It is easy to get spoiled in this era of instant access. So let's just take a moment to appreciate what Recess Monkey has done. They filmed -- with six cameras -- their latest 54-minute kids show at Seattle's Teatro ZinZanni and put it on the internet for you to watch for free. It's from their "Tambourine Submarine" show this past summer and fall and, in addition, to their high-energy live show, the show features some clowning (beyond Jack's and Drew's and Korum's), hula-dancing, and acrobatics. I'd put the ratio at about 80% Recess Monkey / 20% circus, but close to 100% fun. (Also, props for the '90s and even '80s rock song shout-outs.)
Video: "Snow Day" - Zak Morgan
I don't think we've yet had this year a Snowmageddon or Snowpocalypse or whatever cutesy name you East Coasters and Midwesterners like to give to large snow storms. Still, it never hurts to have your snow-themed videos cued up early. Zak Morgan, with the latest video from his The Barber of the Beasts album, has got your "Snow Day" back. It's as if Tom Waits filmed a video involving a man dressed in a chicken suit at the airport. Likeable even if you got gypped and school was just open 2 hours late.
Zak Morgan - "Snow Day" [Vimeo]
Video: "Baby Born Today" - Elizabeth Mitchell and Friends
I'm obviously a big fan of Elizabeth Mitchell's album of Christmas music, The Sounding Joy. So when you share a video (recorded live) of "Baby Born Today," of course I am going to share it here. Features a bunch of artists besides Mitchell (including Natalie Merchant, Simi Stone, Amy Helm, and Ruthy Unger) giving it their vocal all. As with the entire album, this is not exactly a "kids music video," but it is pretty cool.
Elizabeth Mitchell and Friends - "Baby Born Today" [Vimeo]
Video: "Friends Again" - Lunch Money
After you go all Blues Brothers with your first video, I guess the only option Lunch Money had for their second video was to go small. Their video for "Friends Again," which opens their previous album Original Friend, has the simplest of concepts, matching the reconciliatory theme of the song itself. But it's nicely shot and edited and looks lovely. (Donuts at the end are a nice touch.)
Also: Lucy is a stone-cold comedian. Tina Fey, watch your back.
Lunch Money - "Friends Again" [YouTube]
Video: "Dinosaur" - Lori Henriques
From the first time I heard Lori Henriques' The World Is a Curious Place To Live, her song "Dinosaur," with its wistful (but hopeful) love song for the long-extinct animals was a favorite of mine. Now it has a video worthy of its delicate, thoughtful nature.
It's courtesy of Henriques' brother Joel of Made By Joel, who drew every line of the story. (You can see just a little bit more about how the video was made here.) Really, very much worth your time...
Lori Henriques - "Dinosaur" [YouTube]
Video: "Cocodrilo" - Mister G
Bilingualism for kids is so 2011, right? It's all about design literacy, amiright?
Wait. Are you telling me that bilingualism is still in for kids? But design literacy is too, I swear.
Thank goodness for Mister G, who lets both types of literacy have their day with his new video for "Cocodrilo." The fun design is courtesy of director Leo Antolini and animator Andrea Cingolani. Kinetic bilingual typography for the win!
Mister G - "Cocodrilo" [YouTube]
