Yo Gabba Gabba Gabba: YGG Set For a Third Season

Word from Nickelodeon this morning that they've picked up of a third season of Yo Gabba Gabba!. The network will commence production on 13 new half-hour episodes in August for its NOGGIN channel. No word yet on guest stars (though I'm thinking that Seth Rogan is waaaaaay overdue, man) or musical partners in crime. (I wonder what the fact that they're bringing it back for just 13 shows means given that Season Two had 20 shows.) I'm also reminded that they've started a live show gig down in Australia, which makes me wonder why in the world they're not doing that here first. Northern Hemisphere not good enough for Brobee?

Contest: Win Trout Fishing in America's New Book/CD

I already told you about the new book/CD set from Trout Fishing in America, My Name is Chicken Joe. (The set is now set to be released April 21.) Well, now you have a chance to win a copy, courtesy of The Secret Mountain. That's right, one lucky Zooglobble reader will get to curl up with the hardcover book while listening to the 11-song CD featuring tracks from Trout's many kids' CDs. (Or one or the other -- I'm not that prescriptive on what you do with it if you win.) All you need to do is enter a comment below with the craziest (or un-craziest) name for a pet you ever had. One winner will be selected at random; all entries due by midnight east coast time Thursday night. One entry per family, please. And good luck!

It's My Week To Catchup - Cybils Winner Announced. Seven Weeks Ago.

Many ~~weeks~~ months ago, I let you know that nominations were open for the Cybils awards, which does for children's literature what Fids and Kamily does for children's and family music. I was sitting on the Fiction Picture Book judges committee, helped select the winner, and did I let you know what it was? No! I'm a total loser. Mid-February was waaaay busy for me. Anyway, better late than never -- the Fiction Picture Book winner was How To Heal a Broken Wing, written and illustrated by Bob Graham. It's a lovely book, which tells its story with few words but excess grace. Worth tracking down, even seven weeks later.

Baseball Songs (Redux)

Tonight my University of North Carolina Tar Heels will attempt to win another national championship in NCAA Division I men's basketball. Today is also the first full day of Major League Baseball. As sports days go, I can't think of too many better days. Because the number of kids songs about college basketball is pretty short, however, I've provided this slightly updated list of baseball songs. (Read last year's list here.) Enjoy, and may all your teams have a great season. Except if you're in the National League West, because, you know, I'm a Diamondbacks fan. If any of you have more suggestions, leave me a comment.

KidVid Tournament 2009 Final: The Jimmies vs. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

It's time for the championship matchup in KidVid Tournament 2009. From the first round on, I had a pretty good feeling that this is where we'd be. The matchup features the The Jimmies' "Cool To Be Uncool," from their Make Your Own Someday CD and upcoming Trying Funny Stuff DVD, going up against Secret Agent 23 Skidoo's video for "Gotta Be Me" off his debut Easy. Two thoughts: 1) Even if you know who you're going to vote for (and especially if you don't, natch), please watch both videos -- they're each excellent in their own ways. One of the whole purposes of this competition is to encourage folks to listen to and watch kids music they might not have seen before. 2) Every time you vote twice, a little puppy gets dropped on the sidewalk and whimpers. Seriously, y'all, I've put some safeguards to prevent/reduce double-voting, but it's not perfect. All I'm asking is that you remember that this is just a poll for fun on the internet. There are no cash prizes involved. Anyway, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below, but the official results are based on the poll at the bottom of the page. One vote per household, please. Votes due by midnight tonight (Monday) East Coast time. And play nice! The Jimmies - "Cool To Be Uncool"

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo - "Gotta Be Me"

KidVid Tournament 2009: The Jimmies' "Cool To Be Uncool" vs. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo's "Gotta Be Me" ( polls)

My Favorite Kids and Family Songs of 2008

I know, I know -- it's April 2009. What in the world am I doing publishing a list of my favorite kids and family songs of 2008? Because I'm compelled to. (It's on my to-do list and has been for 4 months, darn it!) The time frame here is pretty much exactly 2008 -- so some songs which were from albums left off my list of favorite albums from 2008 because they didn't meet the Nov. 1 - Oct. 31 time frame are added here. Not sure how this would work as a mix CD, but it's still a fine collection of music for the whole family. So, without further ado, in no particular order (all links are to sites with the complete track as of this week in early April 2009)... Barenaked Ladies - "Crazy ABCs" (listen here) Laurie Berkner - "Mouse in My Toolbox" Johnny Bregar - "Two Thumbs Up" Central Services Board of Education - "The Lonely Tomato" (listen here) Frances England - "Spring Has Sprung" Tom Freund - "Hug Trees" (listen here) Kay Hanley - "Chim Chim Cher-ee" (Disney Music Block Party compilation) Jenny Lewis - "Barking at the Moon" (Bolt soundtrack -- listen here) Me 3 - "Apple" (listen here) Medeski, Martin & Wood - "Where's The Music?" The Nields - "Who Are You Not To Shine?" Recess Monkey - "Monster Boogie" (listen here) Justin Roberts - "Fruit Jar" The Roots - "Lovely, Love My Family" (listen here) Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could - "Road Trip" Scribblemonster - "Doing the Right Thing Isn't Always Easy, Doing the Easy Thing Isn't Always Right" Secret Agent 23 Skidoo - "Hot Lava" The Terrible Twos - "Old Man Miller" (listen here) They Might Be Giants - "Seven" (listen/watch here) David Tobocman - "Home" (listen/watch here)