Spring Break Fun

I hope you are all enjoying your Spring Break as much as we are! This morning the girls and I went to a local strawberry field to pick berries. It was great fun, but perhaps they should have weighed us before and after to see exactly how many berries we should pay for. It's a wonder anyone ate lunch after that. The above picture is from our afternoon trip with Daddy to the park. We rode bikes, and, as you can see, sufficiently explored all the pieces of exercise equipment on the trail! What has your family been doing during Spring Break?

***Randy Kaplan***

Straight outta Park Slope, Brooklyn, Randy Kaplan presents an eclectic collection of covers and originals on his newest CD, Five Cent Piece. Released on his own Yellow Thing Records & Books label, Five Cent Piece runs the musical gamut from Judy Garland to the Stones, from Woody Guthrie to Jonathan Richman. Now, remember, kids' albums aren't meant to be the only source of musical history, so the fact that Kaplan includes a song made famous by the Rev. Gary Davis, two songs by legendary lyricist Yip Harburg, and another from the Bye Bye Birdie soundtrack doesn't mean he meant for you to ONLY listen to his version. It's an invitation to explore, to find out more about music and it's history and sources.

Kaplan's performance and style could most easily be compared to Arlo Guthrie; and, coincidentally or no, he covers songs by Woody and by Arlo, plus his 10-minute "You Can't Always Get What You Want" resembles Arlo's album side-long "Alice's Restaurant". The bohemian bluegrass/dixieland played by Kaplan and his extremely cohesive and talented band tie together the varying song sources into a unified package, so that Jonathan Richman's "I'm a Little Dinosaur", Elizabeth Cotton's "Freight Train", and "We're In the Same Boat, Brother" (made popular by Leadbelly), all sound like they were performed at the same sitting. Plus, his rendition of "Over the Rainbow" has to be THE sweetest you'll ever hear.

His originals are wildly original, showcasing Kaplan's love of the narrated song: a shark interrupts bathtime with a request to "Shampoo Me", the "Mosquito Song" details a conversation with a certain bloodsucker, and the "Roaches" that occupy Kaplan's apartment are into Kafka's "The Metamorphosis". And kids'll get a big laff out of his original lyrics to "Donut Song".

Dig the packaging and layout: Kaplan's profile graces the giant nickel design on the CD itself, while several street signs and storefronts in the foldout will be recognizable to Brooklynites. Lots of time and effort by Kaplan and fellow musician Tom Johnson went into the cover, which almost always means great music waits inside.

A sort of East Coast companion piece to Mr. David's The Great Adventures of Mr. David, Kaplan's first kids' CD (hopefully not his last) after releasing five for grownups will no doubt be equally loved by tots and their adults. Take the F Train over to the Perch Cafe in Brooklyn and check out a performance by this unique artist. And tell him to keep up the good work.

Kindermusik coupon

I have created a 5 minute survey to help me better understand the needs of my existing and future customers. If you would be interested in completing this survey, click here. At the end of the survey is a coupon code for $5 off your next class. Be sure to write it down!

Got Water?

"Water comprises more of the brain (with estimates of 90%) than any other organ of the body, with muscles next at 75%, and then kidneys. Under normal conditions, it is recommended a person drink one third of an ounce of water per pound of body weight each day, with that amount doubled or tripled in times of stress." Let me do the math for you. A child who weighs 40 pounds should be drinking at least 14 ounces of water a day. That doesn't seem like a lot, but when I really think about it, I'm not sure my children drink that much water every day. Besides that, drinking or eating caffeine, salt, or sugar increases the amount of pure water required to stay properly hydrated. We don't consume much of either of these three substances at my house, but it has given me reason to re-think our routine. Thirst is not necessarily a good indicator. Your already behind by then, so I recommend keeping a glass of water handy throughout the day. Remind yourself and your child to take a drink of it often.

pg. 138 "Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All In Your Head" By Carla Hannaford

Hee Haw!

My toddler class, Our Time, has been having some fun learning about different animals this semester. We just started playing with the donkey last week, and I thought everyone would enjoy meeting this one. He lives in a field next to Bradon Sports and Aquatics Center. He will come to the fence if you pull over to feed him a carrot or other special treat.

Family Watchdog

As a parent, I am always looking for ways to keep my children healthy and safe. I thought you might be interested in this webpage I found. It shows the home and work locations for sex offenders in your area. I even use the map to look up offenders in other areas that we frequent.

***Daniel Schorr***

What do you get when you cross Bob Dylan's vocals from Nashville Skyline with Ballad of Easy Rider-era Byrds music, and illustrate the whole thing with funky fresh Doug Allen drawings? Daniel Schorr's latest album, Every Word I Say is True, of course!

Brooklyn-based educator Schorr's second kids' CD on his Tee-Tot Records label is chock full of words, a veritable feast of lyrics, backed with one of the best rootsy country-rock soundtracks you'll ever hear on a children's album. Songs about a kid who never forgets anything, about the twelfth dimension, about dog-devoured homework, about brain appreciation; unbelieving adults, nagging parents (those durn grownups!), and snowball fights; tear-jerkers about bad luck and anthemic rockers detailing Santa's stab at musical superstardom.

This Owens/Haggard/Yoakum-influenced album brings the Bakersfield Sound hardcore, especially on "Elephant's Memory", "The Homework-Eating Dog Named Rover", and "If I Didn't Have a Teddy Bear", but two songs that break from the guitar twang are "I Was Lost, But Now I'm Found" and "The Emperor's Castle". The former, sung by Brian Dewan, is one of the best "oughta be on Broadway" tunes ever, and the latter, a synthesizer-driven socio-political statement, is reminiscent of The Monkees' "Zor and Zam".

So if'n yer littl'uns dig a weeping pedal steel and thick-string Strat solos, pick up Every Word I Say is True. Heck, go see Schorr play live if you're near Brooklyn and give him a big "yeehaw"!

EGGStravaganza

Just wanted to invite you to join me at EGGStravanganza, a springtime celebration for Children's Week, at Kid City, The Children's Museum of Tampa. The event will be on March 31 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, and I will be providing some of the entertainment. There will also be a petting zoo, clowns, face painting, egg hunts and a hat parade. I hope to see you there!