Where the wild things are

This is the music from the ballet version of "Where the wild things are". I've been a fan of the book since I was a kid, even though it terrified me then and still does now, there's something about the illustrations that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The first time I read it for Isabelle there was sweat running down my spine and I was regretting having brought it into the house - it seems I succeeded in masking my fear though because it was a big favourite of hers for a while.

Anyway it occurred to me that it'd make great source material for a ballet and so I googled "wild things ballet" and it turned out someone had already written one. Bah. It's not exactly what I'd have done, but it is good. Not really what you'd expect kids to be into, given that it's contemporary classical music and therefore kinda discordant and weird-sounding and not exactly singalongable, but it's got lots of rhythmic intrigue and Isabelle digs it

World Playground

Child-friendly music from 5 continents, including Cedella Marley's version of Bob's "Three little birds", an aboriginal version of "Waltzing Matilda", Manu Chao's "Bongo bong" and lots more. Like most Putumayo Kids stuff it's pretty gentle, and though I (and, more often than not, the kids) tend to prefer stronger flavours this is good and very good in places. One of Niamh's favourites.

Putumayo Kids presents Brazilian Playground

At first I thought this was insipid, but now I've gotten fond of it. It's quite gentle, but all the tunes have these cool danceable little Brazilian rhythms. Tuneful too, and Heather really likes it. Nice!

Beethoven's Wig 2

More funny/silly lyrics set to classical favourites. This is just as good as the first one, amusing enough for me to sit down and listen the whole way through, chuckling away to myself.

"When you're an opera star
With a large repertoire
How do you please the crowd?
Sing Verdi very loud!"

Juice Box Heroes - Imagination Movers

Funky, commercial, clean-sounding American pop/rock, with some hip-hop and ska flavours and lots of "HEY!"s. It drags a bit in parts (mostly on the more straight up rock songs), but when they bring on the horn section and turn up the funkiness it's tremendous danceable fun.

Rocket Ship Beach - Dan Zanes and friends

I like this a lot. Mostly acoustic, old-timey sounding kids songs with acoustic guitars and double bass. Both traditional (American nursery rhymes and the like) and originals, mixed in with a bit of a West Indian vibe here and there. Like 'O Brother Where Art Thou' with some extra spices. Some cameos from more famous artists, like Suzanne Vega and Sheryl Crow, but it'd be just as good without them.

Hallelujah Handel

One of the Classical Kids series. The basic format for these is some kind of narrative with music from the featured composer interwoven with the text (sometimes in the background, sometimes in the foreground). The story here is Handel and someone called Caterina reminiscing about an orphan called Thomas who, when they meet him, won't talk but will only sing.

Not as good as "Beethoven lives upstairs" in the same series (which you can buy here, along with other children's classical music) - it's a little bit overacted and the story isn't as compelling - but there's some good music on here and the story is diverting enough. Kept Isabelle amused for an hour in the car.