13under13 - 20Feb2009

Mindy hosted this week. She played a couple "counting songs" to start.

Kat Vellos's 5 on 5 had a great run, but now it is time to make room for something new. Unfortunately, the new song is not new at all. It was on the 13under13 not so very long ago, I think.

1. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You? (8 weeks)
2. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly (10 weeks)
3. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing (7 weeks)
4. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon (12 weeks)
5. Lunch Money - It Only Takes One Night To Make a Balloon Your Friend (4 weeks)
6. SteveSongs - Giant (16 weeks)
7. Brady Rymer - Road Trip (6 weeks)
8. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane (5 weeks)
9. Robbert Bobbert - We Are Superheros (2 weeks)
10. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family (14 weeks)
11. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE (19 weeks)
12. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It (15 weeks)
13. Star Wars Cantina (debut - well, again)

Past Freshness Date:
12 Kat Vellos - 5 on 5 (17 weeks)

Book Hour - Jenny Ryan

On today's show, Mindy's guest was Jenny Ryan author of Sew Darn Cute: 30 Sweet & Simple Projects to Sew & Embellish. Mindy said that the projects look really fun and the photos are amazing. The projects tend to focus on recycled materials, including old clothes. One idea is to make a soft snake or draft stopper out of layers of old sweaters. Others include using colorful patches on sweaters and making button embellishments. Fun projects also include dainty doll quilts.

For many of the projects, it does help to know how to sew with a sewing machine, but some you can do by hand sewing.

Kids can be involved in various ways such as picking out the fabrics for the embellishments. Another place where kids can help is by drawing the patterns to be used on cafe curtains. Or they can iron on a "monogram" on a baby shirt and then stitch it on with embroidery stitches.

Hand sewing is a good place for kids to start to sew. Making pet toys can also be a great way to introduce kids to projects involving fabric.

Jenny stated that every house should have a button jar. I strongly agree. I love our button jar.

I am so sad that I missed part of the interview and Camille missed most of it. I know she would have loved it. She could probably do a lot of the projects on her own, so I'm sending her over to Jenny's website at sewdarncute.com.

Robbie Schaefer in the News

The article Singer-songwriter Robbie Schaefer to visit in The News Reader is an interesting read for anyone who wants to know more about that guy in "The Real Tall Tree."

The project did so well that Schaefer was asked to be musical director with a Sirius-XM satellite radio show, "Kids Place Live."

"They had started playing one of my songs, 'There's a Carp In the Tub' on their channel and invited me in the studio for a live performance," he said. "After it was done, I was chatting with the program director, and she mentioned they were looking for someone to do a show on the kids' channel. The timing was perfect, and three weeks later I was working there. It's been a wonderful experience."

Toy Time - Claire Green

Claire Green, president og the Parents' Choice Foundation talked to Mindy today about the Toy Fair and reported to Mindy about what she saw there. Football fields full of the newest toys.

Spider Trap is the noisest toy -- I thought she was in a fire drill!

She saw another toy that seems to be able to read your mind and some night goggles.

Legos - the NEWS is great! A contest YES! (Then my web connection dropped.) New Star Wars Legos are out.

A new trend is cupcakes. I knew that. There are cupcakes stores cropping up all over.

Hot Wheels that can change color are all the rage. Zero Gravity helicopter that takes off like a helicopter and flies like an airplane (sounds like something the gbk dad would love).

The fair is loud and crazy (not a place I would like). No one under 18 is allowed in.

Book Hour - Muriel Harris Weinstein

This afternoon, Mindy interviewed Muriel Harris Weinstein author of When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat.

Mindy loves the story and the illustrations. Muriel said that the book was very fun to write. It is a secret, but she is 85 (shhh). She came from a family that loved to sing and dance. When Muriel went to school, they had a listening section, where they put kids that were not allowed to sing (and pulled them by their ears to put them there). The teachers thought they were improving the singing of the assembly by separating the people out. She loves to sing now, but she says she wishes she could sing the way Louis Armstrong does.

She was a teenager when she started to love Louis Armstrong's music; all his songs were romantic and made you feel like you had a special someone. He was The Jonas Brothers of her day. He played the trumpet like nobody else. She is surprised to hear that some of the bands now don't know how to play instruments (some do play guitars or drums).

Louis Armstrong allowed all the musicians to come up to the microphone. The jazz band used to play without anyone singing. He encouraged the "birdie" or girl to come up and sing. He inspired everyone to be free to sing and write as they wished. Louis Armstrong created scat - which is "nonsensical syllables" that make no sense. He did it first when he forgot the words, such as when he dropped the sheet music and didn't have time to pick up the sheets. It can be called "Doodling with your voice" or "Using your voice as an instrument."

Muriel got into writing books for kids recently, after writing text books and more. She used to teach school, where they did a lot of creative writing. She has another book coming out, a chapter book, that she is working on now.

Muriel read her book When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat live on Mindy's show.

13under13 Poll for 16Feb2009

Visit the KiDS Place LiVE Fans blog and vote in the poll!

What's your favorite song this week?
1. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
2. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?
3. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
4. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing
5. SteveSongs - Giant
6. Lunch Money - It Only Takes One Night To Make a Balloon
7. Brady Rymer - Road Trip
8. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
9. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
10. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
11. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane
12. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
13. Robbert Bobbert - We Are Superheroes

Last week's results:
0% 1. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
0% 2. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
5% 3. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?
11% 4. SteveSongs - Giant
5% 5. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
11% 6. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing
5% 7. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
52% 8. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
5% 9. Brady Rymer - Road Trip
0% 10. Lunch Money - It Only Takes One Night To Make a Balloon
0% 11. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
0% 12. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane
0% 13. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5

13under13 - 13Feb2009

Kenny hosted this week. He played a couple songs from the Grammy winners to start.

Robbie's New Year song left the countdown. Much as we love Robbie, the song had stayed on a little past its time. I'm guessing that it might re-enter the chart again in December.

Glad to see a new entry. Robbert Bobbert has not yet grown on me, but I'm going to give it a chance. Chloe says she likes it a little, but not a lot.

1. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly (9 weeks)
2. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You? (7 weeks)
3. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon (11 weeks)
4. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing (6 weeks)
5. SteveSongs - Giant (15 weeks)
6. Lunch Money - It Only Takes One Night To Make a Balloon Your Friend (3 weeks)
7. Brady Rymer - Road Trip (5 weeks)
8. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family (13 weeks)
9. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE (18 weeks)
10. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It (14 weeks)
11. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane (4 weeks)
12 Kat Vellos - 5 on 5 (17 weeks)
13. Robbert Bobbert - We Are Superheros (debut)

Past Freshness Date:
\Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song (8 weeks)

Book Hour - Jeff Kinney

This afternoon, Mindy talked to Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney.

The diary books are not chapter books, but hybrid comic, text books. The main character, Gregg Heffley, has a lot of flaws and imperfections and is not a great friend. Jeff Kinney felt there were too many books about mini-adults, perfect, heroic characters. Roderick, Gregg's older brother, is a popular character. Fifth grade boy is the ultimate reader.

A "ploopie" is a word that Jeff's sister used to call him It was the "baddest" word that she could come up with. When she said it to Jeff, he would freeze. He wasn't a whiny kid, but a little detached.

Gregg was born on Funbrain.com in 2004. Jeff talked about how he would hide out in the locker room to avoid swim practice. Jeff has two kids, 3 and 6, but Jeff won't let his son read the Diaries until he is older.

The third book in the series, Diary of A Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, is now available.

Notes: In Japan, the characters had to have five fingers instead of four. The books are in 30 languages, including Catalan (language spoken mainly in Spain, Andorra and France). The girls are all drawn the same, except for the hair, since Gregg doesn't get girls yet.

Twentieth Century Fox is gong to make a movie, and kids can send in their autition tapes via iamthewimpykid.com. They are looking for a kid who identifies with Gregg. Jeff has some say in who gets chosen.

Question: Do you ever dislike some of the characters?
Answer: Yes, sometimes Gregg doesn't like Gregg, the protagonist.

Question: How many more books are you going to write?
Answer: At least two, maybe four more. He think seven is just about right.

Question: Is Gregg gong to get older?
Answer: No, he's going to stay the same age.

Question: When is the fourth book coming out?
Answer: This fall. Jeff is writing it right now, and it will be about Gregg's summer vacation.

Question: What was Gregg's best adventure?
Answer: Trying to knock someone off a bicycle with a football.

Question: When did Gregg meet his best friend Rowley?
Answer: Rowley showed up on Gregg's doorstep and asked Gregg a lame knock-knock joke.

Question: Where did Gregg get his name?
Answer: Jeff's mom wanted to name a son Gregg, but never did.

Question: When is the movie coming out?
Answer: Maybe this year.

Question: How old were you when you started drawing.
Answer: He drew a turtle at age two and his mom still has it.

Question: Did your mom watch romantic movies?
Answer: Yes, she watches romantic comedies.

Question: What is you favorite book.
Answer: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. As for Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the red one.

Question: Did you know you were going to be a writer?
Answer: He didn't, he wanted to be a newspaper cartoonist.

Question: Which do you like doing better "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" or "Poptropica"?
Answer: Jeff likes both equally.

Question: How did you get the ideas for the characters?
Answer: Bits and pieces of people he's known and other ideas for types.

Question: Where do you get ideas?
Answer: Remembering his childhood and stuff going on around. Keep a journal. Jeff wishes he had kept a journal.

Question: When did you start writing the books?
Answer: Eleven years ago.

Question: What is Gregg's dad's name?
Answer: Maybe it is Frank.

Jeff also designs the Poptropica.com virtual world site.

Visit the Diary of a Wimpy Kid website for more information about the books. Also, Jeff will be at the Borders in Fairfax tomorrow, Saturday, February 14 at 1 p.m.

Live on the Farm

Yes, you read that right! The KPL Fans went to the Animal Farm this morning! And Chloe says that it doesn't small bad. Chloe's other observation is that everything on the farm is "awkward".

We had such a great time hanging with Kenny! We listened as he took some calls, including one from the kid int he big truck and another from the boy whose birthday it was. We loved chatting with him and seeing him do his stuff. Unfortunately, he didn't have a change to bring any of the animals out, though he did put "Chloe the Cat" on the air, which mean that now Kenny is one of Chloe's BFFs. She's already planning to call in and be a regular visitor.

We are so thrilled that Kenny let us come visit him on the farm and see how he pushes all the buttons, spins the dials and slides the sliders, all while answering the phone and using the computer. Wow!

We hung out at XM for a little while after we left Kenny, because it gave us a chance to say hi to Chloe's other BFF, Mindy. Yeah! While we waited for Mindy, none other than Jinx came through the lobby! (We would have asked for a photo, but he was on the phone.) Mindy was so nice to take time to hang with us for a little while before she went in to get to work. As always, it was great to be with her there at XM, one of our favorite places to visit.

Book Hour - Florence Parry Heide

On today's show, Mindy interviewed Florence Parry Heide, author of The One and Only Marigold. Unfortunately, we missed the second half of the interview as we were told that the forward door had been closed and we had to turn off all electronic devices.

Ms. Heide called in from her home in WI and shared with us her big news of the week, which is that she is about to turn 90 years old! Wow! When she she was growing up, it was the time of the First World War, she didn't have tv or a telephone, and she loved to play games with her friends. She had bikes, skates and scooters.

She said that it is important to remember that whatever age you are, it is a wonderful age to be! However, she mostly remembers being a kid and that her life was full of sunshine. She wonders about today's listeners. In fifty years, what will you look back on and be amazed about? (The other day, Camille pointed out that there were no mobile phones and internet when I was a kid.) Mindy suggested one such invention that is likely to come about is that of automatic toilet paper dispensers?

Ms. Heide also said that it is important to put something out into the world (does this blog count?). Sshe said that people would ask her where her ideas came from and he would answer "I don't know.: She realized that isn't a very nice answer and started to try to learn about where her ideas came from. She described them as invisible balloons floating everywhere and she would sometimes pull them down with an invisible string.

As for her book, it is about a little girl named Marigold, and the pictures are wonderful. There are four stories in the book. And that's all we heard.

Book Hour - When Royalty Wore Ruffles

Mindy interviewed the author and the illustrated of When Royals Wore Ruffles: A Funny and Fashionable Alphabet! by Chesley Mclaren and Pamela Jaber. Mindy loves this new picture book: a funny collection of odd and peculiar facts of people and their clothing going back to the 1400's. Both Chelsey and Pamela love fashion and did lots of research to find out the funny and interesting things included in the book.

Some weird facts that they talked about: At one time there were wig snatchers because of the expensive jewels that people would fills their wigs. The wigs were so big and fancy that they wouldn't wash them, and would end up with creepy crawlies living in them. Women would make lipstick out of crush ed beetles and fish scales and crushed jewels and used crushed lead that was poisonous. People used to have animals living in the hair.

One fun fashion thing for kids to do is to create a window display of fashion ideas -- it takes imagination, paper, paint. It does help to have a theme.

Attitude is important to feel comfortable in what you are wearing. Fashion trends get started when someone has enough attitude...

Chelsey's Fashion Do's:
Do Get dressed
have fun in what you get dressed in
March out the door like you own the look.

13under13 Poll for 9Feb2009

Visit the KiDS Place LiVE Fans blog and vote in the poll!

What's your favorite song this week?
1. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
2. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
3. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?
4. SteveSongs - Giant
5. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
6. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing
7. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
8. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
9. Brady Rymer - Road Trip
10. Lunch Money - It Only Takes One Night To Make a Balloon
11. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
12. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane
13. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5

Last week's results:
10% 1. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
5% 2. SteveSongs - Giant
0% 3. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
5% 4. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
0% 5. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?
0% 6. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
25% 7. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing
0% 8. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
35% 9. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
5% 10. Brady Rymer - Road Trip
5% 11. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
0% 12. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane
5% 13. Lunch Money - It Only Takes One Night To Make a Balloon

Grammie and Grampie Awards

Mindy's Grammie Oma started off the show, and she is AWESOME.

Bill Harley "Is Not, Is too"

Bill Harley "Grownups are Strange"

Bill Harley "The Ballad of Dirty Joe" (which we think of as "Stinky Ann" -- our nickname for Chloe)

Nolan(?)'s Grandma from Rayham, MA introduced TMBG

TMBG - Seven Days A Week

TMBG - Figure Eight

TMBG - Infinity

Camille and Chloe's grandma (my mom) just introduced Brady Rymer

Brady Rymer - Road Trip

Brady Rymer - One True You

Brady Rymer - The Little Band That Could

Felix and the brand new baby Camille's grandpa (from Sunnyvale -- a place close to my heart) introduced Trout Fishing in America

Trout Fishing in America - Pearl

Trout Fishing in America - Too Good To Be True

Trout Fishing in America - A Tiger And A Monkey And Me

Marjorie from Boulder, Rhett's Great-Grammie who wants to squeeze him until he squeals.. introduced Beethoven's Wig: Dance Along Symphonies

Beethoven's Wig 4 - Oh No!

Beethoven's Wig 4 - Forever We're Marching

Robbie Schaefer's Grandma - The carp story is a true story!

Seattle Symphony Orchestra - The Shoe Bird (hey, that's Jim Dale -- we LOVE him)

13under13 - 6Feb2009

Robbie hosted this week. Okay guys, boring to have no new songs enter the list. Really.

1. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly (8 weeks)
2. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon (10 weeks)
3. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You? (6 weeks)
4. SteveSongs - Giant (14 weeks)
5. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family (12 weeks)
6. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing (5 weeks)
7. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It (13 weeks)
8. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE (17 weeks)
9. Brady Rymer - Road Trip (4 weeks)
10. Lunch Money - It Only Takes One Night To Make a Balloon Your Friend (2 weeks)
11. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song (7 weeks)
12. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane (3 weeks)
13 Kat Vellos - 5 on 5 (16 weeks)

SteveSongs Hangs with Mindy

SteveSongs came into the KPL studio today to hang out with Mindy. Steve talked about his new song with Mindy, then Steve played it -- it's about his trip and hanging out with Mindy, but oops, he said "XMKids." can he change that to "Kids Place Live"? "Hobby Paper" rhymes with Robbie Schaefer, but it is a little weird, isn't it?

He comes up with ideas from things that pop up in everyday life. He gets ideas from kids and parents. Mindy said don't ask for "Crazy Frog", so the first kid asked SteveSongs to play "Alvin and the Chipmunks." Argh!

Steve lives in Connecticut, but he's in DC to play at Jammin' Java tomorrow and then one on Sunday in Owings Mills. Steve started writing songs when he was in college. Steve says that he doesn't know how to read music very well! Steve loved science in school.

Steve and Logan (regular caller) performed "Fast Monkey" together live on the air. Fantastic! Mindy got Steve to help press buttons; I don't think he broke anything. Steve's cat Emma has three legs, but she gets around just fine. Steve gave a shout out to Milkshake (we can't wait to see them again -- soon).

Steve got bullied around when he was in fifth grade. The bully let up on Steve when he was able to score goals in football. He was never mean back to the bully.

Chloe chatted (and chatted and chatted) with Steve and Mindy. Steve pulled his band out of his pocket. David Stackhouse (beat box), Paul "Puddles" Pampanela (electric guitar), and The Sensational Sillies, Serena (12) and Ailey (10). The band performed "Spyrtle the Turtle" live (for our Chloe - the photo is of the girls near the Sea Turtle Center in Jekyll Island) and then "Giant."

Steve has five albums, and you HAVE to get SteveSongs DVD!! He's on PBSKids too.

Mindy, Steve and the band THANKS SO MUCH! Xhloe has perked up so much. You guys rock!

Artist Sneak Attack - ScribbleJim

Mindy gave ScribbleJim a call this evening. she called it a sneak attack, but somehow, I think he knew the call was coming. He had sent her a message in a milk bottle regaring the recent "GoTarts Mystery."

The story is a long one that I can't get right here, but it has to do with a caller that offered to send Mindy Go-Tarts, never did, then realized they were no longer available. Mindy tried to call Kelloggs about it, but got brushed off (bah).

Jim discovered that he actually had three in his pantry, with a "Best if Used by" date of January 8th. He has stuck them in the mail to send to Mindy. S MIndy called him today and they chatted about these gotarts and what to do with them and how to find out why Kelloggs has stopped selling them.

Artist Interview - Roger Day

Last week, Roger Day sent Mindy a coupon for a yak. To find out more, Mindy set up an interview (not a sneak attack) with Roger for today.

Roger, his son Jacob, and their friend Jake came on the air, from Franklin, TN to talk about the Yaks for Youth. Mindy owns "part" of yak; Roger days it can be whatever part of the yak she wants it to be. Is a yakalope a really fast yak?

Jake had a booth at an alternative Christmas gifts fair, selling coupons for the Yaks for Youth program. Jake is ten and he is a yak salesman. Yaks are an endagered species. Boarding schools in Tibet (a very poor country) have difficulties provide for its students, and a yak can give them milk, fur, yak patties (to be burned for warmth). After a yak dies, they can use the skin and meat as well. They are very useful animals.

You can buy someone a yak at anytime of the year. It makes a great gift. A Yak Revolution in the making!

Both Jacob and Jake are members of the Yakalulah Chorus who sang so well -- and so loud -- and the CD. And they're both in Roger's Webelos Den!

Book Hour - Michael Ian Black

On today's show, Mindy interviewed Michael Ian Black, author of Chicken Cheeks. He is an author, comedian, actor, father, son, uncle, grocery shopper. Michael doing the interview from NYC. This is the first book for kids that he has written, and he has two more coming out. One is about a purple kangaroo and a mind reading monkey. The other is "A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea," being published by Simon-Schuster.

The book is about animal tushies!?! His kids don't get credit for helping, then they don't get royalties. The book is supposed to be very funny, not a veterinary book. Some of the phrases are "Deer Rear", "Moose caboose", "Duck-billed platypus gluteus maximus.

The illustrations are great. There is a story to the book, all the animals are standing on top of each other.

Michael was a wild and loud little boy. He rode down the stairs in a laundry basket. His kids are their own best people.

Book Hour - Annie Barrows

Mindy interviewed Annie Barrows, author of the Ivy and Bean books. There are five books in the Ivy and Bean series.

Ivy and Bean did not like each other one bit. Ivy likes to sit quietly and read books. Bean likes to run around and play in the dirt. They live across from the street from each other and eventually became the best of friends, even though they are total opposites. Sometimes kids can find ways to like each other that their moms and dads don't know.

The names Ivy and Bean came to her before she came up with anything else about them. Annie has two girls that believe themselves to be like Ivy and Bean. Annie got inspiration from her kids, her own childhood and from watching kids at the playground. Annie thinks that she was like both Ivy and Bean when she was younger.

With each book, Annie gets to know Ivy and Bean better. Annie read an excerpt from the latest book, Bound to Be Bad. The next book, Ivy and Bean: Doomed to Dance, is due out in the fall. She has written some grownup books as well, after her 25 year break from writing.

Her website www.anniebarrows.com has lots of information, crafts and more ...

13under13 Poll for 2Feb2009

Visit the KiDS Place LiVE Fans blog and vote in the poll!

What's your favorite song this week?
1. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
2. SteveSongs - Giant
3. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
4. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
5. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?
6. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
7. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing
8. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
9. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
10. Brady Rymer - Road Trip
11. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
12. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane
13. Lunch Money - Dizzy

Last week's results:
0% 1. SteveSongs - Giant
6% 2. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
3% 3. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
9% 4. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
9% 5. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
0% 6. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
3% 7. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?
35% 8. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
12% 9. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing
6% 10. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
9% 11. Brady Rymer - Road Trip
3% 12. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat
0% 13. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane

Tree House Jam - Ellis Paul

This weekend, Ellis Paul joined Robbie in The Real Tall Tree, where they chatted and jammed. We loved listening to their banter and enjoyed the music that they shared with us! Funnily enough, just after the show, we headed out to go to a kids' concert, and look what greeted us when we walked in the door -- adjacent concert posters for Ellis Paul and Robbie Schaefer!

These Tree House Jams shows are great fun!

13 under 13 - 30Jan2009

Kenny hosted this week.

We are SO excited to see that Lunch Money made the countdown this week!! We love their new CD Dizzy.

1. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon (9 weeks)
2. SteveSongs - Giant (13 weeks)
3. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly (7 weeks)
4. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family (11 weeks)
5. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You? (5 weeks)
6. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It (12 weeks)
7. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing (4 weeks)
8. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song (6 weeks)
9. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE (16 weeks)
10. Brady Rymer - Road Trip (3 weeks)
11. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5 (15 weeks)
12. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane (2 weeks)
13. Lunch Money - It Only Takes One Night To Make a Balloon Your Friend (debut)

Past Freshness Date:
12. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat (11 weeks)

Interview - Jade-Lianna Peters

This afternoon Mindy interviewed Jade-Lianna Peters, the voice of Kai Lan, on the show Ni Hao Kai Lan is having a special called "The Ladybug Festival." Ni Hao Kai Lan is about a little girl and her friends and how they solve problems together. She mostly speaks English in the show, but she does speak a little bit of Mandarin Chinese as well.

The Ladybug Festival is a special episode. Jade-Lianna is twelve and a half, but Kai-Lan is five.

Jade-Lianna celebrates Lunar New Year the same way as Kai Lan does. Lunar New Year lasts fifteen days; its tenents are Happiness, Wealth and Longevity

Artist Sneak Attack - Lunch Money

Following a tradition of calling the musicians with no warning, Mindy called Molly Ledford from Lunch Money today. Like Mindy, we love their new CD Dizzy. mindy's been playing It only Takes One Night To Make A Balloon Your Friend quite a lot this week, and we are so happy.

Molly said that her kids (she was picking up toys when Mindy called) are the inspiration for some of the songs, like "Dizzy" and "Silly Reflections". Molly's mom is also quite proud of what Molly's been up to as well :)

As for how the band was named, Molly wanted the band to be the "property" of the children. "This is mine!" like Lunch Money!!

Interview - Sabrina Bryan

Sabrina Bryan, a Cheetah Girl and a star of Dancing with the Stars, has a new DVD out, called Byou2.

The DVD is a dance workout video that is ala "Bollywood meets Hollywood." They talked to the fans and adjusted this one to be good for all levels and you can go at your own pace.

It is a way to help girls stay fit without being embarrassed of dancing in front of others. Shoes with good ankle support are good for the workout.

Snowflake's Big Adventures

Mindy's Snowman

A fan, Ryan from Memphis, sent Mindy a snowman in the mail, just as she had requested!! And here is a photo of the snowman!

What should Mindy name the snowman? And what do snowmen eat?

Update: Ryan called in. The snowman's name is snowflake and he likes to eat pizza and watch Hannah Montana.

KPL Fans Love Live Music Too!

Pictured here are a regular KPL listener Tie Dye Nate and Molly from Lunch Money. Nate and Molly first met at the XMKids Roadshow a couple of years ago, and now got the chance to meet again this weekend. How fun is that!

Lunch Money has a new CD out, called Dizzy, from which Mindy played a few selections today. But there is much more on that CD, and we here at the GBK house think you should go check it out!! Visit the Lunch Money website for more info.

13under13 Poll for 26Jan2009

Visit the KiDS Place LiVE Fans blog and vote in the poll!

What's your favorite song this week?
1. SteveSongs - Giant
2. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
3. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
4. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
5. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
6. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
7. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?
8. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
9. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing
10. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
11. Brady Rymer - Road Trip
12. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat
13. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane

Last week's results:
2% 1. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
27% 2. SteveSongs - Giant
13% 3. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
2% 4. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
0% 5. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
38% 6. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
0% 7. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
0% 8. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
5% 9. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?
0% 10. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat
5% 11. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing
0% 12. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl
2% 13. Brady Rymer - Road Trip

13 under 13 - 23Jan2009

Robbie hosted this week; he started off with some "snow day" songs.

Sad to see "Ladybug Beat" move down. Chloe really LOVES that song. Interesting that Giant returned to the top spot!

Not quite sure why the MMW song came onto the list. I can think of other recent CDs with other songs that should be get more play.

1. SteveSongs - Giant (12 weeks)
2. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon (8 weeks)
3. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family (10 weeks)
4. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly (6 weeks)
5. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It (11 weeks)
6. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song (5 weeks)
7. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You? (4 weeks)
8. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE (15 weeks)
9. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing (3 weeks)
10. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5 (14 weeks)
11. Brady Rymer - Road Trip (2 weeks)
12. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat (10 weeks)
13. Medeski, Martin and Wood - On An Airplane (debut)

Past Freshness Date:
Trout Fishing in America - Pearl (16 weeks)

Artist Interview - Justin Roberts and Liam Davis

Justin Roberts is in DC this weekend for a show and was kind enough to get together with Mindy to chat for a bit. Happily enough, our plane landed on time and we were able to get home in time to hear the interview!

Justin and his BFF Liam came in from Chicago today -- easy flight. Justin Roberts has a new CD Pop Fly and Justin's favorite song is "Fruit Jar". Justin got a fruit jar from his grandma, and it sits in a window, probably not a great place to keep it. Liam managed to break his microphone? I bet it was Mindy that broke it.

Mindy said that Justin is usually sick when he comes? Justin played Henrietta's Hair. He told the hairbrushing inspiration story again.

Kid caller Logan wanted to know what state is Justin's favorite state to perform in. Justin said that he's performed all over. Mindy and Justin played make believe about what Justin's car and house would be like. Another kid caller, Sam, called in and said he loves Pop Fly. Justin talked about his Little League career. The one time he hit the ball, it went down the line and then fouled.

Justin just called Mindy spacey. Really. Claire called in from Ala. Justin's favorite "fast" song is Cartwheels and Somersaults. His favorite slow one is "Moving." Justin's wife moved a lot since her father was in the Air Force.


Justin wrote down an idea for a new song "Claire and Sam." He and Liam sang part of it right there on the radio. (Justin giggles a lot.) Mindy didn't like the peanut butter and "Pam" part. (Peanut butter has a salmonella problem these days.)

Liam is playing a pot, and he has a roll of tissue paper too. They played "Pop Fly" together. I think this is the first time we've heard a live version of it? (Justin you have to come to Atlanta.) Justin said his headphones were falling off the whole time.

Justin says that he was always very nervous going to school and that he would break into tears when he realized his mother was leaving. Mindy just told Liam that he smells funny? Did I hear that right? Justin has a beat up bear when he was little, "Mr. Beasley". Liam had a Stretch Armstrong doll...

Justin had his cell phone on; Mindy told him to turn it off.

Kid caller William called in to talk to Justin. Mindy told Justin that his hair was really flat. William asked Justin if he would play one of the songs that he knows, Track 5. Justin knew that it was Superkid. William like to pretend that he is a superhero. "Curly Man" could make straight hair curly.

Gabriel called in. What is Justin's second favorite song? He said "Meltdown." His bigger brother caused him to have meltdowns. Gabriel asked for Justin to play Meltdown. Justin does not know all the words to his songs. Matthew called in to talked to Liam. He wanted to know if Justin knew any songs about baseball catchers.

Justin is still taking notes in his journal. Liam chose for them to play "Backyard Superkid." Excellent.

I think Justin said Chlk was like an Elvis Costello song. Justin said that practice is a good way to learn. Justin didn't practice as much as he should have, so that's why Liam plays lead guitar. Justin learned piano first, but then he quit, but then he played again, and then he quit, and then he took clarinet. In junior high, he started to sing. In chorus, he did a lot of solos. Justin's mom is still so proud of him!

They played "Meltdown" live on the radio, which was very cool. The song "Giant Sized Butterfly" comes across as a truncated version.

Justin has a younger sister that is nine years younger than him, so that was the inspiration for "Airplane of Food." Emma from Illinois asked Justin how he decided to be a singer. He said that he loved music since he was young. Her sister Nina asked for a song ... "Crazy Frog"!!! Yikes!

Liam and Justin would love to play in Austin, TX. They've played in Dallas, Houston, El Paso etc, but have not played in Austin yet.

They then played "Henrietta's Hair" live. How I wish we were still in DC and going to Jammin' Java tomorrow!!!!!!

Justin's website www.justinrobertsmusic.com is full of great things like CDs, videos, coloring pages, newsletters, and tour dates.

From here it sounds like Justin, Liam and Mindy all had a great time. Thanks so much all of you for getting together and letting us share in it!!

Interview - Emily Gray

Olivia is coming to life on NickJr. on Monday the 26th. Emily read the Olivia books when she was younger. Emily is twelve now. She thinks it is a lot of fun and really cool to be a voice on a tv show. All of the episodes are really cool; they all start out with Olivia doing something funny.

Mindy thinks the episode is gong to be "Olivia Measures Up."

Little girls thinking of doing new things and making it seem that nothing is impossible. Emily wants to make everything better than it is.

I think Emily is pretty cool! Thanks for agreeing to talk to Mindy!!

Interview - Brendan Fraser

Today, Mindy interviewed Brendan Fraser, a star in the new movie Inkheart. Brendan started out talking about the story of Inkheart and about the author Cornelia Funke, who had dedicated the book to him.

Brendan discussed how much he enjoyed working with Cornelia Funke. He said that he did not have to use a British accent to play the dad in the movie.

Doctor Noize Ripped His Pants

Oh well. I'm sure he's not the only one to whom that has happened. But Mindy found out about it and decided to give him a call. He didn't answer, so she left him a rambling (is there any other kind of Mindy message?) and sang him "Happy Birthday" (no it isn't his birthday.

A little later in the show, Mindy got a call from none other than Doctor Noize! He then sang Happy Birthday to her (it isn't her birthday either). He chatted about how he ripped his pants. He told us that he has backup plans for everything, but no backup pants!!

He likes to play lots of instruments and sing at the same time, but he hasn't mastered doing both while playing the saxophone. He thinks maybe he could play it with his nose.

While he isn't a real doctor, he is looking forward to playing at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis in five weeks. He is also trying to get his muscles big enough so he can jump to the moon.

Dr. Noize has a CD and a book called The Ballad of Phneas McBoof.

MiNDY at the Inauguration

We were there too, but over a mile from where Mindy was! Here's Camille and my sister:

13under13 Poll for 19Jan2009

Visit the KiDS Place LiVE Fans blog and vote in the poll!

What's your favorite song this week?
1. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
2. SteveSongs - Giant
3. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
4. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
5. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
6. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
7. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
8. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
9. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?
10. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat
11. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing
12. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl
13. Brady Rymer - Road Trip

Last week's results:
11% 1. SteveSongs - Giant
5% 2. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
0% 3. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
33% 4. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
5% 5. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
5% 6. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
5% 7. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
5% 8. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
0% 9. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl
0% 10. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat
0% 11. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?
22% 12. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing
0% 13. Laurie Berkner - Fast and Slow

13 under 13 - 16Jan2009

Mindy hosted this week. She played that silly presidents song, that has helped us all remember the presidents ....

So, so excited to see Brady Rymer on the 31uner13 this week. We've loved Brady since we first heard him and think he deserves all the great press he's been getting. Yeah Brady!!!!!

1. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family (9 weeks)
2. SteveSongs - Giant (11 weeks)
3. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It (10 weeks)
4. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon (7 weeks)
5. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly (5 weeks)
6. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE (14 weeks)
7. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song (4 weeks)
8. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5 (13 weeks)
9. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You? (3 weeks)
10. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat (8 weeks)
11. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing (2 weeks)
12. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl (16 weeks)
13. Brady Rymer - Road Trip (debut)

Past Freshness Date:
Laurie Berkner - Fast and Slow (14 weeks)

XM is in DC and so are we.

It was bound to happen eventually.

Author Interview - Susan Goodman

If you can remember back a few months ago, we had some exciting times in Coliflordia, with a really close gooberantorial race (though maybe not as close as the senatorial race in Minnesota).

Early on in the campaigning, Judy Gumsmacker announced that she was reading See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House by Susan Goodman and Elwood Smith; see this post to refresh your memory. During the race, the author, Susan Goodman, came on the air to talk about the race.

Today, Susan Goodman returned to the Absolutely Mindy show to talk about the inauguration and inaugurations of the past. Pretty fascinating (though I admit I missed some due to other breaking news). Susan was just full of historical information that she presented in a manner that the kids just love. Is she a history teacher? Can she be my kids' history teacher???

Susan will be watching the election from tv.

Author Interview - Jennifer and Matthew Holm

Mindy interviewed the brother-sister author-illustrator team of Babymouse, a series of books for elementary kids. While the covers may have pink in them, they aren't just for girls!

Jennifer called from San Francisco and Matthew called from Portland. There are ten books in the series. (Mindy keeps saying Baby Mouth...confused me!) The latest book is Babymouse: The Musical. Babymouse is a typical elementary student, except that she is a mouse and her frieds are cats, dogs, etc. Babymouse loves to read books, likes cupcakes and can skate a figure four.

The origin of Babymouse's name is top secret, so I guess I won't report it here, since I promised not to tell the secret. They had five kids in the family, but Jenni was the only girl.

How do they write books together? Jenni starts the process with an idea and they brainstorm ideas, then Jenni writes out the script using a storyboard with notes. Matt makes thumbnail sketches, then Jenni uses these sketches to make a rough copy. Matt draws it out with sharpie markers, then Matt makes the final on the computer after the editor gives their comments.

Matt's favorite of the series right now is Babymouse: Puppy Love. Jennifer's favorite is Babymouse: The Musical.

While on the air, they all acted out a bit of the book, very silly were they!

Ed. note: I fixed the spelling of Jenni's name and added the following link on 1/16.

Matt's Blog entry about the appearance

Interview - Eliza Hope Bennett

The new movie Inkheart is scheduled to come out next Friday. Here at the GBK house, we started reading books by Cornelia Funke many years ago, and we all just loved Inkheart!! I have no doubt that we will eventually see this new movie.

Today, Mindy chatted with Eliza Hope Bennett, one of the stars of the movie. She plays Meggie in the movie. Eliza discusses the plot of the movie, which I won't repeat her!

Eliza hadn't read the books until she decided to audition for the part, then she read Inkheart and Inkspell quickly. Being an actress is kind of like Inkheart in that you have to move between worlds. She talked about one scene in which a tornado is read out of The Wizard of OZ.

Cornelia had written that Brendan Fraser had inspired her character of Meggie's dad, Mo, so it was no surprise that Brendan was chosen to play Mo. The father-daughter relationship is a bit different from "normal".

They filmed six weeks in Italy and 2.5 weeks elsewhere (Chloe talked through that part). She is 16, the movie was shot 2 years ago, she plays a 12 year old.

She loves acting since no job is the same; it is fun to play different characters and explore different times, place, and worlds. She likes to play a variety of different people.

Author Interview - Suzy Becker

On today's show, Mindy interviewed Suzy Becker, author of Books are for Reading, a board book for babies and toddlers. The book was designed with a big "hanle" hole in the middle and with pages that babies can chew on.

Unfortunately, I had to turn off our radio as our plane began to taxi, but I did catch that the connection was bad so Suzy went outside (in her slippers, in the snow in Boston) to talk to Mindy! Suzy is an author/illustrator whose four year old daughter Elora was a bit of an inspiration for the book as she loved to chew on books as a baby.

The other part of the interview that I caught was that Suzy rode her bike from Oregon to Virgina in a four month trip to see the country. Now that's pretty cool!

Happy Birthday Kenny!!

I gather from what I hear on the show that it is Kenny's birthday today. So we here at the GBK house wish Kenny a very happy one!

13under13 Poll for 12Jan2009

Visit the KiDS Place LiVE Fans blog and vote in the poll!

What's your favorite song this week?
1. SteveSongs - Giant
2. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
3. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
4. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
5. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
6. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
7. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
8. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
9. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl
10. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat
11. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?
12. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing
13. Laurie Berkner - Fast and Slow

Last week's results:
10% 1. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
10% 2. SteveSongs - Giant
70% 3. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
0% 4. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
0% 5. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
0% 6. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
0% 7. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
0% 8. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl
0% 9. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat
0% 10. Laurie Berkner - Fast and Slow
0% 11. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
10% 12. The Real Tuesday Weld - Bathtime in Clerkenwell
0% 13. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?

Rumpus Room Rewind - Lunch Money

We tuned in to hear Lunch Money for today's Rumpus Room Rewind from sometime around May or June 2007 (I think).We've heard them live in concert enough times now that all of the songs they played are quite familiar to us, even ones that are not on a CD. Their newest CD Dizzy is set to be released on Jan 17th.

Rumpus Room Playlist:

5' 7" and 3/4

Caboose

I Want A Dog

Rollercoaster

Where You There?

Somehow a Frog Finds A Pond

Do You Have Rhythm

Go and Stop

Dizzy

It Only Takes One Night

Tricycle

I Ate Too Much of My Favorite Foods

Tiny Dinosaurs

Cookie As Big As My Head

From Summer on Southport 2007:

13 under 13 - 9Jan2009

Robbie hosted this week.

As I guessed it would be a contender last week, I am not surprised that the new entry is Randy Kaplan's "No Nothing."

Also, no surprise that the Bathtime in Clerkenwell fell off the chart; it has been on there quite long enough.

Glad to see SteveSongs back at #1, much better than the new Madagascar song.

1. SteveSongs - Giant (10 weeks)
2. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It (9 weeks)
3. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family (8 weeks)
4. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE (13 weeks)
5. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon (6 weeks)
6. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly (4 weeks)
7. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5 (12 weeks)
8. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song (3 weeks)
9. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl (15 weeks)
10. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat (7 weeks)
11. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You? (2 weeks)
12. Randy Kaplan - No Nothing (debut)
13. Laurie Berkner - Fast and Slow (14 weeks)

Past Freshness Date:
The Real Tuesday Weld - Bathtime in Clerkenwell (20 weeks)

Interview - Sammi Hanratty

Today, Mindy interviewed Sammi Hanratty, who plays Chrissa in Chrissa Stands Strong "the first-ever Girl of the Year® movie, [where] Chrissa Maxwell™ learns how to stand up for herself—and others."

The new doll "Chrissa" is made in part to look like her after she got the roll. Sammi got her own trailer during the making of the movie, loves to act weird in real life by going up to groups of her peers (peers she doesn't know) and trying to fit in until they realize she's an outsider. She loves to rollerblade too.

Sammi loves playing rolls that are the opposite of what she's like in real life, hence her con-artist character in The Suite Life of Zach & Cody. Acting in movies is just like pretending when you're playing "house" with your friends only you have to follow a script.

The most exciting part about getting the roll of Chrissa was that she found out she was getting her own AG doll! The new AG movie is about standing up to bullies, and the movie even has llamas that spit, (I've gotta see that!)

From the American Girl website:

When Chrissa moves to a new school in the middle of the year, she is greeted by the girls in her fourth-grade class with teasing and tricks. The “Mean Bees” really know how to sting—and they bully her in class, on the bus, online, and even at swim club. Then the biggest bully becomes Chrissa’s swimming rival, and the teasing and taunting finally go too far. Will Chrissa find a way to stand strong and stop the bullying?

HBO Films. Movie. © 2009 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved. HBO® is a service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

13under13 Poll for 5Jan2009

Visit the KiDS Place LiVE Fans blog and vote in the poll!

What's your favorite song this week?
1. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
2. SteveSongs - Giant
3. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
4. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
5. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
6. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
7. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
8. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl
9. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat
10. Laurie Berkner - Fast and Slow
11. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song
12. The Real Tuesday Weld - Bathtime in Clerkenwell
13. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You?

Last week's results:
1. SteveSongs - Giant
77% 2. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
11% 3. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
11% 4. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
5. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
6. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl
7. Laurie Berkner - Fast and Slow
8. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
9. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat
10. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
11. The Real Tuesday Weld - Bathtime in Clerkenwell
12. Imagination Movers - It's Christmas
13. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song

Weird

A couple of weeks ago and then again today, I looked at my XM receiver while "Lovely, Love My Family" by The Roots was on, and it said the song name fine, but sad "Wee Scary Beasties" was the artist. Anyone else have this happen?

In the News

Hey look! This USA Today article has lots of quotes from Mindy on different kids' CDs from the past year!

Kids' CDs can be music to grown-up ears, too:

Holiday road trips with children need not mean hours of grin-and-bear-it music for Mom and Dad. "Gone are the days of Twinkle, Twinkle,Little Star," says Mindy Thomas, program director of XMKids satellite radio."It's a shared experience." With so much to choose from, USA TODAY asks Thomas and Kathy O'Connell, host of Philadelphia's WXPN show Kids Corner, for advice on 10 kids' discs released in 2008.

Read the article to find out what she thinks about the CDs!

(Hat tip to Warren at kidsmusic.about.com).

Rumpus Room Rewind - Justin Roberts

(Repost from 31 Dec 2007.)


We tuned in to hear Justin Roberts for the New Years' Eve countdown. What fun! He played "Cartwheels and Somersaults" which always makes me think of Zooglobble. And some songs that I hadn't heard before. But we didn't catch the whole thing. Maybe at 11pm we'll be able to listen better.



Listening to XM yesterday, they played an alphabet song sung by Justin that I really liked. I wonder if it is on some CD?




Rumpus Room Playlist:

Airplane of Food

Imaginary Rhino

I Chalk

Billy the Bully

Way Out

Taking Off My Training Wheels

Dad Caught Stars

Cartwheels and Somersaults

Hey Hippopotamus

Yellow Bus

Meltdown

Countdown and Auld Lang Syne on the melodica (6 minutes early)


From Summer on Southport 2007:

13 under 13 - 2Jan2009

Mindy hosted this week, starting off some "NEW" music like "New Day" and "New Shoes."

No shock that a new song from Billy Jonas entered. I was guessing it would be either that or Randy Kaplan's "No Nothing." Mindy has made it no secret that she really likes Billy's new CD Happy Accidents.

Also, no surprise that the Christmas song from the Imagination Movers fell off the chart; it is past Christmas now...

I personally don't see why the new Madagascar song should go to #1. There are songs more deserving than a remake like that....just my 2 cents.

1. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It (8 weeks)
2. SteveSongs - Giant (9 weeks)
3. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE (12 weeks)
4. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family (7 weeks)
5. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5 (11 weeks)
6. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon (5 weeks)
7. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly (3 weeks)
8. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl (14 weeks)
9. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat (6 weeks)
10. Laurie Berkner - Fast and Slow (13 weeks)
11. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song (2 weeks)
12. The Real Tuesday Weld - Bathtime in Clerkenwell (19 weeks)
13. Billy Jonas - What Kind of Dog Are You? (debut)

Past Freshness Date:
10. Imagination Movers - It's Christmas (3 weeks)

Interview - Matthew Mullins

Mindy's back on live after a shot New Year's break. This afternoon she interviewed Matthew Mullins, star of the new CW live action show for kids "Kamen Rider Dragon Knight." Matt is a five time marital arts World Champion. He won is division in the World Karate Association International Competition.

There is a huge performance aspect to what Matt does. It is like a dance or gymnastics routine that he does, but with kicks and punches. Acrobatic choreographed movement is a big part of what he does.

He started martial arts when he was about thirteen; it was something that he had always wanted to do. He wanted to be like Leonardo, one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He wanted to learn to use the swords as well.

The Kamen Riders are a secret order of protectors against superpowers trying to take over the world. A deck of cards gives them their powers? He does his own stunts on the show except for the motorcycle stunts. He is the leader of the Kamen Riders.

The show "Kamen Rider Dragon Knight" starts this weekend in the Saturday morning block (11:30am).

Marital Arts teaches you self-discipline and how to focus. He learned how to work towards his goals, winning his first title at sixteen. He is grateful for his losses as they made him a better champion.

In the News

From Stay in...With SIRIUS XM Radio on New Year's Eve:

SIRIUS XM's Kids Place Live SIRIUS and XM channel 116 will celebrate New Year's Eve with exclusive concerts from its series Kids Place Live Rumpus Room. Listeners will hear performances by Trout Fishing in America, The Jimmies, Father Goose, Ralph's World, Justin Roberts, Recess Monkey, Bill Harley, Billy Jonas, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, the Asylum Street Spankers and SteveSongs. Additionally, beginning at 12:00 am ET the channel will offer kid friendly party music with Automatik, a jukebox show of the greatest hits of children's music. At 2:00 am ET Dreamcatchers, a menu of lullabies and softer songs, will serve as a nightlight for kids and parents.

13under13 Poll for 29Dec2008

Visit the KiDS Place LiVE Fans blog and vote in the poll!

What's your favorite song this week?
1. SteveSongs - Giant
2. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
3. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
4. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
5. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
6. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl
7. Laurie Berkner - Fast and Slow
8. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
9. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat
10. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly
11. The Real Tuesday Weld - Bathtime in Clerkenwell
12. Imagination Movers - It's Christmas
13. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song

Two week ago's results:
0% 1. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5
52% 2. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE
0% 3. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl
5% 4. SteveSongs - Giant
0% 5. Laurie Berkner - Fast and Slow
17% 6. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It
5% 7. The Real Tuesday Weld - Bathtime in Clerkenwell
5% 8. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family
0% 9. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat
5% 10. Medeski, Martin and Wood - Where's the Music
0% 11. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon
5% 12. Ralph's World - Folsom Daycare Blues
0% 13. Imagination Movers - It's Christmas

Advertising

Ugh. I really don't like that ads are being run that market to kids. We don't have tv to reduce the marketing that comes into our house. I hope that the ads to kids on KPL will be few and far between.

The Orbitz ad, while I didn't like it, at least it was marketed to adults.

13 under 13 - 26Dec2008

Robbie hosted this week, starting off some new music from Billy Jonas and a song from Randy Kaplan's "Loquat Rooftop."

No surprise that "Where's the Music?" fell off the chart; it had a nice run! "The Resolutions Song" from Robbie is a fun one for this time of year (I think it was on the chart last December as well.).

Nice to see SteveSongs in the top spot and that "The Song of LIFE" is hanging on close to it.

1. SteveSongs - Giant (8 weeks)
2. ScribbleMonster - The Song of LIFE (11 weeks)
3. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa - I Like To Move It (7 weeks)
4. Kat Vellos - 5 on 5 (10 weeks)
5. The Roots - Lovely, Love My Family (6 weeks)
6. Trout Fishing in America - Pearl (13 weeks)
7. Laurie Berkner - Fast and Slow (12 weeks)
8. Jenny Lewis - Barking at the Moon (4 weeks)
9. The Sippy Cups - Ladybug Beat (5 weeks)
10. Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly (2 weeks)
11. The Real Tuesday Weld - Bathtime in Clerkenwell (18 weeks)
12. Imagination Movers - It's Christmas (3 weeks)
13. Robbie Schaefer - The Resolutions Song (debut)

Past Freshness:
Medeski, Martin and Wood - Where's the Music (14 weeks)

KPL in the News

SIRIUS XM Radio's Kids Place Live Launches New Show - 'Kids Stuff' - Geared Toward the Sandbox Set:

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today the debut of Kids Stuff, a three-hour daily show inspired by SIRIUS' Kids Stuff channel. The show, dedicated to the sandbox set, will feature a mix of pre-kindergarten themed music with old-school storytelling of classic folk and fairytales by renowned children's artists and celebrities. Kids Stuff will air Monday through Friday at 12 pm ET on Kids Place Live, SIRIUS and XM channels 116.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080819/NYTU044LOGO )

Kids Stuff will premiere on December 24th with an exclusive performance from renowned children's recording artist Laurie Berkner. Berkner, joined by an audience of Kids Place Live families, will perform songs from her new album Rocketship Run.

(The article is much longer than that ...)

Tree House Jam - Peter Yarrow

Robbie kicked of the new series, call Tree House Jam this weekend. His guest this week was Peter Yarrow from Peter, Paul and Yarrow. Joining them was also Peter's daughter Bethany and Rufus Cappadocia, a cellist.

They played a number of songs together and chatted. Peter talked about Operation Respect and embracing each other for where they are. If we respect each other, we will live in a more peaceful world.

Robbie talked to Peter about the two new songbooks he has published as well.