“Where the Wild Things  are” by Maurice Sendak -I love this book- it is basically about mis-behaving, and running wild with your imagination. Nothing like being banshed to your room with nothing but a wild imagination and some cozy pjs. I couldn’t think of a better song to open this album, plus the ‘nappers are cranking on this one…..

“Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel” by Virginia Lee Burton -A classic. One of my all time favorites, and kids just love construction equipment, so we put some construction noises in there for you. A great story of friendship and hard work. I always wanted to hang out with Mike and Maryanne in that basement. A brilliant organ solo by Dan Weiss on this one….Love it.

“Monkey Lost” by Ed Heck - I fell in love with this book standing in Books of Wonder on 18th street in NYC. I went home and wrote the tune, and sent it to Ed Heck. After he got over the shock of some complete stranger writing a song about his book, he agreed to making the video on how to draw the monkey. When I asked Sherryl to work on this record, she told me she was going to sing this tune. So Glad she did. It Is nothing but funky monkey time. and I still love all the illustrations in the book more than anything.

“The Five Chinese Brothers” by Claire Huchet Bishop and Kurt Wiese- People have shunned this book for its illustrations. This is actually based on an old chinese folk tale, and to me, it’s all about super powers and helping each other out. I’m sure there’s a few people out there offended that Mario in all those nintendo games is a bit of a stereoType, so just celebrate these five chinese brothers as superheroes and go with it! Not only that, but Soozie lays into a kick-butt fiddle solo on this. and I love the way the band is chugging on this song.

“Harry the Dirty Dog” by Gene Zion and Margaret  Bloy Graham -Tony, Tommy Thad and I really wrestled with multiple versions of this tune. Try making a record over zoom calls. But those guys grappled with the groove and we realized we were on to something really good. Porter Carroll came in and put the icing on the cake with his vocal arrangement and performance. The result is magical.  We’ve all known a Harry at some point. somehow, mud and puddles always seem to find them……..

“Flat Stanley” by Jeff Brown - Who wouldn’t want to be flat stanley even just for one day?  I remember laughing out loud at this book when I was a kid. Every  now and then you see parents and kids doing the famous flat stanley picture taking around new york city….You gotta love it. This is also one star studded recording- Tania Elizabeth burns up the fiddle, charlie giordano squeezes that box to death and soozie just belts it out. That’s booker Heaphy singing the low parts in the right speaker-and somehow Tommy managed to channel an entire new orleans drum  street brigade for this one.

“Owen & Mzee-The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship”- Written by Craig Hatkoff, his daughter Isabella, and Paula Kahumbu - this is just a sweet story about loss and finding friendship. funny how two animals who are completely different can get along just fine. maybe we can all learn something here.  When we recorded this, Soozie heard a mix and said “Joyous”-  Charlie brought out the big accordion for this one, and Tony’s baseline alone is nothing short of masterfull.  

“Go, Dog. Go!” by P.D. Eastman - One of the most energetic and interactive books you can read with a kid…so many things going on in this book, it’s no wonder why it is considered a classic…..We couldn’t think of a better way to close out this record than some good ol’ tear up the lease loud rock and roll featuring the one and only johnny jake bringing his barks and howls to the microphone (supported by the ultimate howler, booker). Throw a touch of Thad DeBrock ripping on the buzzsaw guitar that gives billy zoom a run for the money, and we’re outta here…….