1998 NAPPA Awards for Children’s Music

Man has long known that music soothes the savage beast — but when it comes to kids, it can also inspire giggles and lots of singing and dancing. It is this ability to inspire that made our 1998 NAPPA Gold winners stand out from the crowd. It was an album's ability to grab a child's attention away from the multiple kid networks on TV, a library of videos and stacks of CD-ROMs that hinted at its quality. And when the listening was over, and the CD player finally cooled down, the winners had more than earned their rightful place in any kid's lineup of fun stuff to do.

Lullaby Category DreamSongs 40 Winks Sleeping With the Fishes Infant Category A Twinkle In Your Eye Toddler Favorites Teddy Bear's Greatest Hits Toddler Category Always Your Pal, Gene Autry Good Friends Swingin' In The Rain

Early Elementary Category Rock 'n' Together In My Hometown Doctor Looney's Remedy Upper Elementary Category Family Music Party How Sweet It Is John McCutcheon's Four Seasons: AutumnSongs

Reviews of 1998 NAPPA Award Winners

Lullaby Category

DreamSongs. "Blanket of Love" is not just one of the song titles on Laurie Burke's newest album of lullabies. It's also an ideal description for the warm feeling this 12-song collection of gentle originals gives its listeners. Snuggle up and enjoy. Pacific Rose Records; Cassette $9.98, CD $15.98. Phone (800) 862-7232.

40 Winks. Multitalented Jessica Harper's fourth foray into the children's music scene is another big-time winner. Twelve of the 13 selections are creatively original, and inspired by her own children. The lyrics from "In This Room," There's a child in this room, darkness all around her. Once I dreamed of this room, dreamed of her, then I found her, are simple, profound and personal. A beautiful album from a gifted artist. Alcazar Productions; Cassette $9.98, CD $11.98. Phone (800) 541-9904.

Sleeping With the Fishes. Here are more than 50 minutes of soothing tunes that will put anybody to sleep — and we mean that in the nicest way. The Music Workshop for Kids, directed and produced by Scott Nelson, has assembled a 16-song mixture of traditional and original lullabies with restful music and gentle voices designed for the whole family. Baby Music Boom Inc.; Cassette $10.98, CD $15.98. Phone (888) 470-1667.

Infant Category

A Twinkle In Your Eye. Why wait for the annual holiday airings of animated specials to enjoy the grandfatherly voice of the late Burl Ives? With the release of A Twinkle In Your Eye, kids and parents alike can enjoy his wry and soothing delivery all year round. A classic from a classic. Sony Wonder; Cassette $7.98, CD $11.98. Phone (888) 221-8180.

Toddler Favorites. Hey, what's Toddler Favorites doing in the infant category, you ask? Judge's prerogative, dude! Twenty-three extremely familiar tunes from "The Alphabet Song" and "The Wheels on the Bus" to "Mary Had a Little Lamb and "Frere Jacques" promote movement and language skills for infants and bungee jumpers alike. Can't beat the price! Music for Little People; Cassette $3.98, CD $6.98. Phone (800) 409-2457.

Teddy Bear's Greatest Hits. Multi-award winning veteran Bill Schontz serves up another grand slam with Teddy Bear's Greatest Hits. From childhood classics to clever originals, this 11-song album of teddy-inspired gems puts a smile on your face and a big bear hug around your heart. Bear Paw Recordings; Cassette $10, CD $15. Phone (802) 254-5270. E-mail: barbill@sover.net.

Toddler Category

Always Your Pal, Gene Autry. This is a new release of old songs from Gene Autry, the singing cowboy. His most famous ballad, "Back in the Saddle," is first up on this 16-song treasure. One thing is for sure, this disc will be going back in the CD player again and again. Sony Wonder; Cassette $7.98, CD $11.98. Phone (888) 221-8180.

Good Friends. Rory is an award-winning children's performer and host of the 4-year-old Rory's Place on the Learning Channel. She is joined on this 12-song original offering by celebrities Al Jarreau, Carol Burnett and Jason Alexander, whose combined presence bumps the entire proceedings up a professional notch. Rory more than holds her own with her engaging voice. The addition of Grammy Award-winning Peter Matz's sure-handed production and arrangement skills doesn't hurt either. Solid collection. Roar Music; Cassette $9.99, CD $15.95. Phone (877) 217-9338.

Swingin' In The Rain. From original material to classic covers, Maria Muldaur's classy, jazzy arrangements of perennial favorites are ear candy for children of all ages. Some of the highlights include "Animal Fair," "Jeepers Creepers" and "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah." The upbeat renditions are true to the swing style in which the songs were originally recorded and listened to on that big piece of furniture once called a radio. Music for Little People; Cassette $9.98, CD $15.98. Phone (800) 409-2457.

Early Elementary Category

Rock 'n' Together. Former Disney artist Craig Taubman lets his imagination fly with Craig 'n' Co.'s Rock 'n' Together. Silly songs about family life and just being a crazy kid populate this laugh-a-measure work from one of the industry's most talented entertainers. Craig 'n' Co. Records; Cassette $9.98, CD $14.98. Phone (800) 627-2448. Website at www.craignco.com.

In My Hometown. Always inspirational, Tom Chapin's songs about memorable characters, places and events in a typical American town are based on his actual hometown in Hudson Valley in upstate New York. This is Tom's seventh family recording, so he's in for the long haul. "My goal has always been to create music that is child-friendly and adult-safe," he explains. "Kids have the most wide-open ears of any of us. The only rules are to make it fun and full of ideas and pictures." He indeed does that, and adults will want to tag along, too. Sony Wonder; Cassette $9.98, CD $13.98. Phone (800) 221-8180.

Doctor Looney's Remedy. The songwriting is sound. The harmony is right. The message is upbeat, fun and supportive. Parachute Express does it all and, all in all, they're fun to watch. This is the trio's ninth recording and includes the never-before-released title song that appeared in the opening trailer of A Goofy Movie. It also features "We the Children," an anthem for children's rights. Trio Lane Records; Cassette $9.98, CD $13.98. Phone (888) 445-4687.

Upper Elementary Category

Family Music Party. Do not, we repeat, do not listen to Trout Fishing In America's new album, Family Music Party, on a full stomach. You'll hurt yourself laughing at this wacky, brilliant bundle of songs from two of the most wonderfully weird guys ever seen or heard. Trout Records; Cassette $9.98, CD $14.98. Phone (888) 445-4687.

How Sweet It Is. Sugar Beats is becoming a regular on national awards lists with good reason. How Sweet It Is is their third collection of classic rock 'n' roll songs arranged to get both parents and kids dancing through the house. It's "sing-a-long" music at its best. Sugar Beats Entertainment; Cassette $9.98, CD $14.98. Phone (800) 232-8721.

John McCutcheon's Four Seasons: AutumnSongs. This is John McCutcheon's third excursion down memory lane in his "Four Seasons" series destined to become a classic. His observations and memories are vivid and universal, touching the varied emotions of the human experience, from being the "New Kid In School" to enjoying a memorable baseball game with his dad in "World Series '57." As in McCutcheon's previous releases, his musicianship and production values are impeccable. Don't miss this. Rounder Records; Cassette $9.98, CD $14.98. Phone (800) 768-6337.

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 has been a children's music reviewer for L.A. Parent magazine for several years. He is an award-winning copywriter and former professional musician and songwriter.

John Wood currently reviews children's music for L.A. Parent magazine, coordinates children's music for the Hollywood Bowl and is the founder of the children's music group J.P. Nightingale.