Laura Freeman steers clear of the usual cutsie or gross out humor ditties that are often served up as entertainment for kids. This is real music and a vocal talent that you will enjoy listening to. There's a good variety of rhythms and styles, from blue grass to marches. It's original music that doesn't condescend and Freeman's vocals are accompanied by guitar, uke, mandolin, electric guitar, drums, and bass…not to mention occasional troll, fairies, Frankenstein and frog voices. Many of the songs like Can You Shake It? are an invitation to get up and dance while others are just good listening fun. www.laurafreemanmusic.com

Age: Toddlers, Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009.

There are some lullaby and quiet time songs along with interactive dance-about tunes. Together they make for a lively listening and doing experience that fit into the day of infants and toddlers. The CD opens with the title song, Beautiful Baby, Wonderful Child, sung with Kisor's original words put to Bach's Prelude in C and moves on to several other songs that one might call love songs from parent to child. Among the loveliest is a lullaby, A Blessing, played and sung to the haunting music of a Native American flute. About half the CD is dedicated to action songs that will get toddlers up on their tippy toes and turning round and round. Also charming is a little tune called I Keep Kiss in My Pocket, that just might make separations a little easier. At the end of the CD there is a reprise of three totally instrumental renditions of three of the quiet tunes introduced earlier. These three will be perfect for a bit of naptime music. http://shop.childreninc.org/beautiful-baby-wonderful-child.

Age: Infants, Toddlers, Preschool. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.