1994 NAPPA Awards for Children’s Music

There's plenty of good children's music out there, professionally produced albums brimming with inventive songs and positive messages. But it took more than that to make the final cut in the 1994 NAPPA Music Awards.

What these prize-winning albums share is a breath of music and lyrics that transcend the sometimes narrow confines of children's entertainment. In many ways, these artists have produced the year's best music, period.

Here then — fanfare, please — is our annual selection of simply great music for kids (and for their parents, too).

Lullaby Category Lullaby Land Mother Earth Lullabies Sleep, Baby, Sleep Infant Category Return to Pooh Corner Zag Zig Gather Your Dreams Toddler Category A Cathy & Marcy Collection For Kids What A Day! We Love Saturday!

Early Elementary Category Everybody Be Yoself Take a Seat Rosenshontz Greatest Hits! Upper Elementary Category Dr. Music by Jonathan Sprout Monster's Holiday I Got a Bullfrog: Folksongs For the Fun of It

Reviews of 1994 NAPPA Award Winners

Lullaby Category

Lullaby Land. Linda Arnold's Lullaby Land comes from the heart. Obviously influenced by her newborn, she has assembled an impressive collection of gentle tunes, both original and classic, to help welcome the Sandperson. Beautiful voice and arrangements complement this soothing set. A&M Records; $9.98 cassette, $15.98 CD. Phone (800) 541-9904.

Mother Earth Lullabies put me to sleep! That's good, and so is this quiet multilayered celebration of the timeless sounds of nature and the musical sounds of today. Besides encouraging rest, this well-produced instrumental album introduces youngsters to the natural sounds around us. 'Night! World Disc Productions Inc.; $10.98 cassette, $14.98 CD. Phone (800) 228-5711.

Sleep, Baby, Sleep. What happens when one of the most original singers of the past decade becomes a mom? You'll find the answer in the 11 songs on Nicolette Larson's Sleep, Baby, Sleep. Her beautiful voice is reason enough to recommend this album, but, as an added incentive, Larson's friends — Neil Young, Graham Nash, David Crosby and Linda Ronstadt — make considerable contributions to this touching tribute to early childhood. Sony Wonder; $9.98 cassette, $13.98 CD. Phone (888) 221-8180.

Infant Category

Return to Pooh Corner. The through-line of Kenny Loggins' Return to Pooh Corner touched me. A man's return to the wonders of childhood as seen through the eyes of his kids is a refreshing approach to children's music. I particularly enjoyed the new verse for "Pooh." Kenny's familiar and assured vocal style, along with the masterful production work, makes this an attractive listening experience for children of all ages. Sony Wonder; $9.98 cassette, $13.98 CD. Phone (888) 221-8180.

Zag Zig. Tom Chapin's Zag Zig boasts a great collection of tunes in a wide variety of musical styles and — take note would-be children's songwriters — some clever lyrics. His positive messages get to the point without being heavy-handed or preachy in the least. Easy listening from a master songsmith. Sony Wonder; $9.98 cassette, $13.98 CD. Phone (888) 221-8180.

Gather Your Dreams. With Gather Your Dreams, writer-musician-performer Dana has produced an album of songs as fresh and unique as her very distinctive voice. Divided into six morning songs and six evening lullabies, this release is at once both original yet comfortably familiar after just one listening. Real Music For Kidz; $10 cassette. Phone (201) 861-6698.

Toddler Category

A Cathy & Marcy Collection For Kids. Fifteen favorite songs from three award-winning albums, as well as two unreleased tracks, make Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer's A Cathy & Marcy Collection For Kids a must for the young at heart. Old classics mixed with original songs are performed dynamically with traditional instrumentation and arrange-ments and the duo's patented vocal blend. Rounder Records; $9.50 cassette, $15 CD. Phone (800) 443-4727.

What A Day! Fred Penner's ninth album, What A Day!, creates a strong sense of family, friendship and fun with a mostly original collection of gentle and wholly accessible songs that encourage self-esteem and belonging. Fred's soothing voice invites participation and multiple listenings. The Children's Group; $9.98 cassette, $16.98 video. Phone (800) 662-0242.

We Love Saturday! Don't we all! David Jack and Susan Jack Cooper's original songs have a little something for everybody. From the hip title song to the reggae feel of "Happy Street," you'll be hard-pressed to keep your seat. Get ready to meet new friends: "The Mook," "Magic Marvin" and "Scat the Cat." Ta-Dum Productions; $9.95 cassette. Phone (800) 328-4352.

Early Elementary Category

Everybody Be Yoself. I really like Chic Street Man's Everybody Be Yoself album. Feels like he's playing guitar in your living room, and there's tunes from Smokey Robinson to Bob Dylan and all points between. This guy's the real deal. This album was a pleasure to review and I can't wait for the next one. 'Nuff said. Get this thing! Backyard Audio; $8.98 cassette. Phone (800) 745-1145.

Take a Seat. Frank Cappelli covers a lot of musical territory in his fine Take a Seat. Musical styles from doo-wop and jazz to country support themes as diverse as recycling, history, disabilities and consonants. There's even a Beatle song thrown in for good measure. A&M Records; $9.98 cassette. Phone (800) 541-9904.

Rosenshontz Greatest Hits! With the many musical masterpieces that Gary Rosen and Bill Shontz have produced together as Rosenshontz (not to mention each of their solo albums), it must have been frustrating culling the best for this Rosenshontz Greatest Hits! album. Fortunately, they had 15 slots to fill on this exceptional example of some of the most original children's music being made today. Lightyear Entertainment; $8.98 cassette, $15.98 CD. Phone (800) 229-7867.

Upper Elementary Category

Dr. Music by Jonathan Sprout is a refreshing upbeat collection of fun, toe-tapping tunes. The hip contemporary arrangements defy you to sit still. Themes like self-esteem, bullies and babies are dealt with in creative musical ways, and some beautiful instrumentals tie this attractive package together. The Doctor is in! Sprout Recordings; $9.98 cassette, $14.98 CD. Phone (800) 577-7688.

Monster's Holiday. Bonnie Phipps' Monster's Holiday is a collection of 16 wonderfully wacky songs that are so much fun, they're frightening. In a good way, of course. You'll not only journey with well-traveled beasties, but also encounter a 3-foot sandwich, the bubble gum-chewing "Lucy Lum," and many other upbeat musical oddities. WF Kids; $9.95 cassette. Phone (800) 747-2454.

I Got a Bullfrog: Folksongs For the Fun of It. Sometimes, songs come from so far back in our country's musical heritage that they sound entirely fresh and instantly accessible today. Such is the case with the collection of mostly traditional folk songs Grammy-nominated David Holt calls I Got a Bullfrog: Folksongs For the Fun of It. Holt applies his considerable contemporary wit to these 16 delightful classics. High Windy Audio; $9.98 cassette, $15.98 CD. Phone (800) 637-8679.

The National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) program began in 1990 as a consumer awards program for children's media, including books, toys, music, videos, software, and storytelling/spoken word. Expert judges within each category review and select the best submissions to receive recognition as either Gold or Honors Award winners. Winners are announced annually prior to the holiday season.

Jim Chase is a children's music reviewer for L.A. Parent magazine.

John Wood coordinates children's music for the Hollywood Bowl and is director of the Theatre Arts Festival for Youth (TAFFY).