Various Artists - Toddlers Sing Rock 'N' Roll - Music & Performance - CD

Music for Little People maintains a catalog of audio recordings designed especially for children. Most of the collections in the Toddlers Sing series are chock-full of songs aimed at tiny tots, like "Itsy Bitsy Spider," "Polly Put the Kettle On" and "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe." Toddlers Sing Sunday School (which includes a version of "Dese Bones Gonna Rise Again") and Toddlers Sing Storytime are each specifically recommended for ages two through seven. Everything else in the Toddlers Sing series is intended for general use, including the amusement of doting adults, which seems to be most of the idea behind Toddlers Sing Rock 'N' Roll. The cutesy formula employed throughout this series becomes more challenging as whiny little voices try and navigate songs originally geared for young adults. The most successful tracks involve tunes of greater substance and root funkiness, like "Turn It Around," "ABC," "La Bamba" and its offshoot, "Twist and Shout." Several of the other numbers come off as more irritating than cute. Some parents, older relatives, or adult guardians may feel that what young people really need to hear is a wide range of good music rather than an exclusive diet of goofy kitsch. Those who subscribe to this philosophy may want to opt for MFLP's 20 Great Kid Songs, an anthology of friendly tunes sung by substantial artists like Buckwheat Zydeco, the Persuasions, Michelle Shocked, Taj Mahal, Los Lobos, Sweet Honey in the Rock and Donovan Leitch, whose "I Love My Shirt" belongs in every nursery. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide