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 1998 - Listening For the Sounds of the Season

“A Child’s Hanukkah” - Jewish Wedding Band
“Rudolph, Frosty and Friends’ Favorite Christmas Songs” - Various Artists
“Sesame Street Christmas” - Various Artists
“Elmo Saves Christmas: Holiday Favorites” - Various Artists
“The Soul of Christmas: A Celtic Music Celebration with Thomas Moore” - Various Artists
“Saving Grace” - Various Artists

November 1998 - Music That's Suitable for Wrapping

“The Playground” - Tony Bennett
“Arthur & Friends” - Various Artists
“Dance Music” - Various Artists
“It's A Wonderful Life -- The Record” - Various Artists

October 1998 - In Harmony With the Season

“Autumnsongs” - John McCutcheon
“Hunk-Ta Bunk-Ta Spooky” - Katherine Dines
“Scary Stories” - Various Artists
“Halloween Hits” - Various Artists

September 1998 - A New and Noteworthy Voice

“Nora's Room” - Jessica Harper
“40 Winks” - Jessica Harper
“Disney's Instrumental Impressions: 14 Classic Disney Love Songs” - Jack Jezzro

August 1998 - Tunes For Traveling

“Billboard Presents Family Travel Classics” - Various Artists
“My Name is Cheech, The School Bus Driver” - Cheech Marin
“Hush” - Bobby McFerrin & Yo Yo Ma

July 1998 - Listening to Some Local Talent

“Jim Gill Sings The Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes” - Jim Gill
“Jim Gill Makes it Noisy in Goise, Idaho” - Jim Gill
“I Can’t Sit Still” - Joel Frankel
“Don’t Sit On a Cactus” - Joel Frankel
“Great Big Sun” - Justin Roberts

June 1998 - Greg & Steve: A Primer for Parents

“Big Fun” - Greg & Steve
“Kids In Motion” - Greg & Steve
“Holidays and Special Times” - Greg & Steve
“Playing Favorites” - Greg & Steve

May 1998 - Reissues Revisit Kids’ Classics

“Smithsonian Folkways Children’s Music Collection” - Various Artists
“Birds, Beasts, Bugs and Fishes ” - Pete Seeger
“For Kids and Just Plain Folks” - Pete Seeger
“A Twinkle in Your Eye” - Burl Ives
“Always Your Pal, Gene Autry” - Gene Autry

April 1998 - Kids Music From Grown-Ups Who Get It

“My World” - Trout Fishing In America
“My Best Friend Is A Salamander” - Peter Himmelman
“Elmopalooza!” - Various Artists

March 1998 - And The Grammy Winner Is . . .

“All Aboard” - John Denver
“Bigger Than Yourself” - John McCutcheon
“Shakin' A Tailfeather” - Taj Mahal & Linda Tillery
“Songs From A Parent” - Art Garfunkel
“This Land Is Your Land” - Arlo and Woody Guthrie

February 1998 - Kid-Friendly Classics

Chuck Jones' Peter and the Wolf CD-Rom
Bugs Bunny on Broadway
The Mozart Effect - Music For Children - Don Campbell

January 1998 - Rockin' With The Oldies

“21 Really Cool Songs” - Sugar Beats
“Everybody Is A Star” - Sugar Beats
“Back To The Beat” - Sugar Beats
“A Child's Celebration Of Rock 'N' Roll” - Various Artists
“Kids Wanna Rock” - Mr. Al