You Are My Sunshine
From Little Bird Records

Elizabeth Mitchell is a smidge less locked into the no-frills folkie formula on You Are My Sunshine than on her debut, You Are My Flower. In fact, if you subtract the A-list collaborators (and, OK, the dulcimers, mandolins, and human beat boxes), Mitchell starts to look a lot like the female Dan Zanes. The same rootsy sensibility rules both artists’ recordings, as does a reverence for tried-and-true folk tunes ("Good Night Irene," "Skip to My Lou") and clean production. More significantly, slivers of Zane-like adventurousness shine through here: "Alphabet Dub" set the ABCs to a reggae beat; "Hey Bo Diddley" tips its hat to the rock & roll pioneer; and the kids are called in to spice up "Crawdad." Counting kids' artists who are genuinely cool still requires fewer than 10 fingers, but with Flower and Sunshine, Mitchell proves she's among the elite. --Tammy La Gorce

Perfect baby tunes!
I first bought Catch the Moon, E.M.'s cooperative effort with Lisa Loeb. I was certainly not disappointed. I own everything she's attached to now. I found that this is the perfect music for those of us who grew up with very particular musical tastes and want to enjoy our favorite pastime of listening to only the finest music with our little ones. This artist really perks tiny ears. I truly feel that I am sharing music with my son now! That says nothing about this woman's beautiful voice who I could feel great, relax or fall asleep to anytime!

Bottom line, as I type my honest review, my 10 mo. son is hanging on the side of the entertainment center shaking it big time to "Ooby Dooby". What more can you say.

Parents, keep your street cred and enchant your home
This might be the best children's album I've ever heard. Mitchell's soothing voice and folky instrumentation (toy pianos, acoustic guitars, sing-alongs) evoke memories of my own childhood, sitting around campfires, wide-eyed and transfixed at the magical stories spun by a guitarist through her music. The songs range from sad to charming to silly (the ABC's in reggae?). The set covers almost all the bases of children's folk music, with some well chosen standards ("Skip To My Lou," including some silly new verses) and covers (Schoolhouse Rock's "3 is the Magic Number" and "Goodnight Irene" by Leadbelly). The standout track is the traditional piece "Froggy Went a Courtin" (which has also been covered by the venerable Bob Dylan, to give you an idea of Mitchell's skill in song selection). It's the irreverent story of Mr. Frog and Miss. Mouse's wedding...but only after her uncle rat gives his blessing! Finally, the added bonus of owning this disc is that since Mitchell is from the indie band Ida, you can still keep your street cred among your hip but non-child-having buddies.

You can't ask for better
My Husband bought this CD for me when I was pregnant with our first child. My sister and I sang 'You are My Sunshine' to each other growing up and still do if we need to be cheered up. My husband heard a review of the album on National Public Radio and knew it was the perfect gift for me. He knew I loved folk and acoustic music.
After our son was born playing the album during our evening nursing sessions was a mainstay through the first four months. Now we keep the album in the car. We have a long commute to get grocery's and run errands so it keeps him very happy B-Boppin to 'Take you Ridin in the Car', 'BoDiddly', and 'The Ladybug Picnic'. My sister now sings 'You are my Sunshine' to her nephew and he loves it - I can't wait until he can sing along with her. Your children will love the album and so will you. I worked in early childhood education for several years and it is by far one of the best children's album I have heard.