New Music: Laurie Berkner's Favorite Classic Kids' Songs

We LOVE Laurie Berkner! She continues to come out with great music for children. We were fortunate to review her new album - Laurie Berkner's Favorite Classic Kids' Songs. It includes 51 traditional classics with her unique flair and several of her own songs, for over two hours of fun music for kids. Perfect while you're taking a road trip over the holidays. I fondly remember most all of these songs from my childhood.

Laurie Berkner has said of her new album, "I grew up with many of these songs, and I'm sure parents and grandparents will remember a lot of them from their own childhoods. I'm excited about sharing these classics with kids who may not have heard them before and also introducing my versions of songs that might already be family favorites. In the true folk tradition, I've added some of my own lyrics and my own spin to many of these traditional songs. I've kept a folk or rock feel for most of the numbers, with a little reggae thrown in here and there for fun!"

Laurie Berkner Band: Laurie Berkner, vocals/guitar; Susie Lampert, keyboards; Brady Rymer, bass; and Bobby Golden, drums/percussion. | Photo Credit: LaurieBerkner.com

For this review, I had my three children and our two neighbor girls listening and providing their feedback. The music is geared for kids 0-7, so the older kids scoffed at me playing it for them because they thought it was 'too babyish'. But soon after it started playing, when I told them to imagine being a small child and get into it. They actually started singing along and saying they remembered it from when they were little.

The following is a write up of what each child jotted down about their listening experience. I was unable to get them to listen to all 50+ songs. Their attention spans are short and they refuse to sit for long; especially when they're all together after school.

Littlest Chickadee (8):

• Over in the Meadow - I think you have a talent for babies. I love your babyish songs.
• The Cat Came Back - I love it so much. But it's weird when you did cat noises. It's awesome.
• Five in the Bed - It's so cute, but it's too short.
• Little Boy Blue - It's the best lullaby ever. I love your voice. It will put babies to sleep right away.
• I've Been Working on the Railroad - I like it from childhood, even when I'm still a kid!
• Sing a Song of Six Pence - I love it. It's so good.
• Alouette - Love it. So good for a learning experience. It's the best of all. 
• Take Me Out to the Ball Game - It's ok. We don't know which team you're talking about.

Neighbor Chickadee (8):

• Song 1 - It is so funny.
• Song 2 -  I would listen to it.
• The Cat Came Back - Let's be real - it's kinda weird. I'm not trying to be mean.
• Five in the Bed - So cute! Too short. 
• Little Boy Blue - It's beautiful!
• Wild
• Cute
• Fun
• Catchy
• Cool

Neighbor Chickadee (10):

• Over in the Meadow - I like the tune and the lyrics. I like it because it sounds like it is telling a story.
• Shoo Fly - This song is cute and lovely. It's a good morning song and a nighttime song. 
• The Cat Came Back - I like the tune of this song. It's very jazzy. I love it!
• Five in the Bed - This song brings back good memories and this song is very, very cute.
• Little Boy Blue - This song is very calming and beautiful and is one of the best lullabies I have ever heard! I love it!
• The Animal Fair - I love this song SO much! It is very catchy and cute! It's very, very fun and full of joy!
• I've Been Working on the Railroad - I love this. It's very cute and it's one of my favorite songs! It's very catchy and joyful. 
• Sing a Song of Six Pence - (she wrote six cents - funny!) Sing a song of six cents is a great song. It is very cute and cheerful!
•  A, B, Cs - This song is very calming and in my opinion this song is much, much better than the regular A, B, Cs. 
• Alouette - I love this song. It is very entertaining and interesting! I really, really love it! :) One of my faves!
• Take Me Out to the Ball Game - I LOVE THIS SONG! I used to sing this song in kindergarten! It brings back so many fun and nice memories! Also I like the jazzy twist! 
• Shortnin' Bread - I love this! My mom used to sing this. I love it. It is probably my favorite! :) Yes! Yes! Yes! :)
• Amazing Grace - It is so, so beautiful and wonderful! Also it is very calming. My second favorite song! :)

The Disgruntled Chick (me, 41): I thought the classic songs were fun, beautiful, catchy and well done. To me, as a mom, it's important to know these types of songs by heart to sing to my kids, and to sing them together, especially when they're young. Singing traditional songs makes them smile, builds warm childhood memories and it helps form parent/child bond. It also passes down a legacy of songs from history and generations, which is pretty special I think. To create those sweet memories when they're little so when they're older and too cool for 'babyish stuff', you can recreate some of those fond memories (or annoy them).

I'm glad my oldest chickadee's friend gave me her sweet notes on the songs, because mine was ignoring my request completely. Same with my almost five year old chicken hawk. Sigh... Don't worry though - I'll be playing these little gems for them in the car. If they give me any further feedback, I'll be sure to update this review.

In the meantime, I highly recommend buying this as Christmas gifts for the moms/kids/families in your life! There is a Black Friday sale on her website right now - this album plus another album of your choice for $19.99 or this album and two other albums of your choice for $26.99.

Here is the extensive list of songs on the two-disc album.  

Disc 1

1	Over In the Meadow
2	There Were Five In the Bed
3	The Animal Fair
4	I've Been Working On the Railroad
5	Alouette
6	Take Me Out to the Ballgame
7	Rum Sum Sum
8	Children Go Where I Send Thee
9	New River Train
10	Where Is Thumbkin?
11	O Susannah
12	Shortnin' Bread
13	Daisy Daisy (Bicycle Built for Two)
14	The Wheels On the Bus
15	There's a Hole In the Bucket
16	Froggie Went a-Courtin'
17	The Itsy Bitsy Spider
18	I Gave My Love a Cherry (The Riddle Song)
19	The Erie Canal
20	Jack In the Box
21	Loch Lomond
22	One Two Buckle My Shoe
23	There's a Little Wheel a-Turnin' In My Heart
24	All the Pretty Little Horses
25	When the Saints Go Marching In
26	Victor Vito
27	Moon Moon Moon
28	Under a Shady Tree
Disc 2
1	Shoo-Fly
2	The Cat Came Back
3	Little Boy Blue
4	Sing a Song of Sixpence
5	Abcd Medley
6	This Old Man
7	I Love My Rooster
8	White Coral Bells
9	A-Tisket a-Tasket
10	The Ants Go Marching
11	Little Red Caboose
12	All Through the Night
13	Open Shut Them
14	The More We Get Together
15	Hush Little Baby
16	Old King Cole
17	Oleanna
18	The Great Big Dog
19	If You're Happy and You Know It
20	My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
21	Down Down Baby
22	Billy Boy
23	This Little Light of Mine
24	Zodiac
25	She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain
26	Amazing Grace
27	Rocketship Run
28	Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)
29	We Are the Dinosaurs

* I was provided a copy of Laurie Berkner's Favorite Classic Kids' Songs to facilitate a review. Our opinions are authentic.