After listening and loving Justin Roberts’ Pop Fly CD I knew the next children’s CD our family reviewed had a tough act to follow. We were still dancing around to Pop Fly when we received Robert Schneider’s Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine. Would this “kindie” rock CD measure up? Could we make the switch? The answer to both those questions is “yes!”

First, a little background. Robert Schneider (aka Robbert Bobbert) is the mind behind The Apples in Stero, one of indie rock’s original music groups. He has a huge following, and not only for his music. Schneider is also known for his amazing mathematical mind and has been a featured speaker twice at the Mathematical Association of America’s bi-annual MathFest. Some may think that makes him a bit of a nerd; me, I think that makes him super cool!

For Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine, his first children’s CD, Schneider worked extra hard at being creative, even throwing out traditional instruments in favor of more “colorful” noises. Robbert Bobbert is actually an inventor/scientist and the CD includes a funny comic book introducing kids and parents to this new character. We found out the CD also has a fun little coloring book with the words to the songs so my kids could sing along. So what did we think?

• My oldest daughter: “I think it is a really good CD. I really like the tunes; they have really funny words. My favorite song is ‘Fee Fi Fo, Fee Fi Fum.’” (And she really liked “I Am a Clock” because she played that one quite often!)
• My second-oldest daughter: “I didn’t really listen to it. But I do like the mouse song (’Fee Fi Fo, Fee Fi Fum’).”
• Me: To be honest, Pop Fly rocks my kindie rock world just a little bit more than Robbert Bobbert, but I still really enjoyed the CD. My least favorite song was my kids’ favorite “Fee Fi Fo, Fee Fi Fum,” but I found it stuck in my head and couldn’t stop singing it to my littlest one, making her laugh every single time. I did enjoy “We R Super Heroes” and found myself doing a little mini head banging to that one. My favorite thing about Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine? The inscription on the inside of the CD flap:

I hope you like my new invention,
the shiny circle sound extension.
It plays my music through the air
just as if I were right there.
First, put the circle in the machine
then eat a purple jelly bean*
then turn the song releasing knobbert.
Your friend,
Robbert Bobbert

* Jelly bean not included

You can listen to some samples of Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine on Robbert Bobbert’s MySpace page. You’ll find it the perfect addition to your current “kindie” rock collection, and don’t be surprised if you’re singing “Fee Fi Fo, Fee Fi Fum” to your litte lones! –Emily

** Giveaway! Little Monster Records is giving away 3 copies of the Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine CD! Visit Robbert Bobbert’s MySpace page and listen to “I Love Animals,” then leave a comment telling us something else (besides animals) he loves. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: February 24, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Lisa L., the winner of the Robbert Bobbert giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

When a package arrives at my home my three-year-old always asks, “Is it something for me?” You should see the downcast face when I answer, “No, this one’s for Mommy.” But when Little First Act Discovery’s Xander Xylophone arrived I could finally answer yes. Even though Xander was sent for “review” by my 18-month-old I had a feeling both would get a kick out of it.

Xander Xylophone is one of four musically inclined plush animals from Little First Act Discovery’s Music Learning Pals collection that helps baby learn music through songs and interactive play. It has a music learning mode with activities and messages, and then a song mode with eight sing-along songs and even a little clap-along fun. The songs are your well-known favorites like the alphabet song, Itsy Bitsy Spider and Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Xander has lots of fun ways you can listen and interact, like pressing his tummy to hear real xylophone sounds or pressing his hands and feet for ABCs, 123s and those fun sing-along songs. As cute as Xander Xylophone is he also serves a purpose: teaching children about music and fostering a lifelong love of music. He even introduces concepts like pitch, harmony and rhythm!

My little ones had no idea what they were getting into when they grabbed hold of Xander. They simply saw him as a fun, new stuffed animal. Of course my toddler, being the genius that he is, knew immediately there was more to Xander than lime green fabric and brightly colored pictures on his extremities. He got Xander going right away and we all had fun listening to the different songs. Even my older girls thought he was pretty cool. My 18-month-old’s favorite part was Xander’s tummy–she loved hearing actual xylophone sounds. (It was also the easiest part of Xander to press!) I was glad to finally have one stuffed animal that served some sort of purpose other than taking up precious toy room space.

Little First Act Discovery’s Music Learning Pals also includes Penny Piano, Parker Piano and Gilberto Guitar. You could have your own plush animal garage band! I’m all for introducing music to children as early as possible and Little First Act Discovery has found a great way to do so with their Music Learning Pals. Plus they have a wonderful lineup of other musical toys. (LOVE the Drop N’ Play Piano!) Now we’re just trying to figure out how get Xander to do a duet with my daughter, who plays the cello! –Emily

** Giveaway! Little First Act Discovery is giving away one of their fabulous musical toys to one lucky Daily Dish reader! Please visit their website and leave a comment telling us your favorite toy; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: February 19, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Sky S., the winner of the Little First Act Discovery giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!