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NOW! That's What I Call Music, Vol 25:  Over the years I have purchased several of these CD's and they are usually quite good.  NOW! Vol. 25 is packed with great music.  The nice thing about this CD is that it has really current hits that my kids enjoy as much as I do.  This CD features top hits by Fergie, Avril Lavigne, Fall Out Boy and more, as well as former American Idols Kelly Clarkson, Elliot Yamin, Daughtry and Carrie Underwood.  The songs are all hugely popular and well recorded.  It's on sale now for just $9.99 and is well worth the price! 

Motown Hits For Kids: These CDs are great for both kids and adults. The songs are all oldies that parents and grandparents will love, but they are sung by children which is great, because as the hit TV Show American Idol can attest to, kids love hearing other kids sing! It's great for long road trips. Some favorites are For Once in My Life, You Can't Hurry Love, Rockin' Robin and Ain't No Mountain High Enough. This is great classic music that they hopefully will continue to appreciate as they age.

Another really nice thing about the music from Bingo Records is their company is based on the premise that parents and children should enjoy and share the experience of listening to music together. Their mantra "Don't Feed Kids Junk Music!" is a great one!

Swing Around The World (Putumayo Kids) $15.98
This CD rocks! Every Friday night we dance in our living room before dinner and my little one loves this CD. All I have to do is pop on The Cool Crooners of Bulawayo and my 22 month old starts spinning and bopping and running around. He even tries to reach up the stereo to turn up the volume. The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Jamabalaya Cajun band and others contribute to the irresistible rhythm of this CD's upbeat tunes. Pop it in and you will see that adults and kids alike will find it impossible to sit still! This is one CD that you can take on a road trip that the whole family will enjoy. -- Reviewed by Diana I, mother of two. 

High School Musical Soundtrack (Disney)  This CD is so well played that if it were an album it would be worn out!  I mentioned "album" to my kids and they had no idea what I was talking about - but I'm sure all of you do!  This CD is addictive, let me say that even after my kids have gotten out of the car it's still on and I'm still singing.  I really enjoy it - as do my kids aged 5 and 7½.  Now don't just take my word for it - every kid I know also has a copy, knows the songs and is working on the dance steps!  There's even a special edition coming out that includes sing-along tracks with karaoke versions for eight of the musical's most popular songs including "Breaking Free," "We're All in This Together" and "Start of Something New." The soundtrack twice has claimed the #1 position on Billboard's Top 200, as well as reigning atop both the Billboard Soundtrack and Kids Charts.  Still not sure?  Well you can listen to the tracks yourself at Amazon.  

Bratz: Genie Magic (MGA Entertainment)  My daughter is already a big fan of Bratz music and although this one is quite different from the first, she and her friends have quickly become a big fan of this one too. This CD is less Rock and more Hip Hop and R&B with the singers sounding a lot like Beyoncé. The lyrics follow the original with great songs like Never Gonna Give Up, When We're All Together and The Real You. The lyrics have consistently positive messages, which is very refreshing.

Dora the Explorer (Nick Jr & SonyBMG) $12.98
Okay, I'll admit it -- I'm a huge fan of Dora.  This CD is packed with songs like the "Backpack" song, "I'm the Map", "Dora's Theme Song" and more.  It's a great CD for Dora fans.  It also has some great multicultural songs like "Feliz Cumpleanos", "Buenas Noches" and "El Coqui."  

Ralph's World - Great Kids Music (Minty Fresh) $18.00
Here's some fun kids music that is as entertaining for the kids as it is for the adults.  It has fun rhythms and sounds without being to "childlike".  Our testers reported that the really liked "Seven Monkeys Up In A Tree," and "You Can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd."  All around raves for this fun cd - which is available at Chocolate Cake Club.

Bratz Rock Angelz (MGA Entertainment)  This is a great CD for girls aged 6 -13.  My daughter and her friend, who both have this CD think they are now rock stars!  Their favorite songs are  "Change The World," and "Rock the World."  The songs have positive messages, no foul language and are sung well.  They seem to really like singing along and hey - isn't that good wholesome fun?!?

Scat Like That: A Musical Word Odyssey (Rounder Records) This CD which has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Musical Album for Children has already won a Parents’ Choice Gold Award and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award for 2005.  The songs are fun, the music is great and kids seem to love it.  You can yodel, scat, sign to big band and more!  It's a great CD to expose kids to all kinds of music!

HOLIDAY MUSIC

Putamayo New Orleans Holiday Music CD (Putumayo) $15.98
"I am one of those people who likes to listen to holiday music all year long so this is a great addition to my music library," reports our mom tester.  "The music is smooth, upbeat and happy and totally brings a smile to my face. I can close my eyes and immediately imagine myself drinking warm apple cider by a roaring fireplace and smell the Christmas tree in the air. Very fun to sing along to because it includes all of my favorite holiday songs but isn't too commercial. A great complement to the Putamayo collection."
 

Nick Holiday (Nick Jr & SonyBMG) $12.98
My kids just love this CD - as do their friends.  They play it over and over again when they come home from school and in particular really love singing the "Twelve Days of Rugrats" and "Jingle Bells."  For them it's a nice twist to the traditional holiday songs that they are subjected too!

Barenaked for the Holidays (Nettwerk)  $18.98
This great CD features a variety of the holiday classics sung in a new way.  The album features Jingle Bells, Do They Know It's Christmas and Sleigh Ride amongst others.  My favorite song is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen which features Sarah McLachlan.  The music is fun and witty -- definitely not those dull holiday songs!
 

A Winter's Night (Nettwerk) $17.98 
This album makes the perfect holiday gift for anyone on your list. It includes holiday songs from Sarah McLachlan, Sixpence None the Richer, Dido, Neil Finn and more.   Since I love Sarah McLachlan's voice I have to say that "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" with the Barenaked Ladies was my favorite as well as "Song for a Winter's Night."  

Dinosaur Holiday (Museum Music) Here's a real twist on Christmas music!  It's a fun CD of favorite holiday song sounds with lyrics about Dinosaurs.  Having a hard time imaging this?  Well you can sing "Here We Go A Fossiling" which is sung to the tune of "Here We Come a Wassailing," or you could sing "Dino, Dino, Dino, to the the tune of "I Have a Little Dreidel."  Still not sure?  Visit their site and listen for yourself - it's fun!