Most commercial seems to be made under the assumption that youngsters are incapable of appreciating subtlety and need to be aurally slapped about the face with melodic and lyrical repetition in order to make sense of what they're hearing. is an educator and musician who thankfully knows better; as the lead singer with , she's been lending her lovely voice to -leaning for years, and in recent years she's been displaying the same intelligence and playful joie de vivre on a handful of recordings for children. is 's third album for kids, recorded with help from (her husband and bandmate in ) as well as 's , and it's a sweet, simple gem, as warm and joyous as a clear spring day. 's notion of what makes a children's song may be a bit different than those of most folks, since includes covers of and but there's an engaging simplicity and humanity to this music that should easily charm both kids and adults, and are tunes that make perfect singalongs, regardless of the age of the audience. The arrangements on are primarily acoustic and purposefully low-key, and they allow the melodies of these songs to shine through, and 's singing is elegant, unforced, and a thoroughly natural pleasure to behold. The quieter moments of this album are ideal for evening play or bedtime, and if you're looking for a disc that will soothe all members of the family during a long car ride, this album is just what you've been looking for. Some parents will doubtless find themselves borrowing from their offspring to play for their own pleasure -- it's an album almost magical in its enchanting simplicity, and should be welcome listening even in homes without any little ones about. ~ Mark Deming