Music for Moving: Upbeat Children’s Albums for Dancing and Exercising

Grammy Award-winning family artist Dan Zanes returns to his “handmade” music-making with a new release of what he refers to as “21st century, all ages social music”-a spirit-lifting collection of old and new folk tunes, recorded at his Brooklyn-based Festival Five Records studio. Fine musicianship and inclusive, at-home warmth are hallmarks of any Zanes album, and this groovin’ get-together with a host of notable musical friends is no exception.

“Robot Song” (“do the robot shuffle”), “Dance Party” (“move your body up and down…and round and round and round”), “Shake Around” (“when the snow falls down/It makes a blanket on the ground/I shake around….”)-singer-songwriter Michael Napolitano performs simple original songs to encourage the small set to feel the rhythm and move and groove to a rock ‘n roll beat. A former music specialist at The Blue Man Group’s Creativity Center (now the Blue School) in New York, Napolitano is founder of Preschool Rock, a curriculum-based music program designed to adhere to National Association for the Education of Young Children standards.

Hand-clapping, foot-tapping, dancing to global rhythms, healthy messages and lively fun fuel the work of Rachel Sumner, veteran children’s performer, theater artist, singer-songwriter, radio host (“Rachel’s Fun Time”) and arts-in-education expert. Stories on the CD include “Imani’s Trick,” an adaptation of an African folk tale about dancing crabs, a watering hole and how flamingos developed their one-legged stance; and “Chester’s Surprise,” the third installment in a nature series about “Chester the Cheerful Chipmunk.” Sumner urges listeners to make friends “All Around the World,” create a kitchen band (“Cookin’ in the Kitchen”) and “Catch the Reading Bug.” A recurring theme: Encouraging children to think of books as opportunities for adventure and discovery. A particular book-invested group of adults receives a shout-out, too. In “It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me,” a literacy-loving pirate builds libraries as big as castles and supplies librarians with books, raises and eight weeks of vacation. The CD is enhanced with song lyrics and activities.

Engaging, good-for-you pop-style songs with a mild hip-hop beat from The Alphabet Rockers (Kaitlin McGaw, Tommy Shepherd and Stefanie Liang). The messages in the songs, written with “teacher advisors,” are to the point, but delivered with a light and engaging touch. Subjects range from healthy eating (“Eat the Rainbow,” “Food Songs,” “Food Calculator”), literacy (“You Can Write”), phonetics (“Animals From A to Z”) and exercise (the title track). Clever and informative tracks define sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch, underscoring how all five senses work together.

Wheels on the Bus by Groove Kid Nation

This playlist of well known children’s music standards is one of the more creative and fun albums of recent years. Imagine a James Brown or Lauryn Hill record for kids, and you’ll have some idea of what Groove Nation’s debut CD is all about. Producer/keyboardist Rodney Lee has assembled a crew of top session and live musicians who have played in the fields of jazz, soul and funk (with luminaries that range from Ray Charles to Prince), to give unique renditions of many of those children’s music standards, and a few dynamite original tunes.