They Might Be Giants CDs

Whenever a child is born in Brooklyn, the family is issued They Me Be Giants CDs at the hospital. If you happened to have missed yours, we just got a few second-hand ones in: ABCs, 1-2-3, and No!

 

Sid's Picks: Favorite Toddler Songs from 2010

You know what another snow day means: time to post more Sid's picks!

Below are my toddler's favorite songs from 2010, along with a few downloadable mp3's. In another post, I'll list favorite music videos.

CLARE & JEREMY, "SUBWAYS ALWAYS" and "FIVE BOROUGHS" (sample clip here)
Jeremy Zmeda lives in Lefferts Gardens but we'd highly recommend his Songs in the Key of New York EP (2009) even if he wasn't so local because it has magical powers: it makes my son play quietly just so he can listen. A couple of times, Sid even stood by through the entire record (!), dancing and listening. I'm going to be getting some of these, and probably Jeremy's new album, in the store any day now.

"OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM"
Charles and I sing this (badly) at bedtime. One month, it was all Sid wanted to hear.

MALVINA REYNOLDS "LITTLE BOXES" (mp3 - right click to download)
This 1960s folk classic was revived and used as the theme for Weeds. It's awesome. Malvina Reynold's other work is worth checking out as well. I used to play a collection of hers in the store but decided against it after her occasional F-bomb surprised a few shoppers. I still play her (explicative-free) "It Isn't Nice," though, 'cos it's great.

"THE PERFECT NANNY" / FROM MARY POPPINS (mp3 - right click to download)
I can't believe I know all the words to this.

"DA DOO RUN RUN"
I sang this once (having memorized Shaun Cassidy's version in fourth grade) when we ran out of ideas at bedtime and it quickly became a favorite. Sid has never heard the recording but you can hear the Crystals' version on Amazon.

TWO TON BAKER, "I LIKE STINKY CHEESE" (mp3 - right click to download)
Finally, I have found a use for my extensive collection of 40s-60s novelty music! I play it in the store and make my kid listen to it. This recording, from 1949, is one of many fun singles in the Two Ton Baker archive, available free online. Sid does a little dance whenever this comes on and then begs for some stinky cheese, which he promptly licks and throws on the floor.

ROGER MILLER, "OO-DE-LALLY" (mp3 - right click to download)
This is the only Roger Miller song Sid has heard so far but there will be more in 2011, once I dig out my "greatest hits" box set (that's right: box set). This is from Disney's version of Robin Hood.

Need a great "go to bed" song?

Bedtime with a toddler is so often fraught. Trying to get our little monk to stay in his own bed and go to sleep is often maddening and heartbreaking at once. That's why sometimes you've just got to get sappy...

 

I love, love, love this little number by Renee and Jeremy (not to be confused by our local Jeremy). I even made my husband "like" it on YouTube even though, in all honesty, he couldn't give a crackie.