1999 NAPPA Awards for Children’s Music

Go gently into the night or jazz up your day with the sounds of this year's 1999 NAPPA music winners. Your CD player will be working overtime playing this eclectic mix of soothing melodies, multicultural music, a cappella songs and playful tunes. Be sure to get your ears on these albums!

Lullaby Category Softly We Sing Moonfinder: A Sleepytime Journey For All Ages Lullabies of Latin America Infant Category A Noel Nighty Night A Child's Garden of Songs Nature Experience Toddler Category Jazz Joint Jump Can A Jumbo Jet Sing The Alphabet? Toddlers Sing

Early Elementary Category Kid'n Together/Singin' at the Swing Set John Lithgow: Singin' In The Bathtub Lois LaFond & Rockadiles Upper Elementary Category World Playground On the Good Ship Lollipop — featuring The Persuasions. John McCutcheon's Four Seasons: SpringSongs

Reviews of 1999 NAPPA Award Winners

Lullaby Category

Softly We Sing. A drug-free way to become one with your pillow. Go to gentle and hang a left. Twelve traditional lullabies sung by child vocalists include instrumental singalong tracks . . . if you can stay awake. Twin Sisters Productions; $8.99 cassette, $12.99 CD. Phone (800) 248-TWIN (8946). Website at www.twinsisters.com.

Moonfinder: A Sleepytime Journey For All Ages. Molly Conole and Nancy Waldman, two classically trained musicians, call themselves "Dreamsisters" for good reason. This beautifully performed mixture of original, traditional and international lullabies should encourage multiple listenings and an open door to the Land of Nod. Dreamsisters Inc.; $9.95 cassette, $14.95 CD. Phone (407) 647-4466. Website at www.dreamsisters.com.

Lullabies of Latin America. International bilingual recording artist Maria Del Rey offers a gift of music to all who hear "Lullabies." Using traditional instruments and Latin American arrangements, she crafts 14 precious lullabies — first in Spanish and again in English. Bueno. Music for Little People; $9.98 cassette, $15.98 CD. Phone (800) 409-2457.

Infant Category

A Noel Nighty Night. This delightful package of new Christmas songs will put any youngster gently to sleep, dreaming of sugarplums and ho, ho, ho's. Diana Rae's songwriting and vocals are exemplary. She was the "best part of waking up" vocal for Folger's, so she can start your day as well — the best of both worlds. Raeworks Music; $10 cassette, $15 CD. Phone (615) 794-0076.

A Child's Garden of Songs. As if the brilliance of Robert Louis Stevenson's poems weren't enough, 16 of his finest works are set to outstanding music and voice here. Introduce your infant to classic poetry combined with near-perfect instrumentation. On second thought, treat the entire family to this gentle gem. Music for Little People; $9.98 cassette, $15.98 CD. Phone (800) 409-2457.

Nature Experience. The soothing music of Mother Nature is digitally captured with this quiet, calming CD must-have for any audio library. Simple, lyrical music is skillfully blended with a collection of sounds from water, songbirds, rain, storms, the forest floor and more. Relax and enjoy. Genius Products Inc.; $13.98 CD. Phone (619) 793-8840.

Toddler Category

Jazz Joint Jump. On this latest release in the popular "Jungle Jazz" series, 10 wild and wondrous songs are written from the jungle animals' points of view. From cool and crazy "Hippo-Party-Mess" to the playfully percussive "Welcome to the Shake And Rumble," this album is the perfect soundtrack for your jungle. Play It Cool Records; $8.98 cassette, $11.98 CD. Phone (303) 444-5722. Website at www.junglejazzband.com.

Can A Jumbo Jet Sing The Alphabet? Hap Palmer is a steady musical friend and teacher for any young person to pal around with. This release is the third in a comprehensive guide that creatively teaches basic skills and fundamental concepts through music and movement. Hap's clever lyrics, easy vocals and organic arrangements are always a pleasure. Great liner notes for teachers, too. Hap-Pal Music Inc.; $9.95 cassette, $12.95 CD. Phone (800) 645-3739. Website at www.happalmer.com.

Toddlers Sing. Kids love to hear other kids sing, and there are some splendid performances by 2, 3 and 4 year olds on this 22-song collection. Name a song and it's probably on here, including "I'm A Little Teapot," "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "1, 2 Buckle My Shoe." Must have been fun wranglin' them young 'uns in the studio. Music for Little People; $7.98 cassette, $11.98 CD. Phone (800) 409-2457.

Early Elementary Category

Kid'n Together/Singin' at the Swing Set. Santa Barbara brothers Ben and Alex Meisel team up to share their love of music, family fun and being a kid—no matter what your age—with this exceptionally well-produced 14-song treasure. It's sure to get your family's toes tappin' and faces grinnin'. Alex, Ben & Company; $9.98 cassette, $14.98 CD. Phone (800) 543-6386.

John Lithgow: Singin' In The Bathtub. Oscar-nominated and Tony/Emmy Award-winning actor John Lithgow explains, "When we got together to do this album, one of our notions was to record the kinds of songs that I remember loving as a kid." Therein lies the magic. The arrangements are reminiscent of the original versions, particularly in "At the Codfish Ball," "The Gnu Song," "Swingin' on a Star" and the hilarious "From the Indies to the Andes in His Undies." This album is way too much fun for kids only. Sony Wonder; $9.98 cassette, $13.98 CD. Phone (800) 221-8180.

Lois LaFond & Rockadiles. Lois reaches out and hugs the world with a talented ensemble of multicultural musicians and singers known as the Rockadiles on this wall-to-wall funfest. Sit still? Not a chance. Lois LaFond & Company; $9.95 cassette, $14.95 CD. Phone (800) 443-4727 or (303) 444-7095.

Upper Elementary Category

World Playground. No less than 12 countries on six continents are represented on this delightful new CD. Take a magical tour around the world with international children's music stars such as Buckwheat Zydeco from the U.S., Trevor Adamson from Down Under, Nazare Pereira from Brazil, and others. It's your passport to play! Putumayo World Music; $10.98 cassette, $15.98 CD. Phone (888) 788-8629. Website at www.putumayo.com.

On the Good Ship Lollipop — featuring The Persuasions. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "Wouldn't an all-a-cappella-all-the-time children's album get boring?" Don't be ridiculous. This collection of classic and original children's tunes has a touch of class, a whole lot of soul and a heart of gold. The seamless blend of voices fits hand-in-glove with the timeless material. Music for Little People; $9.98 cassette, $15.98 CD. Phone (800) 409-2457. Website at www.thepersuasions.com.

John McCutcheon's Four Seasons: SpringSongs. This is the fourth volume in McCutcheon's "Four Seasons" series, and it completes the cycle of the seasons by linking the last of the snow to the first signs of summer. One of the best pure songsmiths and musicians around. Rounder Records; $9.50 cassette, $15 CD. 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 NAPPA judge for several years. He is an award-winning copywriter and former professional musician and songwriter.

John Wood is the music reviewer for eight regional parenting magazines. He co-created and performed more than 7,000 shows with the popular group J.P. Nightingale. Visit him on the Web at www.kidzmusic.com.