Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Monday Funday! The Squeegees New Album (Listen to the Whole Thing!) and Giveaway!

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Thanks to The SqueeGees for partnering with Stuff Parents Need to bring you this post (and this AWESOME sneak peek!!!).

What a fun treat I have for you, friends. If you’ve got a case of the Mondays, let’s fix it right now with some really fun new music from the group The SqueeGees. Tomorrow their new album, Veggie Soup, releases.

veggie soup 2

But why wait until tomorrow to check it out, when Stuff Parents Need readers can listen to the entire album (yes, I’m serious!) RIGHT NOW!!!

This is a terrific album to play as you work on dinner tonight with the kids (need a recipe idea? I’m thinking veggie soup would be appropriate!).

I don’t know about your kids, but mine REALLY love it when a fun song has a video to go with it. The SqueeGees have delivered, and already have a video for the track “I Can I Can” available. Check it out; it’s really interactive!

If you aren’t familiar with The SqueeGees, let me take a moment to introduce you! This family-friendly band is based in LA and consists of several awesome songwriters and musicians who are passionate about working with children and creating musical adventures. The style of The Squeegees is toe-tapping and melodic. It’s quite hard not to start singing along after just a handful of bars!

If you’d like to download a copy of the album so you can share it with your kids any time, any place, you can find it now through Itunes for $9.99. OR…for just a penny more, you can get both the download AND a hard copy in CD format! What a phenomenal deal!!!

Win it!: You all are lucky winners in that you get to enjoy hearing The SqueeGees album via SoundCloud right now, but one of you will also win a physical copy of the CD, which will be great for trips in the car.

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Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath and His Favorite Sing Along Songs

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One of the people that comes to mind when I think of Sesame Street (from the super early days, from my own childhood, and from Darah’s childhood) is Bob McGrath. This man has played a significant role in raising MILLIONS of children. What a legacy!

So when I heard that he was releasing a CD, and one that he has called “a sample of what I think of as ‘The Great American Songbook for children.'” I knew I had to feature him here. We were sent the CD to check out, and it has been in our car ever since, providing some fun entertainment on the way to and from school each day!

bob's favorite sing along songs

Bob’s Favorite Sing Along Songs is his ninth CD, but the first one I have had the pleasure to hear. I found the album to have a very classic feel, and one that makes it easy for young children to get involved and start singing along to. There are no wild and crazy beats to contend with…just fun music and lyrics, plain and simple! It feels very down-to-earth and approachable. I really liked it, and I think young children would connect with it very easily.

Buy it!: Bob’s Favorite Sing Along Songs retails for $12.99 and can be purchased on Amazon or on BobMcGrath.com!

Win it!: TWO lucky Stuff Parents Need readers will win a copy of Bob’s Favorite Sing Along Songs!

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 This post may contain affiliate links. 

 

Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project Book and CD GIVEAWAY!!!

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One of my first memories of hanging out with my BFF for the first time (back in 1993!) was listening to a tape she had of Phantom of the Opera. I’d never heard the musical before. In fact, I’m not so sure that I’d ever really heard any Broadway songs before that point. I remember sitting in her room and listening to the music, and having Leslie explain to me what was happening with the characters. I thought the story was really creepy but the music was absolutely captivating. I suppose that was by design, though, right Mr. Weber?

I now have a very fun way to introduce Broadway voices to Darah long before she’s in middle school. There’s a fantastic new CD out called Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project. It has 26 songs sung by some of Broadway’s brightest stars. It is so special and so sweet. I adore it!

It also serves a greater purpose, in that proceeds from this album are going to fight breast cancer so that moms and dads all over the world can be with their little ones even longer, and not let this disease cut their time short.

There’s also a book available, and it has beautiful illustrations of the lullabies as well as a 17 song cd that comes with the book. This book can beautifully integrate story time and song time just before bed (we tend to read and sing before the lights are out at my house, so this is perfect!).

The CD is available for $15 and the book is available for $18.95. You can’t go wrong with either choice; both are absolutely beautiful!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of both the CD and the book from Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project!
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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

A Hop, Skip and a Jump Children’s CD Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Today I’m featuring a CD that has been out for a while now, and has been sweeping up awards left and right, so it’s definitely becoming an instant “classic” in the world of children’s music. It’s called A Hop, Skip and a Jump and it is by Pam Donkin. It is 48 minutes in length, and is loaded with activity songs especially designed for the 1-5 year old crowd. The songs are very easy to sing along to (and of course, to dance to!). 

The CD has won 3 prestigious awards: Parents’ Choice Approved Award, Creative Child Seal of Excellence, and a Children’s Web Award. This is proof that parents and children alike are really impressed with this CD, and they are right to be! I find the music to be just great for getting Darah dancing and moving around, and she loves being able to pick up on the songs so quickly.

This recording comes from the Grandma-owned record label, A Gentle Wind, which has been producing award winning music and stories for kids for over 30 years. They certainly know what they are doing, and they are doing it right!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of A Hop, Skip and a Jump!

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Caspar Babypants Hot Dog! Review and GIVEAWAY!!!!

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Just in time for getting ready for summer fun, Caspar Babypants (also known as Darah’s VERY FAVORITE musical artist) has released yet another rockin’ album! This one is called Hot Dog! and it is chalk full of fun, toe-tappin’ tunes that you are going to love! And your kids will love them, too (promise!). caspar babypants hot dog album cover

This is the 5th album from Caspar Babypants. Just when I think the music can’t get any better, the new albums take me by surprise and raise the bar even higher for what great children’s music should sound like. I’m actually listening to the album as I type this, and Darah’s not even home (she’s at school). Once you hear how great this music is, you won’t judge me for listening to it on my own! 🙂

You can pick up Hot Dog from babypantsmusic.com, as well as on itunes and Amazon. The album retails for $12.99.

Edit: this giveaway is now closed.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Hot Dog!

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Making Silly Faces by In the Nick of Time: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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T here’s a children’s musician who has been on the scene for a while named Nick Deysher, and I’m just now learning about him (I know…how is that possible?!). His band is called In the Nick of Time (get it? Cute, huh?) and on September 6th their fifth studio CD will drop. It’s called Making Silly Faces, and I’ve got the inside scoop for you!

First, let me just say that Nick’s last album, People, Places & Things won a Parents’ Choice Gold award in 2010. That’s a HUGE compliment, and based on what I heard from this latest album, I think the praise is deserved.

I would describe the sound of this group as very eclectic. There’s a little something in there for everyone, for sure. Nick has been influenced by a wide variety of artists and states that, “Careful listeners will hear hints of Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, The Ramones and many others (even Snoop Dogg).”

I think Nick’s varied taste in music shines through in his own contribution to the art. He seems like a very interesting individual. I was shocked (and really excited) to learn that in addition to putting out critically acclaimed music for children, he also is serves as a preschool music specialist 5 days a week AND serves as a program director and teacher at an after school music program for 4 to 7-year-olds. Wow! That is some serious dedication to exposing kids to music!

This is a great addition to our musical collection, and one I would recommend adding to your own. Making Silly Faces runs 37 minutes, and is ideal for ages 2-8. The retail price will be $14.99. You can buy it right here!

Win it!: Before it even hits the stores, one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will snag a copy of Making Silly Faces! The contest will run until August 18th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Nick would love to be friends with you on Facebook! Like him and come back here to tell me you did for your first entry!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Subscribe to Nick’s blog, Singing in the Bathtub.

2. Blogger love: Like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

Be sure to enter the other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of the blog.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary CD for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Caspar Babypants Sing Along CD Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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I think it’s safe to say that Darah has an exceptional collection of children’s music. We have an itunes playlist that just won’t quit, and it plays track after track of absolutely delightful music.

That makes it hard to pick a favorite artist. Very hard. Just short of impossible, I’d say. But somehow, even in the face of so much awesome music, Darah has a top pick.

It’s Caspar Babypants. I reviewed This is Fun! last year (click here to check out the review if you missed it). Caspar Babypants is led by Chris Ballew, who you may better know as the lead singer for The Presidents of the United States of America.

On August 16th, Chris and company will be releasing their fourth children’s album called Sing Along! We’ve been singing and dancing along with this album for a few weeks now, and it is just fantastic! The songs are unique but memorable and the topics are so much fun. I love the great take on the classics Ring Around the Rosie and Ba Ba Black Sheep, as well as the original songs like Helicopter and Bad Blue Jay.

Part of Darah’s love for Caspar Babypants stems from their wonderful collection of music videos on Youtube. I asked Chris if videos were in the works for some of the new material, and he said yes! Now that’s music to this mama’s ears!

Included with my review copy of Sing Along! was a letter from Chris explaining some of the inspiration behind this new album. I thought I’d share a bit of what he had to say with you:

“I began the process of making this fourth album by listening to a bunch of call and response tunes based on old African folk melodies and work songs from early American history. I love how the next line in the song was like an invitation to the listener to sing along and get right into the fabric of the song. I found it to be a super satisfying form to write in and it will most certainly appear on future albums as well.”

“I make this music to help families sing together and relax and opn up and endure stressful times with humor and grace. I feel like I succeeded in that purpose with this record and I look forward to achieving that feeling again and again.”

I can tell you with certainty that he really did succeed in those areas. This is Darah’s favorite album from her favorite band. Way to go, Caspar Babypants, on rising to the top amongst a slew of other really and truly great artists and albums.

Buy it!: Sing Along! will be available on Amazon , iTunes and babypantsmusic.com on August 16th. Be sure to check it out! You can even pre-order (I think!).

Edit: this giveaway is now closed.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your own copy of Sing Along! The contest will run until August 13th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forefeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Check out the Caspar Babypants Youtube channel and tell me which video you like best. You’ll be so glad to have so much fun new stuff to show your kids! 🙂

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Follow Caspar Babypants on Twitter

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of the site.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Toe-Tapping Music for Chilled Out Fun (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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I was recently introduced to one seriously great children’s music performer, Hope Harris. Have you heard of her? Here’s what one critic had to say of her, “Hope Harris combines country and swing with a little touch of show music…Harris has a clear and friendly voice that reminds one of Kate Taylor and Patsy Cline.”

She does, indeed, have a pure and smooth sound, and I found the tracks on her latest album, Cousins Jamboree, to be very easy to pick up and sing along with (jazz hands optional, unless you are me, in which case they are mandatory). Even with all its personality (and it is packed with it), I really like that this album keeps the vibe relaxed. Not sleepy, by any means, but definitely chilled out.

There are also great lessons to glean from each piece. I was really struck by, “Hang on Friend,” which is all about learning how to stand in line and wait your turn. I hadn’t yet thought about that lesson for Darah, and the fact that we aren’t born knowing how to wait our turn for things!

Here’s a new fun video that features the title track from the album!

Buy it!: Cousins Jamboree is available online for $15.00 and is recommended for ages 3-10. It runs a comfortable 42 minutes and has 16 fun songs!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Cousins Jamboree! The contest will run until June 7th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

REMEMBER, YOU MUST BE A PUBLIC FOLLOWER VIA GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT TO BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN A PRIZE. YOU MAY SIGN UP THROUGH MY SIDEBAR IF YOU HAVEN’T DONE SO, ALREADY.

Mandatory entry: Tell me the song your child loves to sing the most right now!

My answer: Skidda ma rinky dinky dink is Darah’s favorite song of the moment!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Like Hope Harris on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need via RSS or email

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my homepage.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary cd for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Every Kid is a Superhero (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Recess Monkey is a super awesome band that plays music that both kids and adults will love (promise!). The Final Funktier is an album I reviewed earlier, and all the tracks pay homage to space in one way or another. Their latest album is called Flying!, and it is all about how every one of us has a superhero inside.

This is a cd to play when you (or more likely, your kids) have energy that they need to burn. We’ve enjoyed listening to it in the late afternoon, after nap time but before dinner. The last time we listened to it, we were inspired to build an indoor fort while we sang and danced. Darah was positively giddy from all the fun!
Flying! will be available for sale on June 21 for $14.99, and is ideal for kids ages 3-8 (and their parents…promise that this cd will have you tapping your toes). It runs 47 minutes. This is definitely the soundtrack for all our little superheroes in training.
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a copy of this cd before they are available to the public! The contest will run until June 3rd at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.
REMEMBER, YOU MUST BE A PUBLIC FOLLOWER OF THIS BLOG VIA GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GIVEAWAY. YOU CAN SIGN UP THROUGH MY SIDEBAR IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO, ALREADY.
Mandatory entry: Tell me your favorite super hero (one with or without a cape!).
My answer: She-Ra!
Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Like Recess Monkey on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my homepage.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.