When I became a parent, I started paying a lot more attention to how things in the world will appear to my kids. And one thing that definitely made me think twice was the music they might encounter. We've never been much for current music trends or radio listening around here, but wow, if you just flip through a handful of radio stations, you are likely to run into a host of songs that are not quite appropriate for little ears. Thus began my quest to stock up on some good, wholesome, entertaining music to play around our house and on road trips!
When I was given the chance to review the latest release from Hope Harris, I was very excited! We're big fans of her 2010 album release, Cousins Jamboree (my husband and I sing "hang on friend, you've got to wait in line" at Lincoln all the time, when he is being a typical impatient two-year-old!), so when I received Picasso, That's Who! and so can you!, it went straight into our CD player and has been riding around in our car ever since.
Picasso, That's Who! is one of the most unique children's albums I have encountered. Each song is written about a different 19th or 20th century visual artist. I'll be honest - I am a crazy theatre lady, but I don't know a whole lot about the history of famous paintings, so a lot of these names were new to me. There are songs for everyone from Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet to Georgia O'Keeffe and Henri Matisse. This album has a more targeted feel, which is actually really fun! While my two-year-old doesn't understand who any of these artists are yet, I imagine that when he takes an art class someday, he'll have an early advantage and may just break into song when someone mentions Monet!
If you look up the work of each artist and listen to their corresponding song from Hope's album, it's obvious that a lot of care and consideration went into the composing of each piece! The musical styles vary greatly, but fit perfectly with their artists' work. I can't imagine how much time it must have taken to research each artist and create a song that reflected their style!
Here's a blurb about the album from Hope's website -
Hot on the heels of her 2011 Parents’ Choice® Silver Honor Award winning CD, Cousins Jamboree, independent children’s musician Hope Harris is excited to embark on a lively new adventure into the world of art with the May 22 release of Picasso, That’s Who! (And So Can You!). The album takes kids and families through a tuneful celebration of 19th and 20th century visual artists, offering musical mini-lessons in art appreciation and encouraging listeners to pick up a brush or a crayon and try creating art! Expertly produced by Rob Friedman, co-producer of the Dan Zanes family albums, Picasso, That’s Who! (And So Can You!) invites kids to hop a train with Romare Bearden, action paint like Jackson Pollock, take a line for a walk with Paul Klee, jump off the diving board into a painting by David Hockney, look closely at the petals of a flower like Georgia O’Keeffe, and more.
This artistic collection is a winner in our book, and I hope it inspires my kids to pick up a crayon or a paintbrush and craft their very own masterpieces! Picasso, That's Who! is the winner of the 2012 Parents' Choice Gold Honor Award. You can purchase this album from CDBaby or Amazon.
Giveaway
One Director Jewels reader will win a Picasso, That's Who! and so can you! CD. This giveaway will end on March 10 at 11:59pm CST. This giveaway is open to US readers only.
To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)! Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well. All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want! Winners will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Good luck!
Thank you to Hope Harris for providing my review sample and the giveaway prize! I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.
My kids are my favorite artists right now. There work is on my fridge.
ReplyDeletehschonrock at yahoo dot com
I dont have a favorite artist, they hang their art on their walls or on the fridge.
ReplyDeletesunniewoodyplus2 atmsn.com
I have a wall full of my kids art, they have begged me to remove them because it's art from when they were so little. Now, ages 13, 16, and 19....they think it's silly! But, they will to understand one day!
ReplyDeleteTicsblog75@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI put my sons art on the fridge! Cantonbrandy@yahoo.com
ReplyDeletewe have their art on the refrigerator and on the walls
ReplyDeleteMy favorite medium is mixed media!
ReplyDeleteive always loved monet!
ReplyDeleteI made a wire in the living room with close pins where I display my kids art
ReplyDeletethey are proudly displayed all over the refrigerator
ReplyDeleteMy fridge n walls are covered by my kids art
ReplyDeleteLilhottemomma@yahoo.com
We display their art in frames on end tables and walls an on the fridge.
ReplyDeleteI like to watercolor.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I put my kids' art on the fridge, wall, and mail it to family.
ReplyDeleteOur entire dining room wall has been converted into an artwork collage. At the end of each school year we clear it off and start over again. We love it!
ReplyDeletemichelle.wanderingstill@gmail.com
My favorite well known artist is Monet. I have been to his house at Giverny France. It was AMAZING! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
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ReplyDeleteI love doing mixed media and sharing the fun with my niece! I enjoy art from all genres.
ReplyDeleterewilson80 at yahoo dot com
My favorite artist is Georgia O'Keefe but we have some reprints of Mary Cassatt hanging in our house (but none of Georgia O'Keefe) The best of our children's art hangs over our dining table One wall for family photos, one wall for roller coaster photos, one wall for maps of the world with pins of roller coasters we have been on, and in the hallway, Mary Cassatt and a beautiful picture my parent's neighbor painted that her partner gave them when she passed away.
ReplyDeleteI display my children's work of art on the refrigerator.
ReplyDeleteawhartness at yahoo dot com
my favorite artist is my daughter :) and i display her work in my bedroom, living room, kitchen, and even on fb :)
ReplyDeleteI put my kids art on the fridge!
ReplyDeletei put my grandkids art on my desk at work with pushpins
ReplyDeleteThe fridge.
ReplyDeleteRefrigerator
ReplyDelete