"Brand New Friend" - The Jelly of the Month Club

Arist: The Jelly of the Month Club 

Song: "Brand New Friend" 

Album: Introducing, The Jelly of the Month Club 

Description:  If you had told me that there'd be a new kindie band featuring, among others, a couple folks from Sublime, the musical bits in my mind would not have sounded anything like this song, which is a jazzy bit of roots and an infectious "wawa-wawa-wawa" chorus in parts.  And the video features green screen technology and animated animals, which can sometimes be a warning sign, but here is just charming.

Source: YouTube 

"In the Group" - Tom Chapin

Artist: Tom Chapin 

Song: "In the Group" 

Album:  The Incredible Flexible You

Description:  My preferences run pretty far from the more explicitly educational kids music, and so this song, from an album expressly designed as part of a curriculum to encourage "social thinking," is not in my wheelhouse.  But others may think it useful, and I do love the animation from animator Steven Mertens.

Source: YouTube 

"Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers" - Trout Fishing in America

Artist: Trout Fishing in America

Song: "Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers" 

Album: Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers 

Description: This video is more calm than the lyrical flips from Ezra and Keith.  Features the by-now very distinctive artwork from Beans Barton along with a banjo breakdown I just love. 

Source: YouTube 

"Why Is the Sky Blue?" - Nick Cope

Artist: Nick Cope 

Song: "Why Is the Sky Blue?" 

Album: Why Is the Sky Blue? 

Description: The English musician Nick Cope and his son Burt have made quite a few videos together.  Their new one, for the title track to Nick's third album for families, is from the perspective a kid who asks a lot of (accentuated, well-rhymed) questions, and so the Copes' lo-fi animation style fits perfectly.

Source: YouTube 

"How To Count To 20" - The Ukulady

Artist:  The Ukulady

Song:  "How To Count To 20"

Album: N/A

Description: I think any counting song can be improved with the inclusion of kangaroos, cake and ice cream, and brightly animated videos.  Check!  (By the way, if you want a copy of the song, the Ukulady obliges.) 

Source:  YouTube

"Hokey Pokey" - Josh and the Jamtones

Artist: Josh and the Jamtones 

Song: "Hokey Pokey" 

Album:  Jump Up!

Description:  Yay for kinetic typography!  ("You put your Helvetica in / you put your Helvetica out...")  An energetic video (for typography, in any case) for the energetic Boston-area band.

Source: Vimeo 

"Fish Sticks" - Recess Monkey

Artist: Recess Monkey​

Song: "Fish Sticks"​

Album: Deep S​ea Diver

Description: You know, drummer Korum Bischoff looks a little different than when I met him in Brooklyn for Kindiefest.  Can't quite put my finger on it, though...​

Source: YouTube

"Toy Symphony" - Leopold Mozart

Artist: Toronto Chamber Orchestra

Song: "Toy Symphony" (Leopold Mozart)​

Album: Listen to the Birds: An Introduction to Classical Music​

Description:​ I hesitate to call this video animated, as it's pretty much just moving the camera around the illustrations from The Secret Mountain's latest book/CD set.  But the illustrations are pretty, and I think kids'll get a kick out of listening to a handful of instruments that do not sound like your typical orchestral instruments.  (The "Toy Symphony" is not just a cute appellation.)

Source: Vimeo​