Contest: Win A Putumayo Kids Playground Selection!

I've already given you a list of recess-friendly disks, but what if you're not near a playground? Well, thanks to the folks at Putumayo Kids, you now have a chance for a little monkey bar time of your own -- we're hosting a contest to win a couple disks from Putumayo. Putumayo's Playground is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, as World Playground was released ten years ago. It's now a dozen albums strong, and there's more on its way -- European Playground will be released in May and Picnic Playground - featuring Johnny Bregar, Asheba and others - will be released in July, accompanied by a summer concert tour. Putumayo will give copies World Playground and Folk Playground to a lucky reader. Just list your (and/or your kids') favorite playground activities in the comments below. I'll pick one reader at random. One comment per family, please; all entries due by Thursday 11 PM East Coast / 8 PM West Coast time. Thanks and good luck!

Contest: Win Robbert Bobbert And The Bubble Machine. Literally.

The wonderful folks from Little Monster Records have partnered up with Funrise Toys to give you a chance to win a copy of Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine's self-titled debut album plus an actual bubble machine. The fun new album from Robert Schneider's alter ego, you know about (and if you don't, here's a review). The bubble machine, well, here's how the folks at Funrise describe it:

The award-winning Gazillion Bubble Machine’s motorized rotating bubble wands put you in the midst of a bubble blizzard blowing 4,000 bubbles per minute! The easy carry handle lets you take the “bubblebration” wherever you go. Each Bubble Machine comes with an 8 oz. bottle of The One and Only Gazillion Bubble solution that attaches right to the Bubble Machine to continuously feed the wands. (Requires 6 AA batteries, not included.)

I'm pretty sure I've now used my quota of the word "bubble" for the website for like the next decade, but if that's what it takes to bring the fun to you, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. So here are the rules. In honor of Robbert Bobbert's extra consonants, in the comments below, post a fake song title or band/artist name with a vowel or consant overload (e.g., "Satisssssssssfaction" or "UUUUUUUU2"). One entry will be selected at random to receive the CD/bubble machine package. One entry per family; all entries due by 8 PM West Coast time / 11 PM East Coast time Monday, March 2. Thanks and good luck!

Contest: Win "Dizzy" From Lunch Money!

A while back, I suggested that preordering Dizzy, the second album from South Carolina's Lunch Money would be an excellent pre-order. I have not wavered from that stance. Of course, you need not pre-order any longer. And, even better, I've got a copy of the excellent new album to give away, courtesy of Molly and her crew. Just list your favorite favorite food (note ~~clever~~ tie-in to the song "Ate Too Much of My Favorite Food" off the new album) in the comment section below. One entry per family, winner chosen at random, all entries due by 8 PM West Coast time Thursday night. Thanks and good luck (and, really, go ahead and get that CD anyway...)

One Last Reminder (Plus Bonus Video and Song): Win Dan Zanes Tickets

I've told you before -- you have until tonight to enter the contest to win a 4-pack of tickets to Dan Zanes Holiday House Party shows in San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City. The show's gonna be a blast, methinks. Enter now!... But Dan hasn't forgotten people who won't be near those fine cities, too -- if you go here you can download "Colas" from Dan's fine Nueva York! CD. He's offering it as a celebration of Heifer International, an organization our family has supported in the past (particularly around this time of year). And to get you in the holiday mood a little bit more, here's an old (but related) video...

So How Would Dan Zanes Describe the Holiday House Party Tickets You Might Win?

A gentle reminder: you can win tickets to see Dan Zanes and his Holiday House Party in San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City just by going here and leaving a comment. Entries are due by Monday night. (See the link for more details.) And in case you're not sure what to expect, why don't you let Dan Zanes explain (and duet a bit on "Let It Snow"...)

Contest: Win Tickets to Dan Zanes' Holiday House Party!

If you've been reading your Dan Zanes newsletters (and, really, why aren't you?), you know that Dan Zanes has announced his Holiday House Party set of concerts. He's going to San Francisco Nov. 29/30; Davis, CA Dec. 2; and Seattle Dec. 6/7 before heading back to New York City for a long run at the New Victory Theatre Dec. 19 through Jan. 4. For those of you who haven't been reading the e-mails, let's let the folks at Festival Five describe it...

Take a seat in the theatrical living room of Grammy winners Dan Zanes and Friends, America’s premier family music band, for a 21st century all-ages holiday celebration. If you feel that the festivities of the season are incomplete without disco Hanukkah rave-ups, raucous Arabic worship songs, a Korean new years anthem, high octane Mexican fiddling, tap dancing, shadow puppetry, snow, laughter, and the occasional Christmas carol, than this is your party. Everyone is invited and now that includes you. The New York Times says “concerts by Dan Zanes are always a cause for celebration” and the Holiday House Party may just be the wildest concert of them all.

Now, I know what you're saying, you're saying, Stefan, how am I supposed to believe the hype? (I'm personally most interested in the Korean new years anthem. I'm totally serious.) Well, thanks to Festival Five, we here at Zooglobble are happy to give away a set of 4 tickets to one show in each of San Francisco (Sunday Nov. 30th @ 5 pm), Seattle (Sunday Dec. 7th @ 4 pm), and Nueva York City (Wednesday Dec. 31st @ noon) for you, loyal readers. How, you might ask?