Tag: video spotlight

Video Spotlight: New Songs of the Summer

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

2025 is shaping up to be a phenomenal year for new children’s music. Not only have a couple dozen new albums been released in the past few months, but many of your favorite artists have also released singles for you to enjoy. Some of the new songs are standalones, some are teasers for upcoming albums, and others feature special collaborations. No matter their origin, all are fantastic and fun. Below is just a sampling of some of the incredible music coming your way. Looking for more children’s music? Be on the lookout for playlists on Spotify or you favorite streaming service. When looking for new playlists, try looking for those curated by children’s music artists such as this one from Kath Bee or this list from Claudia Robin Gunn. There is so much more to children’s music than just movie and television soundtracks so take some time and explore all that is out there. And in the meantime, enjoy these new sounds of the summer.

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Video Spotlight – “Looking Out My Window”

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Set to be released this Friday, October 18, children’s indie folk band Little Coyotes’ debut album Songs to Howl & Sing is a real delight. The ten tracks in this collection are a love letter to the outdoors that celebrates many of the facets of nature, while also conveying messages of positivity and empowerment for young listeners. Whether learning about the national parks, shapes, sunny or rainy days, or the power of vowels, children will be enchanted by the lyrical prose found in each of the musical phrases. 

The first video to accompany Songs to Howl & Sing is “Looking Out My Window.” The video follows a car as it travels across hills and valleys and passes flowers and horses. The soft color palette of the animation lends a certain whimsy to the light, airy vocals of lead singer/songwriter Becca Mohler, evoking those long, hazy days of family road trips where sometimes the best view is from the backseat, “looking out my window.”

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Video Spotlight – “The Many I Am” Performed by Carrie Ferguson

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To continue our Pride Month celebration, today I’m shining a spotlight on the brand new video from Carrie Ferguson. According to Ferguson, their latest single, “The Many I Am,” featuring Pamela Means and Kamerin, is “a love letter to the LGBTQIA+ community; a gender queer dance party anthem featuring a giant horn section and gorgeous harmonies; a celebration of gender diversity and inclusive community; a call for unity; and a joyful declaration of hope and resilience.” The video for “The Many I Am” is all that and so much more. Featuring a group of non-binary and trans dancers, the choreography perfectly captures the essence of the music matching each note with moves both simple and electric. The already powerful chorus (We are kings and we are queens/we are neither plus both and/Where are the words/For the many I am?) is lifted even higher by the power of the accompanying choreography. The joy that each dancer exudes draws viewers in making them wish that they too could be part of this awesome dance party.   

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Video Spotlight – “Calamansi Twist”

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  Little Miss Ann is a Chicago-based musician who has been writing and performing family music for nearly twenty years. During that time, she has highlighted various facets of her Filipino heritage, including foods like the wondrous purple yam known as the ube. With her most recent single “Calamansi Twist,” Little Miss Ann and fellow Filipino-American family musicians Mista Cookie Jar and Ronnie Boy Kids, introduce listeners to the calamansi fruit.  The video, a brightly colored, psychedelic dance party is one part ska, two parts pop and 100% fun.  “Calamansi Twist” is the perfect addition to  Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebrations and warm weather get togethers. Get up, get down, and calmansi twist all around!

 

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Video Spotlight – “The Science of Pancakes” performed by Wendy & DB

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Most people would agree that there are three types of meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There also is a unique group of people who believe that there is a fourth, very special kind of meal – breakfast-for-dinner. I was raised in a house that was definitely part of that last group of people. Growing up, we had a homecooked dinner Sunday-Wednesday nights, Thursday night was leftovers and Friday was often breakfast-for dinner. When Friday evening rolled around, my mom would get out her griddle and make dunky eggs, bacon, and that delicious breakfasty staple, pancakes. 

In their latest animated video, “The Science of Pancakes,” Wendy & DB celebrate all the yummy, fluffy goodness that is pancakes. The bluesy tune begins with Wendy singing, “The science of pancakes starts with love” then being joined by a chorus of children who add, “yummy, yummy, eat ’em up” throughout. The song goes on to describe the physical act of making pancakes, and the kinds of pancakes that folks like to eat, before going into the actual science behind this popular food. Make sure you have the fixings on hand before watching this video because once it’s over you’ll be craving a delicious stack of pancakes!

 

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Video Spotlight – “My Darling Daffodil” performed by Kelli Welli and Red Yarn

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

We are officially hopping into Spring in just a few minutes, so what better time to celebrate the first flower of the season (at least in Illinois) than right now? In “My Darling Daffodil,” two of Portland’s children’s music stars, Kelli Welli and Red Yarn, team up on a delightful new duet. After many long months away from one another, the dandy dandelion and the darling daffodil sing about longing to see one another again in this thoroughly engaging tune. The charming mixed media video perfectly captures the light and joy that come along with the return of Spring and the love between the two flowers. Take a peek below.

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Video Spotlight – “I Am Love, I Am Light” performed by Fyütch and Aura V

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Cover art with Fyutch and Aura VIt’s hard to believe that it was just three short years ago that Fyütch first landed on my radar with his video for “Black Women in History.” Since then, he has had a lasting impact on children’s music both as a solo performer as well as a collaborator with other artists such as SaulPaul, Alphabet Rockers, Divinity Roxx, and Joanie Leeds. All of those performers, however, pale in comparison to  Fyütch’s latest duet partner, his six-year-old daughter Aura. 

On their new song, “I Am Love, I Am Light,” this dynamic duo shares affirmations set to an energy-filled beat that encourage listeners to echo confidence-packed phrases such as “I am brave,” “I am worthy,” “I am grateful, “I am kind,” and “I love me.” Fyütch brings a shining light to everything that he does and combined with Aura’s joyful spirit, the feeling of love in each word wraps itself around the listener. In a world that at times can feel a little dark and overwhelming, “I Am Love, I Am Light” is a beacon to be shared and celebrated by children and adults alike. Spread this heartfelt message not just during the month of love, but throughout the entire year!

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Video Spotlights: A Couple of Real Turkeys

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Ahh, it’s November. That glorious time of year when the temperature drops, the leaves fall off the trees and we prepare for one of the most celebrated meals of the year – Thanksgiving dinner. While tables will be filled with sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, carrots, green beans, and mashed potatoes, the star of many of these meals is the turkey. But what if the turkeys don’t want to come to dinner? What if the turkey is too busy working as a private investigator? These questions and more are answered in delightful new videos from Stacey Peasley and Todd ‘n’ Tina.

First up, in Stacey’s “The Turkeys Run,” children will get rid of their wiggles as they act out the adventures of the turkeys who don’t want to end up on your plate for Thanksgiving Day. The adorable animation perfectly captures the spirit of these wily turkeys as they race to escape capture. Then, in Todd ‘n’ Tina’s new video, “Undercover Turkey,” Penny the turkey certainly won’t have time to come to Thanksgiving dinner because she is busy working undercover and trying to catch the town’s bagel thief. The simple puppetry and amazing turkey hat will have viewers chuckling as they enjoy this exciting tale. 

Watch these videos while making whatever delectable morsels you’ve chosen for the big meal and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! 

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Video Spotlight – “Wave a Flag for Harvey Milk”

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Forty-five years ago, politician and activist Harvey Milk asked artist Gilbert Baker to create a symbol of gay pride. The result was the original gay pride rainbow flag. According to the Human Rights Campaign, the colors of what is known as the Gilbert Baker Pride flag represent different aspects of the LGBTQ+ community – “hot pink represents sex, red symbolizes life, orange stands for healing, yellow equals sunlight, green stands for nature, turquoise symbolizes magic and art, indigo represents serenity, while violet symbolizes the spirit of LGBTQ+ people.” Shortly following the creation of the flag, the hot pink and turquoise stripes were removed. The traditional pride flag as we know it continues to be a representation of the LGBTQ+ community, but also serves as a reminder to all of us that we need to celebrate and love those around us not just during the month of June, but all year long.

“Wave a Flag for Harvey Milk” is the first single off the upcoming Smithsonian Folkways album Mr. Greg and Cass McCombs Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children. While this is the first children’s album for singer-songwriter Cass McCombs and preschool teacher Greg Gardner, they have been collaborating since they were teens in the Bay Area. That history together is evident in the smart, well-crafted melody and lyrics of this debut song. Featuring animation of illustrations created by Gardner and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus lending their vocal might, “Wave a Flag for Harvey Milk” is a song that everyone should hear. For more information on the creation of the Pride flag, pair this video with the picture book, Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag written by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Steven Salerno. 

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Video Spotlight – “Bring On Summer”

Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Hurray! The first official day of summer is finally here!! As adults we sometimes get bogged down in the details of grown-up life, bemoaning the fact that it’s hot, the energy bill is going to go up, the lawn needs to be mowed (again), etc. and we forgot about the simple joys that come with the lazy, hazy days of summer. Luckily, Dana’s Music Playground is here to remind us of just how great it is to be a kid this time of year. “Bring on Summer” captures all the colorful excitement and joy of the season, and celebrates with sunshine, bike rides, hikes, s’mores and more! Check out the video below. 

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