Wouldn't It Be Great If There Was A Video About Tricycles?

Why, yes, yes it would. Frances England's got herself a spiffied-up website and a video and slideshow to boot. Now if only Lunch Money and the Jellydots would jump in with videos for their awesome three- and two-wheeled songs...

The New York Times Tells You What To Think...

... with a little help from The Lovely Mrs. Davis.

Tammy La Gorce has YAKMA (Yet Another Kids Music Article) in the New York Times about the nurturing of musical taste in the under-5 set.

Amy provides thoughtful context for the rash of new music for kids -- you can decide for yourself whether that's "rash" in a good or a bad way.

If you're finding your way here thanks to Amy's kind linkage, feel free to look around. Plenty of reviews, another interview with Dan Zanes, info about Kevin Salem's and Kate Hyman's Little Monster Records, and lots of news.

Just one link you might not be familiar with -- my recent review of The Family Hootenanny, a collection of kid-friendly songs from Detroit artists. Check it out -- you won't be disappointed.

I Spent, Like, Five Minutes On a New Logo...

... and if you want to see it, you'll have to head over to Zooglobble's new Myspace page.

I think you'll agree that I have no future as a graphic designer.

I'd been thinking for a while about setting up a page (because, hey, I think this social networking trend might have staying power), so last month I created the account and have been slowly adding "friends," or, as I like to call them, "kids' musicians and associates I am or am not familiar with". I really don't know what I'll use the page for -- I still expect to post all the good stuff here -- but maybe I'll put that mp3 player there to good use. (And by the way, I can also host mp3s here, too.)

The number of kids' musicians on Myspace has really grown over the past year, even though, as Scribble Monster puts it, "MySpace IS NO PLACE FOR A KID! RUN TO A SAFE PLACE LIKE ScribbleTown!" Just another sign of how parents are taking a greater interest in kids' music. (Or maybe how 6-year-olds are way ahead of me when it comes to social networking.)

That Bar's Getting Longer...

Time I expanded the sidebar links. You're probably familiar with many of these, but if not, explore a bit...

Maybe you're familiar with the Fids and Kamily Awards? (OK, yeah, you probably are.) Anyway, there's a new link there. I've been tallying votes, and I'm really excited about the list.

Kids Music Sites: I've added Eric Herman's fine Cool Tunes for Kids website, on which he wears a reviewers' hat and a musician's outfit, or some other mixed metaphor like that.

Radio Shows: Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child will always be the #1 radio show around here, but in case you need a kids' music fix during the week, you can listen to Gooney Bird Kids or Loopy Moose Radio as well. I've also updated the Greasy Kid Stuff link to note their new playlist location.

Stores: Amazon and CD Baby you know about. If you're looking for a more selective list, the Land of Nod has a decent selection of kids' music online (and has the occasional podcast from artists like Justin Roberts and Dan Zanes), while the Pokey Pup has a good selection.

KidLit: You think it's hard listening to all sorts of new kids and family music from across the country? Imagine the amount of stuff that people who review literature for kids have to wade through. There are tons of sites out there, so start with Big A little a, A Fuse #8 Production, and Book Buds and start from there.
(Oh, and did you know they've got an end-of-the-year award process, too? See the Cybils for more.)

Other Stuff of General Parental Interest: I like the writing at Cynical Dad, Daddy Types, Family Man Online, and Neal Pollack's The Maelstrom. I just felt like I should goose their Google numbers ever so slightly.

Land of Dan Zodcast...

Or, rather, a new Land of Nod Nodcast Podcast, this time with Dan Zanes. The 20-minute podcast includes a new podcast theme song (Bill, why stop at They Might Be Giants?), Dan's vote for "Best Barbara Brousal Song" and "Best Instrument To Start A Family Band With," and sound effects galore.