I Wanna Play

Review

Common Sense Media says

Grammy winner delivers lessons with humor.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the 12 songs on this album are original tunes guaranteed to make kids chuckle. Grown-up ears will likely enjoy the clever lyrics and diverse musical styles and inspirations (Caribbean and Cajun among others). It's also a Parent's Choice Gold Medal winner.

  • Positive messages3
    "At Your Library" invites kids to discover the joys of reading. Another songs talks about having the courage to ask questions: "You've got to ask if you don't know/you've got to ask, that's how you grow."
  • Violence0
    Not applicable.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
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What's the story?

I WANNA PLAY, the latest creation of legendary children's musician and storyteller, Bill Harley, takes kids' music beyond the realm of the merely cute and upbeat. Grammy-award winner Harley has been called the "Mark Twain of contemporary kids' music," no doubt because of his folksy wisdom and gently satiric slant. Songs like "Barbie's Head Is Missing" and "You've Got to Ask" tell stories from a child's point of view, with both humor and sympathy. After all, what little brother wouldn't panic after realizing the dog ate Barbie's head after he "innocently" removed it ("it's not like she had brains anyway").

Is it any good?

 

Though the tone is at times a bit earnest (especially in "At Your Library"), it is balanced out by the offbeat humor and gentle irony of the rest of the album.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about some of the themes of the album. Are there times when you are afraid to ask a question for fear of seeming stupid? Do you feel comfortable speaking up at school and asking for explanations when you're not sure? What about at home?

This review was written by Amy Weaver

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This review was written by Amy Weaver
Artist:Bill Harley
Release date:April 3, 2007
Label:Round River Records
Genre:Children's Music
Parental advisory:No
This review was written by Amy Weaver
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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