Classic Folk Songs for Kids (preview) - Various Artists

Classic Folk Songs for Kids cover

Artist: Various Artists (Smithsonian Folkways)

Album: Classic Folk Songs for Kids

Description: Just a few months ago, I wrote for the Smithsonian that it was about time for Volume 2 of Smithsonian Folkways Children's Music Collection.  Well, they've sort of done that now in this, the 26th entry in Folkways' "Classic Series." The playlist -- artists and songs -- itself is certainly classic.  Go to the link below to hear Pete Seeger, Bess Hawes, and Tom Glazer sing "Polly Wolly Doodle" and Elizabeth Mitchell sing Woody Guthrie's classic "Riding in the Car."

Source: Smithsonian Folkways

"Pie" - Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

Artist: Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

Song: "Pie"

Album: N/A

Description: A celebration of all things sweet and crusty.  OK, just one type of sweet and crusty thing.  Featuring, as Rymer puts it, "tasty slide guitar by Larry Campbell."  The sort of bluesy, gooey Americana that Rymer and his band do so well.

Source: Bandcamp

All Kinds of You and Me - Alastair Moock

All Kinds of You and Me album cover

Artist: Alastair Moock

Album: All Kinds of You and Me

Description: Pssssst.  Would you like to hear the latest album from Alastair Moock, who was nominated for a Grammy for his last kids' album, Singing Our Way Through?  Yes, I thought so.  All Kinds of You and Me is a tribute of sorts to the classic Free To Be You and Me, and already has a sweet, Key Wilde-animated video for the leadoff track "It Takes All Kinds."  Worth your time to give it a spin.

Source: Bandcamp

"Mama" - Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips

Mama - single cover

Artist: Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips

Song: "Mama"

Album: Forthcoming

Description: Another jumble of styles from King Jumbler himself Mista Cookie Jar.  This midtempo bouncer is autobiographical, telling the story of how his parents emigrated from the Philippines to America, but it's primarily a love song to his mom (and, therefore, of broader interest than just to those fans of one of kindie's most interesting characters).

Source: Bandcamp

Pants! - The Alphabeticians

Artist: The Alphabeticians

Album: Pants!

Description: Maybe you don't really need to know anything else other than the title to the Portland duo's latest album is, indeed, "Pants!," and yes, that exclamation point is part of the title.  That may drive some of you away, while other families will be pulled in by the lure of that title (and exclamation point).  The choice, friends, is up to you.  (If you do want to listen to one track before you decide, I'd recommend #11 ("RainbowwobnaiR").

Source: Bandcamp

The Perfect Quirk - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

Artist: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

Album: The Perfect Quirk

Description: The undisputed king of kid-hop, Skidoo's latest album is a little mellower, a little less self-empowering than some of his other work.  In my review of the album, I noted that I liked it, just not quite as much as some of his other albums.  Still worth checking out, though.

Source: Bandcamp

Full Moon, Full Moon - Papa Crow

Artist: Papa Crow

Album: Full Moon, Full Moon

Description: It's been three years (and an EP) later since Michigan's Jeff Krebs (aka Papa Crow) released his well-loved debut Things That Roar, but this week sees the release of the full-length follow-up.  Fans of the debut will hear a familiar gently playful folk sound, with some familiar artists like Frances England making an appearance.

Source: Bandcamp

How To Be a Cloud - Kira Willey

Artist: Kira Willey

Album: How To Be a Cloud

Description: The forthcoming third album from the Pennsylvania-based Willey follows the format of her first two albums -- light kindie pop that's dually purposed in the second half as the basis for yoga moves.  I've streamed the kindie pop tracks below, but you can go ahead and listen to the yoga tracks, too.

Source: Soundcloud