home.” Now the dad to a six year old, Justin’s music continues to evolve, capturing all of the love that exists between a dad and his son. Fans of Justin Roberts will love this latest outing while those new to his music will be glad they found it.

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