Still trying to come to the grips with yesterday’s tragedy in Boston, I had a hard time getting myself in writing mode this morning. But after dropping my daughter off at preschool and seeing all those happy, little faces, I found the motivation I was looking for. If reviewing kids’ products and working in the children’s industry isn’t a sign of hope and rejuvenation, I don’t know what is. It was precisely this morning that my 4-year-old and I discovered the just-released CD from Miss Nina. A follow-up to Singing & Dancing Together, Sha Doo Be Doop is a spirited release of toe-tapping tunes that can’t help give you a little bit of a lift. Miss Nina’s music teacher background is evident throughout this collection of catchy sing-a-longs, many of which kids can pick up after just a few listens. From “Angry Song,” which playfully grants permission to let it all out, to “Ridin’ In My Car,” which takes the boredom out of ho-hum errands, these tracks keep the beat without going overboard. Our favorite, by far, was “The Brown Bear Rap,” a hip-hop ode to our favorite Eric Carle story, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” Miss Nina has a clever way of combining classic kid lit with nursery rhymes to create a unique sound. In fact, it’s just one of several book-inspired tunes that bring a liveliness to the printed page, like “How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?” and “Wild Things”–perfect teaching tools for the preschool classroom. An upbeat tempo and memorable lyrics make Sha Doo Be Doop a way to enjoy the world as it should be seen: through the eyes of child…or at least, a child at heart.
In a Nutshell: The perfect panacea for tough times, this new kiddie CD delivers smiles all around.
