2024 Children’s Music Roundup
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
To celebrate CMN coming to Chicago, I thought now would be a good time to highlight two albums from the Windy City’s children’s music community. First up is 
The second album is 
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. 
Out just in time for Earth Day program planning, HomeEarth by Chicago duo Wendy & DB, is a real treat. The album opens with the title song “HomeEarth,” a fun introduction to the planets and the galaxy, then takes listeners to ground level where the importance of living things is explored. “Olly the Orca,” “Bugs That Give Hugs” and the joy of growing a garden and giving to others in “Plant a Seed” are all given their moment to shine in the sun.
Last week we had the great privilege of hosting Wendy & DB at our library. Back in August I reviewed their album It’s a Doo Da Day for School Library Journal. The album had great empowering messages about being yourself and owning your feelings while at the same time being a lot of fun. At the time, I thought it would be a perfect album for family or classroom listening but didn’t clearly see how to use it in storytime. Then, I saw Wendy & DB perform.