Maestro Classics - The Tortoise and The Hare CD Review

I had no idea the original Tortoise and Hare fable was so short.  I also had no idea the tale was centuries old.  I mean, I knew it was older than me, but 2000 years!  

Those are just two of the tidbits I picked up while enjoying Maestro Classics' new Stories in Music CD "The Tortoise and The Hare".  With music from the little outfit known as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, this CD is a delight from start to finish.

The Bear was entranced from the start of the nearly-21 minute story.  The dramatic retelling of the familiar fable, combined with the spirited orchestral score is a big winner.  Steven Simon, the composer of the music on The Tortoise and The Hare, has one track all to himself to explain his instrumental decisions and other fascinating musical intricacies in the piece.  Back in college, I once learned that there is nothing accidental in fiction writing and the same is true of classical composition.  It's exciting for both adult and child to learn why particular instruments where selected for the Tortoise's "theme" music and how Mr. Simon made French-sounding music to accompany Hare's visit to Mrs. Beaver's bistro.  Again, nothing at all accidental about the sounds you're hearing throughout the piece.  In less than 5 minutes, you'll learn so much, in a peeling back the curtain sorta way, that your next listen of The Tortoise and the Hare story will be greatly enhanced.  The concept of this kind of track, and the execution of it here, is my favorite part of the CD.



A good story is always appreciated in our house, and well, it should go without saying that we're also a music lovin' bunch.  This disc satisfies both of these cravings and does so with a style and an educational component that is highly welcome and enjoyable.

Buy The Tortoise and the Hare CD from Amazon.com

*The Maestro Classics "The Tortoise and The Hare" CD was provided to OWTK for review. The opinions expressed above are unbiased and true - no arm twisting took place in the review process.

WorryWoos are so TODAY

OWTK has been covering the WorryWoos from the start (hi Nola!).   You remember, those adorable, beautifully illustrated books and snuggly plush monsters of emotion?  

Today the world, or at least those who watch morning TV, discovered 'em too.  

The WorryWoo Monsters were featured on NBC's The Today Show (holy cow!) this morning.  The nation saw Squeek and Rue, heard about The Monster in the Bubble Book and learned a bit about the idea behind the Woos.  

Watch the NBC Today Show Unique Toys for Kids segment featuring the WorryWoo Monsters here.

Check out all the WorryWoo coverage here on OWTK, including my interview with WorryWoo author/illustrator Andi Green.

More Fun iPhone Apps for Kids

Little Cook - A silly little game for Daddy (or Mommy's) little sous chef.  My kids love to help me prepare and cook food and now they can get their fill even when the family kitchen is closed.  With the Little Cook app, kids can make a salad, eggs, pizza, soup, sandwiches or an ice cream sundae using a variety of ingredients.  Make a delicious dessert and receive kudos from the a little girl taste-tester, combine blueberries, cheese and pepperoni into an omlete and hear her provide some funny, gentle negative feedback.  Little Cook is a very fun, easy to use app perfect for little foodies and well worth the $.99. Download Little Cook now.  Want this app for free plus an iTunes Gift Card? Enter your child in the Little Cook Photo Contest.  Details here.


Picpocket Books - a monster iPhone app book publisher, now with 17 book apps!  We have Tire Mountain and Cucumber Soup, and both are fantastic.  The amazing this about these books is the repeat usage my daughters get out of them.  I would've thought that maybe 1 or 2 listens/views and they'd be forgotten about, but no, the Bear and Mouse cuddle up with Tire Mountain and Cucumber Soup, a story of community and working together as told through ants, snakes and other creatures, once every week or so. 

StoryChimes - another giant in iPhone book apps, StoryChimes (Siena Entertainmint) currently has 13 books and 1 free matching game for kids.  We've got a pair of Brothers Grimm tales - Little Red Riding Hood and The Queen Bee.  Little Red Riding Hood is a treat.  It's a faithful retelling of the famous story, and wins with impressive illustrations by John Haney.  The Queen Bee, however, is less enjoyable.  None of us like the story and the sound/reading of it here is quite poor.  The free matching game is a hoot.

Skee-Ball - Maybe the best way I've ever spent a buck.  So much fun and realistic skee-ball action, without the dirty gym sock arcade smell and apathetic prize counter employees.  Yes, there are prizes with this game!  No, they haven't figured out a way to send tickets out the bottom of the iPhone (give 'em time!) but you can win lollipops, kazoos and cool fancy skee balls that can be used in-game.  Skee-Ball is an awesome game, now it's an awesome app. Get in now.


*The Little Cook, Picpocket Books and StoryChimes apps were all provided to OWTK for review. The opinions expressed above are unbiased and true - no arm twisting took place in the review process.  I spent my own $.99 on Skee-Ball.

They Might Be Giants - Kids Go! Book Review and Giveaway

Not content with simply dominating the kiddie music world, They Might Be Giants have recently released their 2nd sing-along book (Nov 3rd, from Simon & Schuster).  

Titled "Kids Go!", it's a book designed for action - jumping, shaking and, well, go, go, going!  The simple text isn't going to blow you away but it will, combined with energetic illustrations from Pascal Campion, undoubtedly have your kids leaping off the sofa and springing up like a human jack-in-the-box.  

"Kids Go!" is as much fun as a barrel of monkeys.

Oh, I almost forgot!  The book comes with an animated TMBG video on DVD - sweet!

*Kids Go! was provided to OWTK for review. The opinions expressed above are unbiased and true - no arm twisting took place in the review process.

Want a copy of "Kids Go!"?

Go, Go, GO! on over to OWTK's GIVEAWAY SITE for your chance to win "Kids Go!" from They Might Be Giants.  

Hurry, this giveaway ends...at some point.

Doomed to Dance - Ivy & Bean Book Review

I reckon there is a healthy debate over which series of books rule the roost for the 5-9 female demographic.  Junie B. Jones is sure to have her legion of supporters, as will The Baby-sitters Club and The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids, but it's a pair of 7 year old ladies that intrigue my girls the most.

Ivy & Bean, a relatively young series, has just released it's 6th book - Doomed to Dance.  It's a riotous affair in which our two heroins beg to attend ballet class before quickly releasing the error of their ways.  The bulk of the tale focuses on the ways in which Ivy & Bean scheme to avoid the end-of-class dance production to be held in front of friends, family and, worse of all, classmates.

Annie Barrows' writing in the series has never been sharper or funnier.  There were several moments in Doomed to Dance where the Bear and I were in tears laughing.  Barrows reaches for humor that works on multiple levels but never at the expense of emotion or civility (yeah, I'm talking 'bout you Junie B.)  Her writing is truly top-notch. 

Seeing as how the Ivy & Bean series is only up to 6 books, it's still really easy to get caught up with the two girls (*the books can definitely be read individually as there is no running story arc that is essential to understanding any particular book in the series). I cannot recommend Doomed to Dance, and the entire Ivy & Bean series of books, enough to anyone with girls ages 5-10. 

Read the OWTK review of the 1st 3 Ivy & Bean books here.

*All the Ivy & Bean books, including "Doomed to Dance", were provided to OWTK for review. The opinions expressed above are unbiased and true - no arm twisting took place in the review process.

Rita and Whatsit

A snappy little girl and a dog without a proper name take centerstage in this new-ish series of books from author Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vignod and illustrator Olivier Tallec.  Currently there are 3 volumes available from Chronicle Books, although it appears there were some previously published editions dating back to 2007 - all of which can be had from Amazon.com.

The 1st book, simply titled Rita and Whatsit is the strongest of the bunch.  It's here we discover how this curious dog first came into Rita's life.  We also learn a ton about Rita's, um, feisty, personality.  Rita's got a bit of an attitude.  Seems she's in a mood as the story begins, but it's nothing malacious or inappropriate for young ears - in fact, her 'tude is rather hilarious.  From the 1st read, this book became an instant hit with my girls (5.5 and 2.5 if your keeping score at home).


Tallec's pencil drawings are stark and very appealing - they captured the attention of my young kids.  The b&w images of Rita and her pup are spiced up only with splashes of orange and may remind some of comic strips in the funny papers.

The other two Rita and Whatsit books, At the Beach and Christmas with Rita and Whatsit, are both pleasant and at times funny, but both failed to generate as much enthusiasm from my girls as the original book did.  When they want to hear some Rita and Whatsit, we usually go back to that 1st one.

*All 3 Rita and Whatsit books were provided to OWTK for review. The opinions expressed above are unbiased and true - no arm twisting took place in the review process.

A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas

A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas is a madcap mash-up of Where the Wild Things Are, Candyland and The Nutcracker.  It's a super cool romp through the world of imagination, the depths of which are best explored sans electronic distractions.

Ralph Covert (of kiddie rock band Ralph's World) and G. Reilly Mills have penned a remarkable tale of adventure, heroism and the creative power that lies between a child's ears.  They've also crafted a beautiful, mystical method to explain exactly how toys become toys before ending up in Santa's big red bag.   

Wilson Swain's illustrations fill each page to the brim without ever managing to overwhelm the eyes.  A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas features truly delicious eye candy artwork - and not just the barbershop pole peppermint trees of Christmas Wood!

A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas is an instant holiday classic.

The book also comes with a bonus CD, on which Mr. Covert reads the story - my girls listen to this on repeat, in between the Mrs. and I reading the book itself.  The Bear has declared A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas "her favorite book!".  Also on the disc are a handful of kid's rock songs based on the story, including Covert's wonderful "Welcome to Christmas Wood", but not all the tunes hit the mark.  Visit Chronicle Books A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas page to hear samples of all the CD's tracks and to download an activity sheet from illustrator Wilson Swain.

A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas had it's genesis in the theater.  The story was originally set as a musical, and viola! it is again this holiday season.  Catch the show at the Emerald City Theater (running from 11/14/09 - 1/2/10) in Covert's hometown of Chicago, IL.

Catch Ralph's World live, which is also a treat...anytime of year.

*A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas was provided to OWTK for review. The opinions expressed above are unbiased and true - no arm twisting took place in the review process.

The Monster in the Bubble

The Monster in the Bubble is the 3rd and finest installment in the WorryWoo Monster series of books by New Jersey author and illustrator Andi Green.

The series is centered around emotions - Nola is lonely, Rue is insecure and Squeek, the pink hero of The Monster in the Bubble, well, he's locked himself inside a comfort zone.  He (that's right, a boy who's pink - gasp!) shares tendencies with many of us - whether it's something huge like being afraid to chase down a dream or something everyday-ish like frequenting chain restaurants to avoid the risk of the unknown and a potential bad meal (instead, we settle for a mediocre one we're familiar with).  Sometimes, we all need a push to try new things and strive for greatness - Squeek is no different.

The beauty of Ms. Green's writing is the simplicity in which the message is delivered.  Never feeling preachy or even remotely coming off as high and mighty, she conveys some basic humanity through her adorable Worrywoo Monsters and their engaging stories.  Monster in the Bubble, like the two previous books in the series, features breathtaking watercolor illustrations that my young girls simply fawn over, the books (and the plush dolls) are certainly easy on the eyes, and text that sounds great read aloud.

What sets this new book apart is the bubble itself, the additional character that is capable of moving the plot in a fascinating direction.  It's the bubble that realizes Squeek's self-imposed limitations and, as a result, it's the bubble that makes the difficult decision that forces Squeek to confront his fears of a new life lived with risk but also one filled with adventure and new experiences.  It's a clever trick - giving life to the bubble - one that pays huge dividends in the heart-tugging department. 



With the holidays coming up, I really cannot recommend The Monster in the Bubble enough for families with kids in the 3-7 age range.  Buy the book and the doll and expose a child to a lovely read and introduce them to an awesome collection of friendly, cute monsters who help make sense of the emotions we sometimes struggle to understand.



*California/Nevada readers take note: WorryWoo author/illustrator Andi Green is doing a series of readings, in numerous cities in those 2 states.  The readings began yesterday (11/6) and continue through November 15th.  Check out her schedule here and then go hear The Monster in the Bubble and pick up a signed 1st edition copy of the book.


"The Monster in the Bubble" was provided to OWTK for review. The opinions expressed above are unbiased and true - no arm twisting took place in the review process.

Toon Books - Comics for Kids

I was never a fan of comics.

Growing up, I think I was the only boy not reading Spiderman or, later on, Spawn. Despite my under appreciation of the style, I spotted some really cool looking comic-esque hardback books at my local library and recently took home 4 of 'em:

Otto's Orange Day
Silly Lilly
Benny and Penny (Just Pretend)
Stinky

All 4 are Toon Books, a series of high-quality comics designed for young children. My girls really got a kick out of Stinky (by Eleanor Davis) and his pet frog Wartbelly. The story is fast paced and extremely enjoyable to read aloud. The illustrations are really eye catching and attention holding - top-notch stuff.

They also liked Benny and Lenny in Just Pretend by Geoffrey Hayes. The book captures the little sister/big brother dynamic pretty much perfectly. Silly Lilly by Agnes Rosensteihl is a level 1 book with short, simple sentences describing Lilly's favorite activities throughout the 4 seasons - it's ideal for new readers. Otto's Orange Day is a "be careful what you wish for" cautionary tale, and also quite good. I think fans of comics will love sharing these books with their kids and I'm proof that Toon Books can be enjoyed by those not typically enamored with comic book style.

I'm really excited for more Toon Books, including the new Little Mouse, which is available with a handmade plush toy (if you've got a spare $75 laying around).

Squeek Party!

While the kindie music world is converging on Austin, Texas this weekend, OWTK will be rockin' out in rainy Hoboken, New Jersey.

This afternoon is the launch party for the newest WorryWoo Monster SQUEEK!

An Ivy & Bean Tease

Ivy & Bean Book 6 Doomed to Dance will hit bookstore shelves in just about a month. As a family we're rather excited, because the 1st 5 Ivy & Bean books have been pretty much stellar. Check out this teaser video for the next installment:



OWTK will have a proper review of the book early next month, along with information on Ivy & Bean Day (Nov. 7th) events at bookstores and libraries nationwide.

The Best Trailer for a Book Ever

He is Bold. He is Pink...and he is here! We're giddy about the arrival of Squeek, the latest WorryWoo Monster to get the book treatment.

Check out this amazing video for The Monster in the Bubble. Then head over to the WorryWoo website and pick up a copy. If you're in the NY/NJ/PA/CT area, stop by the W Hotel in Hoboken on October 3rd for The Monster in the Bubble Launch Party!

Horse Crazy "The Silver Horse Switch" - Kid's Book Review

The first volume of a new series of books is likely to have several goals but none more prominent than to stoke enough interest in a young reader to keep 'em coming back for more. To that extent, book 1 of the newish Horse Crazy series, "The Silver Horse Switch" (by Alison Lester, from Chronicle Books), shines!

Not only do the Bear and I eagerly await future books in the series, but we already have a crystal clear picture of life on the small Aussie farm, the personalities of the two lead characters (Sam and Bon) and the makeup of the silver brumby that swapped places with a horse wishing to answer the call of the wild.

The pace of Horse Crazy "The Silver Horse Switch" is superb. The writing moves briskly between scenes and the arc of the story is extremely exciting. My 5-year wanted to stay up WAY past her bedtime and not just for the sake of staying up WAY past her bedtime, but rather because she was so engrossed in the story and simply refused to retire before it's climax.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Roland Harvey's pastel watercolors that are inserted every few pages. They're quite pleasant, aiding the telling of the story very well.

Like Ivy & Bean, Horse Crazy should be right in the wheelhouse of most 5-8 year old kids. Thanks to books like Horse Crazy, I'm witnessing the dawn of an honest to goodness book lover.

iStoryTime iPhone App for Kids

There's been a fair amount of hubbub in the press recently over how much time, if any, a child should have with their parent's iPhone. Generally speaking, I'm anti-electronic devices for kids, but even I enjoy letting the Bear and Mouse handle my 1st generation iPhone occasionally. They play a variety of kid-friendly apps that I've selected, downloaded and tested. They do this in the home only, laying in bed or sitting next to dad during a televised sporting event. They never touch the thing in the car, in a restaurant or anywhere else outside the home.

Excessive use of such toys outside of the house is the main reason for my negative view of handheld devices (and in-car DVD players for that matter). I think that kids need to keep their heads up. That's a broad, slightly vague statement, I know. What I mean is this: young people need to develop observation skills. They need to learn how to participate in a conversation over a meal. These are skills I feel modern children lack, and I blame those freakin' portable games...and the parents who roll over.

So we practice responsible iPhone-ing. The Bear loves eBook apps best of all. Her current favorites are all from the application developer iStoryTime. Their book "Wiener Dog Magnet" is one of the funniest little stories I've seen/heard/read. It ever gets old - the Bear & I crack up everytime we read/hear it. In "Wiener Dog Magnet" we see what happens when a cute little monkey named Kiki Marie buys a magnet shaped like a Wiener Dog. A brilliantly funny book that works so very well as an iPhone app.

iStoryTime apps cost $1.99 each, which may seem high in a world where most apps are $.99. However, considering you'd spend $10 or so for a kid's book on CD, the $2 ends up being a fair price for a combination audio book and visual picture book. Unlike other kiddie book apps we've tried, the iStoryTime books provide for 2 distinct narrator options, an adult or a young girl. The latter makes the books extremely engaging, as her cadence and pacing of the stories is wonderful. Our fondness for the iStoryTime apps may boil down to them having a child-as-narrator. That young lady is outstanding.

iStoryTime has a handful of quality eBook apps available right now, with tons more on the way (including a story of Kirk Gibson's HR in the '88 World Series - one of my fave childhood memories that still gives me goosebumps). While none of the others we own are quite as awesome as "Wiener Dog Magnet", they're still rather enjoyable.

Here are the others we like:
"Binky the Pink Elephant" tells the story of why it's important to be yourself and not go out of your way to blend in with the crowd. Although it's a theme that has been done before, it is one that really can't be stressed enough for young people (and homogenized adults as well).

"Go Out! Go Out!" encourages kids to get outside and smell the smells, see the sights that the world has to offer. A worthwhile message told with clever rhymes and interesting illustrations.

Check out the iStoryTime site, where you can listen to all the titles I've discussed here and get a taste for the bounty of new eBook offerings coming soon.

Are You Ready for Baby? - OWTK Kid's Book Review

Swine Flu be damned!

The latest book from Barney Saltzberg (Good Egg) examines the frustration and joy of having a new baby added to your household, through the lens of an adorable piggy family. Satlzberg captures the big brother/new baby dilemma perfectly in "Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for Baby?".

Cornelius P. Mud is a former only-child, now big brother, who wants so badly for his new lil' bro to do something...anything!

He's a bright, energetic piglet who quickly learns all the things his new kid brother cannot do. As a way of getting to the bottom of this hole baby thing, Cornelius asks his mum a variety of questions about the tiny pig who has invaded his turf. He inquires about his brother's ability to walk, talk and eat pizza. Eventually he comes to terms with the reality that babies can do a whooping 4 things (eat, sleep, poop and cry).

As Cornelius asks these questions of his mother, he imagines the proposed actions. Saltzberg's illustrations during this Q&A session are fantastic & hilarious, especially the construction vehicle feeding baby an enormous slice of pizza.

In the end, Cornelius discovers that while the wait for a new playmate can be a tad boring, the idea of being a big brother is lovely on it's own. The book should serve a nice read for any family who has recently or is about to add a new member.

"Are You Ready for Baby" is one in a series of Cornelius P. Mud books. You're also able to discover if Cornelius is "Ready for Bed" and "Ready for School".

The Ivy & Bean Secret Treasure Box - OWTK Kid's Book Review

The Ivy & Bean's Secret Treasure Box is the ideal way for a young reader to dive headstrong into the world of Ivy and Bernice (Bean). This tidy set includes the 1st three books in the popular series and a 4th "book" that is actually a secret hiding spot for a cool little Ivy & Bean diary (included).

Despite it's tempting fonts, stylish argyle covers and wickedly cool illustrations, I was a little apprehensive about starting the Ivy & Bean series. My oldest is a 5-year-old gal who still enjoys the infantile Maisy books, so I was in absolutely no hurry to usher in older (yet sometimes more juvenile) situations, words and behavior. I accept that such material may be a part of the growing up process for a 6, 7, 8-year-old but again, I found myself in no hurry to be the catalyst for it.

After reading the 1st Ivy & Bean book, most of my, call 'em fears, proved a bit over-reactionary. Yeah, Bean is a bit of a name caller, her big sis drops a 'booger-head' or two as well, and there's some light trespassing activity but really this is all just good, relatively harmless childhood fun through the eyes of a pair of precocious 7-year-old girls.

For the first half of the first book we discover Ivy only through the eyes of Bean, who perceives her neighbor in a negative light and, despite her mother's constant prodding, refuses to interact with her. Eventually, however, the girls do meet and the imaginary wall Bean constructed begins to crumble. The girls quickly find themselves inseparable and thus the series is born. The first book is a fantastic set up of the friendship, while the 2nd begins the series' pattern of zeroing in with a focused, self-contained story.

While each of the first 3 books in the series is outstanding on their own, the finest moment of the set comes late in "Ivy & Bean Set The Fossil Record", the 3rd book. In an attempt to set a world record in something, anything, and impress their classmates, the girls convince themselves that the bones too-easily discovered in the yard are those of dinosaurs. As a crowd gathers to inspect their junior paleontology, Ivy is unfazed. Bean, however, reacts quite differently. It's at this juncture that Bean understands a primary difference between herself and her BFF. She sees that for someone like Ivy, who is generally unaffected by the opinions of others, life must often be lead in a kind of solitude. Loneliness can be the trade-off for being fiercely independent.



This moment in the series marks an important introspective moment for Bean. She must come to grips with her fears of embarrassment and do so without the understanding or support of Ivy, who experiences none of it. Throughout these books, the development of the two primary characters is fantastic, climaxing right here towards the finish of the the third installment. As the series unfolds we learn more of Ivy & Bean's innocently-deviant ways, thoughts and desires through some lovely, delicate writing that shows, equally, the joys and frustrations of being a young girl.

The 4th "book" is the The Top Secret Treasure Box. It's a hollow book with a little nook containing a mini-journal/diary. The facade should prove the perfect hiding spot, allowing your girl to keep her private thoughts out of the hands of pesky brothers and sisters.

With the release of "Doomed to Dance" later this year, the Ivy & Bean series, which has sold more than 1/2 million books to date (yikes!), will be up to a 1/2 dozen books.

Don't delay, pick up The Ivy & Bean's Secret Treasure Box set now and start playing catch up on this wonderful series for girls ages 5-9.

World Almanac For Kids Kingergarten Skills Puzzler Deck - OWTK Kid's Book Review

The Bear absolutely LOVES this puzzler deck! She's entering Kindergarten in less than 2 months and continues to be a sponge for knowledge. There are 75 double-sided puzzler cards here - if she were the nation's book czar there'd be 750!

The World Almanac for Kids Kindergarten Skills deck is just as super handy for a summer vacation plane/car ride as it is for snuggling in bed (which is how we worked through 80% of the questions).

With an age range of 3-5, some of the puzzlers are very basic for a girl about to enter kindergarten. At the same time others gave her pause and posed a bit of a challenge, especially for my daughter who is not nearly as proficient with time & money (just like mommy, who is always late and spending too much!) as she is in, say, spelling.

Puzzler topics range from basic spelling and vocab to spotting colors, vegetables and patterns to organizing letters alphabetically and digits numerically.

What I love most about these puzzler decks is the bright, playful hard-card format. Instead of a dependency on pencil and paper, a child is forced to work through the problems in their mind. Additionally, I was able to derive a couple more questions on just about each card. So really, we got closer to 200 pre-K/K appropriate questions out of this 75 card set.

The Kindergarten skills set is just one of many in this series. There are a handful of World Almanac Puzzler Decks for each age group (3-5, 5-7, 7-9, 9-11 and 11-13) covering the topics of Science, Math, Reading/Phonics, Geography/State/History and Vocabulary.

The World Almanac for Kids Puzzler Decks are a perfect way to make learning easy, fun and portable.

Look Out, Jeremy Bean! - OWTK Kid's Book Review

From acclaimed children's author Alice Schertle and illustrator David Slonim (He Came With The Couch) comes a new chapter book filling the void of such volumes for the pre-reader, 4-7 age group.

Look Out, Jeremy Bean! is a collection of 3 loosely tied together stories, each consisting of 4-6 unnumbered chapters. It's a quick, but highly enjoyable book to read aloud to kindergartners and younger children who've demonstrated the ability to take pleasure in books that are more word-heavy, with minimal (less than 1 per page) accompanying illustrations.

Throughout the 3 stories, we learn of Jeremy's multiple problems and the way he uses creativity and a very active imagination to solve 'em all. Be it dust bunnies under his bed, a lack of a green attire on St. Patty's Day or his quest to start a unique personal collection, Jeremy Bean has a knack for finding humorous and inventive ways to make the best of any situation.

The Bear (age 5 1/4) loved our first read of Look Out, Jeremy Bean! She took pleasure most of all in Jeremy's misunderstanding of the term dust bunny and his zany ideas for luring and trapping the indoor hares. She also seemed to cherish the sentimentality of the time Jeremy spent in the kitchen talking with his Grandfather while baking and eating chocolate chip cookies. Both she and I liked that, just as in Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, it was the Grandpop doing the baking. We as a family enjoy any situation that bends the usual gender stereotypes, especially those taking place in a kitchen (the Bear sees me doing all the cooking & baking yet virtually every ad or toy catalogue that passes in front of her eyes shows only females navigating their way around kitchens).

Look Out, Jeremy Bean! bridges the gap nicely between children's books that rely heavily on pictures to move characters through the plot and more advanced kid's lit completely devoid of illustrations. It's the perfect book for Pre-K to 2nd grade children because while it's a fully developed story (3 of them actually) there are no subplots, flashback sequences or other undercurrents to cause confusion in the mind of a young reader.

An Indie Rock Alphabet Book - OWTK Book Review

Paste Magazine's Indie Rock Alphabet Book
by Caren Kelleher, Kate Kiefer, Rachael Maddux Illustrations by Owen the Owen.

Late last year Paste, the finest music/arts/culture magazine in existence today, released it's first kid's book. The "Indie Rock Alphabet Book" is most definitely not the first musical themed A to Z book to hit the market, but it surely is the first to combine Yo La Tengo, Belle and Sebastian and Tom Waits (among dozens of other well-known and loved independent artists and bands) into a educational tome for the toddler set.

Not satisfied with simply associating a given band with a letter (Elliott Smith and E, etc.), the writers of "An Indie Rock Alphabet Book" add a sentence or two to each page - clever little remarks that, more likely, will amuse the reader far more than the listener. For example, the "N" page reads:
"Four star inns and resorts are swell, but they can't compare to Neutral Milk Hotel" - so, so true.

In addition to the wit, there are also striking illustrations showing the bands and artists as you've probably never seen 'em (I present Sam Beam's arborist-head/beard on the striking Iron & Wine page as evidence).

"An Indie Rock Alphabet Book" is an awesome way to transfer more than just your love of indie music to your tots. In addition to learning which song was Modest Mouse's breakout single, your kiddies will also pick up those always-handy letters of the alphabet.

My Name Is Chicken Joe Book & CD Review

In an exciting new partnership with Canadian book publisher The Secret Mountain, legendary children's recording artists Trout Fishing in America are set to release (on April 21st) a new "Best Of" CD, comprised of 11 previously released tunes, in conjunction with a hardcover kid's book titled My Name is Chicken Joe.

With words by TFIA and playfully sophisticated illustrations by Stephane Jorisch, My Name Is Chicken Joe tells the tale of animals who defy their rather peculiar names. The book asks the question "What's in a name?" by introducing readers to a dog named Miss Kitty, a mule named Mister, King Kong the bird and Chicken Joe the cat, of course. The bigger lesson goes far beyond our given moniker, what does it mean to be a "Jeff" anyway?, but rather, Chicken Joe reminds us and our kids to challenge perception and resist stereotypes. It's not quite "A Boy Named Sue". Trout Fishing manage to convey their point without fisticuffs.

It won't surprise Trout Fishing fans that the title song (the lyrics of which comprise the words to the book) features warm acoustic tones and a catchy sing-a-long chorus. Chicken Joe could easily be added, into heavy rotation, on any Adult Album Alternative radio station. It's one of my favorite songs of the year so far. The other 10 songs aren't on the Chicken Joe topic but are equally witty lyrically and pleasant musically. The book's characters are, however, tied to the remainder of the music as Joe and the rest of the cast appear on what amounts to liner notes on subsequent pages at the end of the book. Any excuse to showcase more of Stephane Jorisch's work is fine by me!

Check out the My Name Is Chicken Joe moving storybook/music video:


While the story of Chicken Joe and the rest of the tunes, especially "Something Sweet", "Why I Pack My Lunch" and "My Best Day", with it's "snowing whip cream and raining chocolate" hook, are terrific, it's Jorisch's drawings that make My Name Is Chicken Joe an outstanding effort. I cannot recommend picking up the My Name Is Chicken Joe book & audio CD enough. Your family will love the story, cherish the pictures and dance to the over-30 minutes of original upbeat folk music included here.

TIFA are always on the road...try to catch 'em live this Spring/Summer!

Trout Fishing in America 2009 Family Concert Tour Dates (click here for an always up-to-date calendar):

April 18 Free Library of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA

April 24 Uptown Theater Grand Prairie, TX

April 25 Duck Jam at Lake Bryan Bryan, TX

April 26 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival New Orleans, LA

April 30 Flickinger Center of Performing Arts Alamogordo, NM

May 2 Northwest Arkansas Mall Fayetteville, AR

May 10 Hancher Auditorium Iowa City, IA

May 15-16 Rosewood Center for Family Arts Dallas, TX

May 22-23 Riverfest Little Rock, AR

May 24 Jiggle Jam Kansas City, MO

May 30-31 Kerrville Folk Festival Kerrville, TX

June 21-28 Alaskan Cruise Various Cities

August 8-9 J. Paul Getty Museum Los Angeles, CA