The kiddos and I have been enjoying David Landau’s newest CD Rocket to the Moon while we finish unpacking those annoying boxes that seem to keep multiplying since our move to our new home.
The music on the CD keeps us energized and even has us dancing and singing along. I love a children’s artist who can entertain our whole family from tween to toddler and David Landau does just that. His music is fresh and even the children’s songs that we all grew up with like “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, “Mr. Sun”, and “Wheels on the Bus” take on a whole new feel with Landau’s bluegrass style. I was quite surprised when I began listening to the music and kept hearing the instruments that take me back to the mountains where I grew up: the mandolin, the fiddle, the banjo, and even the kazoo give me good memories of summertime jam sessions on the front porch. I love the version of “Skip to My Lou” on this album; it just makes me smile!
But Rocket to the Moon isn’t just about the children’s standards that we all love; David Landau has written some wonderful, fun original titles that my children love. The album begins with The Firefighter Song about what else? Firefighters and their job! How couldn’t anyone tap their toes to the upbeat bluegrass rhythm?!
The silliest of songs is Quiet Song, which makes MES giggle every time it plays. She likes to sing this song when the CD isn’t playing and because it is repetitive, she doesn’t have a problem remembering the lyrics. “It’s a quiet song, it’s a quiet song, it’s a very quiet song. IT’S A LOUD SONG! IT’S A LOUD SONG! IT’S A VERY LOUD SONG!” and on and on with other adjectives to describe the song. We have a great deal of fun with this song.
I like Owie Song. It is a great song to teach body parts: arm, leg, nose, etc. and also rhyming words because each body part rhymes with how he got his *owie*. The best thing this song teaches is instruments though. He names the instrument that plays after each verse. It makes my job as homeschool teacher so much easier when we have entertaining ways to learn.
There aren’t any lullabies on this CD. Don’t let the names fool you. Sleep Song should be quiet and melodic; however, it is probably the most upbeat song on the CD! It begins as if it is going to be a lullaby, but it’s really a GOOD MORNING song, and I have been trying to learn all of it so I can awaken the kiddos with it every day and start our morning out on the right foot: HAPPY!
Butter Noodles and A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track are silly food songs, and the kiddos love to sing snippets of them at lunch and dinner. On Fridays, our standard lunch fare is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Tween loves to sing the verses that correspond to making peanut butter and jelly. Big Boy’s favorite food is butter noodles, and now he knows that he is not alone in ordering butter noodles at restaurants thanks to David Landau!
David Landau does personal appearances in Wisconsin and provides a number of interesting themes promoting healthy lifestyles and good choices. His elementary teaching experience has given him the background needed to keep children engaged and alert. This is evident in his music.
If you need to find us, we’ll be busy as bees trying to unpack all of those boxes that just got stacked in the garage and having a great time doing it listening to Rocket to the Moon. Honestly, I haven’t been this enamored with a children’s musician since I heard Laurie Berkner’s music for the first time on Noggin. David Landau has the same upbeat songs as Laurie Berkner, but he has the bluegrass feel that I love in Dan Zanes. (I hope Mr. Landau doesn’t mind being compared to these artists! I love them, and it’s a compliment from me!) I really love children’s music; sometimes when I am in the car alone, I’ll turn on the kiddos’ music and rock out… am I bad or what?! David Landau is definitely in our children’s playlist!
So, if you love to smile, you dig a little bluegrass styling in your life, and you want to have fun with your children, this CD would be a great fit for your family. David Landau is a wonderful children’s entertainer. You can find his music CDs and DVDs at his website http://www.happytrails.biz/.
| Lauralee Saad loves homeschooling her three kiddos: Ballerina, age 8, Big Boy, age 6, and MESS, age 3. She enjoys sewing when she can find a spare corner to set up her machine and dig out fabrics, cooking and baking – especially if the kiddos are helping, and enjoying a good book after the kiddos have gone to bed. She is thrilled to have welcomed a baby girl into the family on March 23, 2012. |
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