8 Rockin’ Kids’ CDs

Parents and critics alike continually rave about Elizabeth Mitchell. Her folksy, whimsical and yet still totally hip style will be a welcome change to wheels that go ‘round and farmers named MacDonald. Sunny Day is her most recent release, and it's excellent, but pick up our favourite, You Are My Little Bird, too.

We love anyone who is part of a group called Not Ready for Naptime Players, but as a solo artist, Chicago-born children's musician Justin Roberts has earned respect on his own, with his Grammy nominated album, Jungle Gym and his earlier album, Pop Fly with its ever-so-slightly more male-skewed songs including the catchy title song and 'Kickboard, Baby, Yeah' tune off the same album.

Home-grown musicians, Bobs (Robyn) and LoLo's (Lorraine) Action Packed CD has won, among others, a Parent Choice Award and was nominated for a Juno in 2010. Their sound and lyrics are cheery and zippy, using harmonies to keep the music interesting, but not grating—an all-important distinction when it comes to kids' music.

You may be changing them, but Toronto's The Monkey Bunch are singing about 'Poopy Diapers' as well as topics like the 'Stroller Patrol' and 'Boris the Spider' on their release, Power To The Little People featuring performances by excellent Canadian singer Danny Michel and the CBC's resident hipster, Jian Ghomeshi. Fun, enthusiastic and witty, they treat their young audience with respect. They are quite the bunch.

Ask us if we ever thought Madonna or Bon Jovi would someday soothe our kids to sleep, yet here we are, popping in or downloading 'Like a Virgin' or Coldplay's 'Clocks' to keep them quiet in the car. The Rockabye Baby! series including Bob Marley, AC/DC, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, U2, and more are perfect for the hardest-to-get-to-sleep passengers (babies big and small).

Although we tire of them, kids should know some classics like 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star', and 'Oh Susanna' but these soft, gentle versions—along with original material on this album by Lisa Loeb & Elizabeth Mitchell called Catch The Moon are perfect for lulling little ones to sleep, and when they do, you'll probably forget you meant to turn off the CD, as the music will relax you, too.

Dan Zanes went from 80s rock band frontman (The Del Fuegos), to a West Village stay-at-home dad, and the result is Dan Zanes and Friends. One of our favourite albums are Night Time, a mellow but entertaining CD for when you want to slow things down slightly, including a great version of 'What A Wonderful World' with Lou Reed. His following release, Family Dance offers the exact opposite, for when you want to get the party started (not recommended for naptime in the car).

It's appropriate that the soundtrack to the classic book-turned-movie Curious George is one of our fave choices, even though it was released a few years back (so those of you with five and unders are in for a treat). Jack Johnson's Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George are tunes that will have the whole family swinging (adult monkeys included).