Fred Koch's children's music review column appears monthly in Chicago Parent magazine, and BestChildrensMusic.com is delighted to make the complete archived series of articles accessible to you.

The following reviews are reprinted with permission from Chicago Parent magazine, a free monthly magazine for Chicago-area parents. For further information on Chicago Parent, call 708/386.5555. You may also visit them online at Chicagoparent.com.


December 2000 - Best Music of 2000

“Quiet Times”
“Preschool and Kindergarten”
“School Aged (6-9)”
“Older Kids (10 and up)”
“Soundtracks”

December 2000 - New Releases That Suit The Holiday Spirit

“Arthur's Perfect Christmas” - Various Artists
“Celebrate Hanukkah” - Craig Taubman
“Kwanzaa for Young People (and Everyone Else!)” - Various Artists
“Happy Holidays” - Meeka and Her Cool Cousins

November 2000 - These Kids Can Play (And Sing)

“We're Next” - Marea Goodman
“On The North Side Of The Tree” - The Moss Brothers
“A Child's Celebration of Soul” - Various Artists

October 2000 - Songs About Animals, Vegetables and Silliness

“Making Faces” - Rick Scott
“The Elephant In Aisle Four” - Lisa Atkinson
“In Your Garden” - The Zucchini Brothers

September 2000 - Music Adds To Poetry's Kid-Appeal

“The Days Gone By” - Ted Jacobs
“More American Heroes” - Jonathan Sprout
“Uni Verse of Song -- French” - Jean Rene

August 2000 - Real Men Can Cook Up Kids' Music

“Cool Music for Cool Kids” - Daddy A Go Go
“Monkey In The Middle” - Daddy A Go Go
“Getting Bigger” - Dave Kinnoin
“Swing For The Sky” - Vince Junior

July 2000 - A Preschool Music Primer For Parents

“Say Hello To The Morning” - Kathy Reid-Naiman
“Kids in Action” - Greg and Steve
“Mr. ALa Carte” - Mr. Al
“Early Childhood Classics ” - Hap Palmer

June 2000 - Go To Sleep, Go To Sleep . . .

“Counting Sheep” - Collin Raye
“Night Songs & Lullabies” - Kim Scanlon
“The Celtic Cradle” - Jill Rogoff
“Celtic Lullabies” - Sarah Lacy
“Barney For Baby CD, Love & Lullabies” - Lyrick Studios

May 2000 - Three New Treats For Your Listening Pleasure

“This Pretty Planet” - Tom Chapin
“Princess Bean's Messy World” - BeanStar Entertainment, 2000
“Playdate With Blue” - Blue's Clues

April 2000 - Some Fresh, New Sounds For SpringTime Listening

“Old Mr. Mackle Hackle” - Gunnar Madsen
“Rhythm In My Shoes” - Jessica Harper
“15th Anniversary Collection” - Music For Little People
“Young Dancer” - Various Artist

March 2000 - Grammy Finalists Well Worth A Listen

“The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland” - Various Artists
“A Bug's Life Sing-Along” - Various Artists
“Dreamosaurus” - Dinorock
“Ella Jenkins and a Union of Friends Pulling Together ” - Various Artists
“John McCutcheon's Four Seasons: Springsongs” - (Rounder Kids)
“Mannheim Steamroller Meets The Mouse” - Chip Davis

February 2000 - Some Cool Choices For Cool Kids

“FANTASIA/2000 original soundtrack” - Various Artists
“New World Party” - Various Artists
“Louis Armstrong's All-Time Greatest Hits” - Louis Armstrong

January 2000 - A Few Words On Some Great Storytellers

“Little Pronto's T-Rex Adventure” - Odds Bonkin
“Stories To Grow On by Timmy Abell” - Timmy Abell
“The Growler Tapes” - Various Artists