Music Details
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Family Tree (by Tom Chapin, Children's Music)

common sense media says

Kids will have a wonderful time singing along.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that they're likely to enjoy this album every bit as much as their kids do -- especially the songs reminding them of their own childhood.

Positive messages: Not applicable.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Family Tree

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about what the songs make them imagine. For example, what do you suppose the Mayor of Blanketville, a person living in a telephone booth, looks like, and how do you envision the big rock-candy mountain? Children will have a great time expressing their creativity -- have them listen with paper, pens, and paint handy.

What's the story?

What's the story?
Just try to keep the kids (or yourself, for that matter) from squishing, glubble-glubbing, plip-plopping, and otherwise marching their way through Tom Chapin's entertaining songs on FAMILY TREE. Chapin is at his best when he looks at the world from a child's perspective, as in "Don't Make Me Go to School Today." (He cleverly sets the story to appropriately dark music from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.) Other highlights include a kid-friendly, sing-along round (with Judy Collins!), the attractive "This Pretty Planet," and a song about a familiar behavioral pattern: rushing to get ice cream before your parents count to five, but moving much more slowly to kiss relatives goodbye.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Several songs have catchy melodies and phrases that are easy to dance to. Also, hearing the children on the recording sing along with Chapin will encourage your own child to do the same. This one's a winner -- literally: Family Tree was selected for a Parents' Choice Notable Children's Recording award. Lyrics are included, and there's nice cover art, too.

Music themes & details

Music Details
Released on: October 9, 2001
Label: Gadfly
Genre: Children's Music

This review was written by Don Kaplan
 
 

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age