Go Graham Go! |

Here is a children's music group that has me asking, "Where have they been?".  Seriously!  You are going to love these guys!




The Flannery Brothers sure know how to make a family laugh and enjoy children's music.  The feel of their new CD, The New Explorers Club, is jazzy but contemporary.  I love the instruments and so does Graham!  Hands down, Graham's favorite song is "Green Submarine."  Graham actually woke up the other morning and said, "You know what I was doing?  Singing the Green Submarine in my bed."  We then traveled to the park where he swung on the tire swing with his friend Claire and announced, "Would you like to hear the Green Submarine song?"  and proceeded to burst forth in song!






One of mine and my husband's favorite's is "Kitchen Floor."  You know, sometimes you just want to lie down in the kitchen floor!  Of course!  I can completely see the preschool thinking behind these songs (that's a compliment Flannery Brothers if you are reading this).  Any music that can engage a child as well as a parent is going above and beyond.

Expect to see this MUST HAVE CD released in October.  All of you children's music skeptics (Jessica) will be pleasantly surprised!  May I also throw the idea out there that the Flannery Brothers really should create a Green Submarine shirt.  Graham would wear it!  By the way...can we come over for dinner?  You guys rock!

This product was provided free of charge by Flannery Brothers. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

1. Head over to The Flannery Brothers and leave a comment here telling me something you learned or liked not mentioned here. Make sure to leave your email address in the comment (used only to contact the winner. If your email shows up on your blogger account then do not worry about leaving it).

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each):

2. Blog about this giveaway and link to www.flannerybrothers.com and www.gograhamgo.com and leave the link to your post in the comment.

3. Subscribe to Go Graham Go by reader or email or follow on Blogger

4. One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Flannery Brothers and Go Graham Go on Twitter and Tweet about this daily. Make sure to leave your twitter name in your comment.

5. Add the Go Graham Go button to your sidebar

6. Stumble this post (the post,not the site)

7. "Like" Flannery Brothers and Go Graham Go on Facebook.  Leave your Facebook name in the comment.

This giveaway ends 9/22 at 11:59pm (EST). The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on this post. US entries only please.
Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

My kids love to listen to children's CDs. We have quite a few, but I often get tired of listening to the same ones all of the time. We were recently sent a copy of the new Monkey Monkey Music CD called "What Are the Odds?" for review. What a wonderful change! Although geared toward children, I really enjoy this as well. I didn't feel as if we were listening to the typical kids CD's. The majority of CDs are either too babyish and cutesy or very age inappropriate. I can handle the baby/cutesy songs from time to time, but they get old quickly. On the other hand, I am not at all interested in my kids listening to the hip-hop songs of today, with lyrics clearly not suited for children. The fact that kids sing them does not make it any more acceptable to me.

The first time I played this CD, my kids were at the kitchen table coloring. It took all of a minute or two before my 2 year old was up out of his chair dancing, and not much longer after that my 4 and 6 year old had joined him. Who cares about coloring when you've got great music to dance to?!

Here is some more information on Monkey Monkey Music:

Monkey Monkey Music is a children's music program developed by Meredith LeVande, an educator and songwriter who has close to a decade of experience working with preschool aged children. Monkey Monkey Music is a continuously evolving project that's committed to conscious and quality based music and media which puts the best interests of children first. Learning and music is a fun, joyous, experience for children, which is why Meredith's collection of songs and live performances continuously engage both children and adults for years on end. Celebrations can be educational, and education should be fun which is why her shows, parties and programs are so successful.

And more information on singer/songwriter Meredith LeVande:

NYC-based singer/songwriter Meredith LeVande could truly be termed a “Renaissance woman of children’s music.” Meredith not only holds undergraduate degrees in Women’s Studies and English, she also has a master’s degree in music and a law degree! Drawing from all these disciplines for her multi-faceted work with children, Meredith heads up a project with the marvelously mischievous moniker Monkey Monkey Music, with a focus on “putting the child back into children’s music.”

Five years ago Meredith’s debut album, Monkey Monkey Music with Meredith LeVande, became an instant hit with families nationwide, was a Parenting magazine “Pick,” and was in rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio, earning a grassroots reputation as a classic children's recording. Meredith LeVande has, since 2005, devoted herself to performing for children in intimate settings, becoming a favorite among NYC area families and creating a repertoire that has grown organically due to her one-on-one interactions with children of virtually every culture imaginable.

With the new Monkey Monkey Music CD, What Are the Odds?, Meredith has created something remarkable, finding the middle road between baby songs and pop band songs where kids’ lyrics are simply added to music that would otherwise be played for adults. Meredith’s music is not only child-friendly, it’s truly child appropriate, developed with the healthy growth of the young child in mind.

The songs on this CD are fun and educational, which any mother would love! My kids really like the music and really enjoy dancing and singing along. Not only is it perfect for playtime, but it is great background music as well. This is a new favorite in our house!

Be sure to listen to Monkey Monkey Music online to get a taste of the music you'll hear on this CD. I know you'll love it, and your kids will too!  What Are the Odds? will be available on August 31st but, you can pre-order a copy now!

Alesha received a CD in order to facilitate her review. These are her honest opinions on the product.

Alesha was born and raised in Arizona, where she currently resides. She was married in 2003 to her wonderful husband, and God has blessed them with 3 beautiful children with one on the way. She is blessed to be able to stay at home with them, and has recently begun homeschooling.

Alesha has devoted her life to the Lord, and lives daily for Him. She is very involved with her church, including volunteering as a Jr. Youth Group leader and as a Bible School craft teacher. She also sings in the choir and writes the news for the church newsletter. You can find her at The Jacobsen Family or on twitter @JacobsenFamily.

If you were to ask Graham these days who his favorite musical artist is he would tell you Nick Deysher!  Ok, so he would probably tell you that his three favorite songs are "Scrub a dub a dub," "Alligator Sally," and "The Freeze Dance".  No kidding.  Graham must have his "Scrub a dub a dub" CD whenever we are on the road.  You can even find him humming and singing the songs to himself throughout the day.



I had the opportunity to review Nick's first album, Coconut Groove, last year and we all still love that album.  I was excited when Nick contacted me about his brand new release titled People, Places, and Things.  You can tell that Nick really knows preschoolers because it is so easy for Graham to get into his songs.  It is also easy for adults to get into his music with his one of a kind style.  People, Places, and Things was awarded the Gold Medal from the Parents' Choice Foundation and deservedly so!



You will have fun doing the new preschool dance crave, "The Freeze Dance," as well as swim through the swamps of Florida with "Alligator Sally".  You will be tempted to bathe at least 3 times with "Scrub a dub a dub" even if you do look like a prune!  We have had so much fun with this album that we are going to share it with Graham's preschool!

Purchase People, Places and Things from the In the Nick of Time Music website.

Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

If you are looking for some fresh and fun music for your child Princess Katie and Racer Steve have something for everyone in their new album Tiny Cool.



We popped the CD in on our way to preschool the other day and both Graham and I immediately started bopping to the beat of  "Clelia's Party"!  I love it when a CD grabs your attention with the first song.  This particular song has a fiesta party feel (which is what it is about).  Princess Katie is hilarious as she sings about the Spanish words she knows, only the ones from the menu!  You are going to appreciate all of the instruments in the song as well.  Someone really knows how to play the trumpet!

You will also enjoy a few skits that are dispersed through the album.  Princess Katie and Racer Steve entertain you and your children with the skits Surf Radio, The Cartoons, Wing it, and The Unenchanted Forest!  The Surf Radio skit gives a great lead into the "Sand in My Sandwich" song which is just one of the examples of the hilarious songs on Tiny Cool.



Overall, Tiny Cool by Princess Katie and Racer Steve is a fun selection for the entire family.  You won't be beating your head on your desk at work for having kids tunes roaming around in there!  Purchase Tiny Cool for $15 at the website or on iTunes.

This product was provided free of charge by PKRS. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

Flute Sweet and Tickletoon have a CD release that you are going to love!  This is an excellent way to introduce your child to classical music.  It is the story of Green Golly and Her Golden Flute.  The CD is based on the story of Rapunzel and features the flute, piano, and narration.



This album is probably going to be best for ages 5 and up.  The older your child is the more they will appreciate the story.  Green Golly and Her Golden Flute is a fun story of a princess who learns to love classical music.  This fun twist on Rapunzel would be a great gift idea for the music loving kids in your life.  There is a great musical selection from Mendelssohn, Frederic Chopin, and more!  It is fun to appreciate classical music with a little humor!

You can purchase Green Golly and Her Golden Flute for $14.99 or download the MP3 version for $9.99 at the Tugboat Music website!

Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

We were sent the Celtic Woman Songs From the Heart CD a few months back and have really enjoyed it.  My husband has confiscated it to his car, so I haven't been able to enjoy it as much!


If you are looking for a Mother's Day Gift idea for the music loving mom, sister, or friend in your life, this is a special CD!  I know that the sound of Celtic Woman isn't for everyone, but we really enjoy listening to and watching them when they broadcast their performances.  Songs From the Heart features familiar songs like "Amazing Grace," "Fields of Gold," "You'll Be In My Heart," and many more.  My favorite is "Amazing Grace".  I just love how well their voices blend!  They always seem to sound angelic.  Also, make sure to check out Celtic Woman's tour dates.  It would be wonderful to celebrate Mother's Day by seeing them live!

You can purchase the CD from Amazon, iTunes, or even in stores near you for about $12.  What a great gift idea for under $20!

Keep up with Celtic Woman on Twitter and Facebook.


Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

We are such a musical family and when I was pregnant with Graham I did all sorts of research on when he would be able to hear music while in the womb.  What I discovered is that most research indicates that babies can start to hear outside noise at about 15 weeks gestation!  That is amazing to me!  Research indicates that your child will be familiar with your voice and also that of your husband's and other people you are around frequently.  It will probably also be accustomed to the barking dog or siblings.

bellybuds is such an innovative product that I am so excited to share it with you!  It was invented by a dad who watched his wife place her iPod ear buds on her belly for their unborn child.  She had to lie down very still and found it very inconvenient.  He knew that there had to be a better way.  After much research and talking to moms and moms-to-be, he came up with bellybuds.

The bellybuds device is quick and easy to use.  All you have to own is an MP3 player or some other means of transferring music.  These work with both my iPhone and iPod Shuffle.  Plug in the bellybuds and place them on your stomach in a desired location.  The adhesive is non-irritating and holds firm, but gentle.  I placed them on and forgot that I was wearing them after an hour!  If you have an iPhone I suggest downloading the Pandora App and playing free classical music (you know me, always trying to find a deal).  As soon as I put the bellybuds on my baby started moving and kicking!  Removing them was just as simple as putting them on.  No need to worry about them hurting (definitely nothing worse than ripping off a band-aide)!  The bellybuds come off quick, easy, and pain free.  The package says that they are good for 20-30 uses and comes with an extra set of adhesive cups.  The Deluxe package retails for $49.99 and comes with everything you will need to get started.

This product was provided free of charge by bellybuds and Team Mom. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

"When I play the guitar I'm a Rock Star," those are the kinds of lyrics that will intrigue your imaginative and artistic child.  If you are like me and have a child who is in total love of music, they are going to enjoy Joanie Leeds new album "I'm a Rock Star".  This particular title is even a finalist for the John Lennon songwriting competition.

"More Cowbell" has a funky beat that will get you and your kids up and shakin it!  I have to admit that this song makes me laugh.  You will find a cowbell beat mixed with some crazy rhythms!  Joanie gets your kids moving by clapping their hands and stomping their feet.  You'll also be jumping, spinning and shaking with "Jump, Jump".



A sweeter, slower song called "Give Me A Hug" makes this album a great mix.  I personally love her voice in this sweet lullaby-like song.  "Give me a hug, give me a kiss, when we say goodnight.....rock me till I close my eyes....and say to me... I love you baby".  Introduce your child to new genre's of music with songs like "I Like Jazz."

Overall, I'm a Rock Star is a great album to pick up that offers short and sweet songs that the youngest of kids can enjoy.  I enjoy it when children's music artists understand that that repetition and simple lyrics help kids catch on and have fun.



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

The name itself just makes you want to laugh out loud! Rocknoceros is formed by an all male trio who have funny names themselves. They actually have been so successful that this kids band is now their full time job.

The brand new album is titled PINK! and it definitely has an upbeat feel of 60's and country mixed with rock and roll. Scholastic put the album at the top of their Picks List for October. It also won the Best Music Product 2009 by National Parenting Publications. The lyrics will even get mom and dad laughing and not dreading putting this in the player!



Our favorite song is the Shaker Song:

"Oh it's the shaker song and it's quite a lot of fun
Shake a shaker back and forth and feel like number one
If you find your shaker's gone away
Ask your mom to take you to the shaker store today"

This one is great because Graham actually has a few "shakers" and can get into it. And of course, Rocknoceros makes sure to teach responsibility:

"When it's time to put the shaker down
Put it where you'll find it when you want that shaker sound!"

You've got to love that! Thanks for the help guys! You can purchase PINK! for $15 and even listen to the entire album at Rocknoceros.com. Keep up with the band on Facebook at the Coach's Corner.



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

Graham has a sweet new CD he is falling asleep to at night. It is actually by Nancy Wilson, band member of Heart, and it is super sweet! She created it after her twins were born and for years they fell asleep with the music playing in their rooms. It is called Baby Guitars and is full of tender melodies from acoustic guitars.


We love the folksy feel of Baby Guitars. The CD is just what we needed for nap and sleep time music. There are no words, only gorgeous guitar playing. When you couple this with the precious book written by her sister and fellow band member, Ann Wilson, you have the perfect gift! Ann wrote the childrens book Dog & Butterfly that is all about a little puppy who is trying to befriend a butterfly. Her sister Nancy illustrated the book. The bigger message is about being patient and how our dreams come to us if we try a little harder! Dog & Butterfly is simple enough to be read to your preschooler, but profound enough to be read to a group of adults for encouragement. I think I may also use this as a counseling tool.


Both Baby Guitars and Dog & Butterfly can be purchased at Amazon.com just in time to commemorate the double platinum album of 30 years ago! These would make a sweet baby shower gift idea.



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

"She’s got style and she’s got grace
She can twirl and whirl
She’s a robot super girl
Jump to left jump, jump, jump, jump
Jump to the right, jump, jump, jump
Turn around, touch the ground
Uuuuuuuuuup and jump"

Come on! Who can resist lyrics like those? That's what is so great about Rebecca Frezza & Big Truck, they play the types of music that really gets your child involved by providing instructions. Whether it is clapping your hands in "Rock Like This" or singing soft and fast in "Hey-O" it's like having a little party in your own house. I know everyone in the family is going to love it!

The band's new CD, Rockin', Rollin' and Ridin' can be purchased for only $8.99!

This product was provided free of charge by Big Truck Music. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

It's no secret that we are BIG music lovers in this house, and now there is a great way to jump start your baby's and toddler's minds with Little Music Lovers!

Little Music Lovers offers beautiful music from the famous Decca catalog. You know, the music like Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart that has been found to help math and reasoning skills when listened to. I remember some teachers in college telling us to study with this music playing. The really cool part is that Little Music Lovers breaks the music down into four different categories depending on your day. There is a CD for play time, story time, activity time, and bed time! The musical pieces that are included on these CDs were selected for their melodic content, as well as their impact on effecting your child's development.

We have been listening to the sampler CD we were sent for review and Graham has enjoyed having this music while playing around the house. I haven't actually used it for nap time just because it is a mix CD with a few more upbeat songs, but honestly, it is so soothing I probably could. So far, we are really enjoying the selection.

You can purchase Little Music Lovers at Barnes and Noble, Borders, Amazon, and iTunes!


This product was provided free of charge by Little Music Lovers. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.


Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

One of Graham's favorite bands is now on DVD! He was sent The Jimmies music video DVD to review and can now watch and dance along to his favorite songs. You can read my review about the music here. This music is fun for both parents and kids to listen to. They have also received a Best Toy and Parent's Choice Award! The Jimmies are really on a roll, and with good reason.

The music videos are adorable and funny! Our favorite is "Do the Elephant" which is all about covering your mouth with your arm when you sneeze. The video cracks us up each time!

Check out the Jimmies at GimmeJimmes.com!



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

If you are looking for an interesting blend of music for your child this is definitely a book and CD to check out. Your child will be introduced to several different languages including English, French, and Japanese.

We were sent Sunday in Kyoto to review which features 14 different songs that bring a unique feel. When I first popped the CD into the player my own husband said, "Now, I like this kids music"! Graham has also liked listening to this music because it is so different from other ordinary children's music genres. The publisher, Secret Mountain, has several other titles to choose from as well. They feature several different countries as well as cultures.

The brand new title, Sunday in Kyoto is set to be released October 27th and would make an excellent gift idea! The hard bound book has fun illustrations that put to life some of the songs. One of our favorite songs is If You Bump Your Knee because of the funky feel! "If you bump your knee have a cup of tea Yukki, If you stub your toe hip hop to and fro Kaito...." It is just fun and has an upbeat feeling to it. I also really enjoy the Morning Breaks on Skates song. I am a huge musical fan and it reminds me of a song you would hear on the Evita sound track! If you are looking for a sweet song, check out Sleep Tight My Love. The One, Two, Three, ABCD song mentions the word "fart". Different families have different feelings about this word so I thought it was worth sharing. Personally, we do not let Graham listen to this particular song.

I think the best thing about this CD is that you will experience several different styles of music, from fun, funky, to lullabies! It features songs by Gilles Vigneault who is a well known singer in Canada. The artist for the book, Stéphane Jorisch, has also created sets for the famous Cirque du Soleil.

So, if you are looking for a different gift idea Sunday in Kyoto is like having a CD of cool new nursery rhymes that are sure to be different from anything you have ever heard! Hay, you may even find yourself listening when no kids are around!



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

I was so excited when I stumbled upon My Wonder Kids the other day while looking for some different gift options this Christmas season. I was looking for a one stop shop for various ages that would have Christian music as well as books and other merchandise for kids. My Wonder Kids has ages 0-10 covered and offers so many different choices.

We were sent the Toddler Gift Pack. Not only was it jam packed with fun products, but it also retails for an extremely reasonable price! For $21.99 you can receive 1 padded book and 6 CDs. So basically for the cost of one CD you receive an entire gift pack. That is definitely the best bang for your buck!

Graham has been loving all of the wonderful music that was included in the package. Of course, Graham is a music lover, but there are sure to be songs that were favorites of yours as a child that will become a favorite of your kids. I enjoy being able to sing along with Graham and teach him some of the songs that I knew growing up. One of our favorites is Noah's Arky Arky. There are even songs that enforce messages like manners and nursery rhymes.



The padded Little Songs for Little Souls book is absolutely precious. It is like a mini devotional for toddlers that has illustrations and words that go along with the songs. We were also sent the World's Greatest Children's Stories & Songs DVD that features stories like Pinocchio. Each story has a great lesson and is like a DVD picture book. The images are still and a sweet voice narrates. Graham has enjoyed watching along. He will often ask for the Pinocchio movie over some of his other favorites.

If you are looking for Christmas songs for your kids, My Wonder Kids has you covered as well! You can check out the Top 100 Christmas Songs for Kids or the Kids Sing Christmas. Right now you can purchase the Awesome Story of Christmas DVD for only $8.99!



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

-Allie

Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

Milkshake has a brand new fun CD out titled Great Day! This is fun rock music for kids. You may be familiar with Milkshake as they have appeared on Noggin, PBS Kids, and Discovery Kids with their upbeat songs and funky look!

The new CD is just as upbeat and rocks out like the last! I love how the appeal to the kids senses and try to sing songs from a point of view children can relate to. One of my favorites is "You Did It!". This song talks about responsibility and finally doing what you are supposed to do even when you don't want to. Another favorite is a sweet, lullaby type song called "I Love You". It is a precious song to your child that speaks about loving them no matter what they are doing, "I love you. I love you. I don't know much, but that much is true."

The lessons that are taught and the way it is delivered is what impresses me. You can use fun songs like "I Want It" to help remind your kids that everything they want they don't need or a song like "Enemies" when there might be a bullying issue going on. Then there are the simple songs that uplift and wake the imagination like "Travel Far" and "Great Day".

Milkshake is a fun collection to add to your kids' musical library. You can purchase the CD for about $14 at the MilkshakeMusic.com website!



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

Learning to play the guitar has long been a dream of mine and my husband's. The problem is that guitar classes are expensive and inconvenient when you have a 2 year old at home. Jean Welles has been teaching guitar for over 25 years and even has her Master's Degree in Guitar Performance from USC.

We were sent the Jean Welles Worship Guitar Class Volumne One DVD as well as the Worship Guitar Class for kids Volume One DVD and book. Jean provides easy step-by-step instructions. You don't need a previous musical background because Jean covers everything! She even gets you singing while you play. In the first DVD you will learn 7 songs, a dozen chords, and several strumming and picking patterns. With all 4 DVDs you will learn over 60 chords with about 30 strumming and finger-picking patterns. The child's version is 2 1/2 hours long and was filmed using a 7 year old!

Not only will you be learning to play the guitar, but hopefully, you will also be developing a richer relationship with Christ. I love the fact that Jean incorporates this important piece into her lessons. You can purchase the entire set of Worship Guitar DVDs for $99.80 or buy them one at a time for $29.95.



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

What's the best thing for a stay at home dad of 4 to do when he has the last name Singer? Make a fun and musically tasty CD for kids! Sweets 'n' Treats is a brand new album by Tracey Singer that will have your kids toes tapping while celebrating "Christmas in July".

This hilarious new album truly has a lively feel with great messages. Each song has a different musical style which will give your child a new experience without getting bored. It feels like Tracey has tapped into the brains of kids with lyrics like, "Lunch lady, lunch lady I know you are gonna try to fill my plate up with your veggie stew. Don't you know that all I wanna pass my lips is a candy bar and some potato chips?". He even address issues like Baggy Pants and no smoking. The "Stinky Smoke" song gets me every time, "You think you are cool the joke is on you! By the time you are 20 you look 82!". I love it!




Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!