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Before my kids were introduced to Bari Koral’s CD “Rock and Roll Garden” last year, all we listened to was my stations on the radio. So they were use to music for adults and sang a lot of the songs along with the radio. They had no interest in kid music. I tried a lot of different types of kid music, but nothing stuck. And then I was given Bari’s Rock and Roll Garden. It took a couple of tries, but by the third time, they were digging it BIG TIME and wanted it on ALL THE TIME. I had to bring it into the house and back to the car, so we could listen to it. Thankfully, it was pretty good for me to listen to non stop. Although, on the RARE occasions I was out without my kids, I’m sure I got a lot of stares when I would sing it to myself standing in line, or shopping. It’s all good. I’m one of those people that doesn’t really care what others think about me.

This year I was given the opportunity to review Bari’s latest release. It’s her Sophomore CD and it’s called “Anna And The Cupcakes”. It’s due out on Valentine’s Day this year (which is super cute, because it’s all about love and cupcakes and hugs and kisses) and my kids LOVE IT! Again, it’s got to be dragged back and forth from my car into the house each day. I may have to get something to hook up my iPod in the car, because I’m getting a bit scared of losing the CD!

Personally, I love the song “Butterfly”, as it has such a fantastic message stuck in the song about a cocoon turning into a butterfly. My kids LOVE all the songs, but they really enjoy the songs “Gingerbread Man”, because they recognize the story from the holidays we just celebrated and “Anna and the Cupcakes” about the disappearing cupcakes.

The songs are fantastic, upbeat and they even have some jazzy elements, which is awesome.

What impresses me about her CD’s is that I don’t mind listening to them. Bari’s got a great voice. It’s serene, but it’s got so much soul. There’s a reason for that, she use to sing alongside singers like Norah Jones and Joan Osborne. She chose to go in a different direction after working with the Long Island Children’s Museum’s theatre manager. I mean, these are the reasons she’s won the Nappa Gold Award and Parents’ Choice Silver Award. She’s got the CHOPS and she dedicates those chops to these kids’ songs.

Plus, she’s a fellow New Yorker and we all know how much I love supporting my fellow New Yorkers!

Bari’s also a Yoga Instructor and did a video for her song “The Sun Dance”, which leads kids through the yoga sun salutations. As expected it’s the number one yoga video on YouTube. I know my kids may not be into the Yoga one, but they definitely dig the videos for “Backpack” and “Hey Ducky” from her freshman album, “Rock and Roll Garden.”

Bari’s the complete package, seriously. If you want to get a fantastic playlist of music for your kids that won’t cause you to want to slam your head against the wall because you have to listen to it every day, all day, she’s the go-to for us in our home! I highly recommend BOTH of her CD’s.

The Bari Koral Family Rock Band is going on tour. If you have the chance to see her live, your kids will LOVE IT.

A few dates and locations to check out (for more info, head to their Facebook page):

• 2/4: World Cafe Live Peanut Butter and Jams, Philadelphia, PA
• 2/11: The Center for Arts in Natick, Natick, MA
• 2/12: Caspary Auditorium at Rockefeller University, New York, NY
• 2/18: Wonder USA, Deerfield, IL
• 2/20: The Music Center at Strathmore,  North Bethesda, MD
• 2/21-22: Long Island Children’s Museum, Garden City, NY
• 3/4: 92Y Tribeca, New York, NY
• 3/10: World Cafe Live @ the Queen, Wilmington, DE
• 4/22: Lutz Children’s Museum, Manchester, CT

New dates are being announced, so definitely check out their Facebook page for more information about the new postings!