But the mix CD for guests, yeah, that we (OK, I) sweated over a bit. And so for something like the fifth consecutive year (although I guess the most recent mix here is from a couple years ago) , guests got a mix CD of mostly -- but not entirely -- kids music.

Here's the playlist and, for those of you on Spotify, you too can enjoy the home experience via the Spotify playlist or direct link or widget below.

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They Might Be Giants – Figure Eight
Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke
Dean Jones – Snail Mail
Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke – Bigga Bagga
The Board of Education – I'm Not Here Right Now
Psy – Gangnam Style (강남스타일)
Lesley & the Flying Foxes – I Love To...
Ratboy Jr. – High 5 Your Shadow
Shine and the Moonbeams – High Five
Play Date – Anyone Can Sing
They Might Be Giants – Tubthumping - feat. the Onion AV Club Choir
Caspar Babypants – Too Dirty To Love
Boxtop Jenkins – Wag More (feat. Indigo Girls)
Recess Monkey – Fish Sticks
Paul Spring – Home of Song
Stevie Wonder – Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Billy Kelly – Don't Tell Me That I Don't Know What I Know (When You Know That You Don't Know What I Know That I Know)

Bill Harley & Keith Munslow – It's Not Fair to Me
Cat Doorman – Peaceful
The Not-Its! – Let's Skateboard
Counting Crows – Accidentally In Love
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band – A Bailar
Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke – Take Ten
Justin Roberts – All For You
Renee & Jeremy – Give It Away

Duplex – Figure 8

Kids Music. Punk Music. NPR. (And Me.)

To those of you finding your way to this website courtesy of my NPR review of punk music for kids, welcome. I cover a wide range of music here -- from punk to classical to indie-pop -- (almost) all of which is appropriate for kids and families. There's plenty of coverage of The Boogers here (just search on that name here); less so of Play Date -- they're much newer -- but there's always this interview with Greg and Shanti.

In any case, thanks for stopping by. You're welcome to also join me on Facebook, Twitter, and via mailing list, among many other options.

My Favorite (Best?) Kids Music of 2012

While the posting date on this says 2012, I have to tell you the truth. I am totally back-dating this thing. I am writing this at the end of October 2013 in preparation of writing my Top 10 lists for 2013.

You see, my secret shame is that I never published my list(s) of my favorite kids music of 2012.

Oh, the shame, it burns...

Now, it's not like I didn't seriously think about this subject last year. Besides co-coordinating the 2012 Fids and Kamily Awards, I also voted in them, and the top 10 albums below reflect my vote in the awards. But I do receive far more great kids music than I can fit into my ten-slot F&K ballot, so this is my opportunity to give some shout-outs to some artists. Looking at this list, there are easily 6 or 7 of those albums on the list from #s 11 through 25 that could easily be swapped into the Top 10 list.

So in order not to make this already more embarrassing or major-movie-romantic-comedy-like, without further ado (or, frankly, comment), here are my lists of the best (or at least favorite) in kids music, circa 2012. (If you define, as I do, 2012 as being Nov. 1, 2011 through Oct. 31, 2012.)

Top Kids Music Albums

1. The Okee Dokee Brothers - Can You Canoe?

2. Elizabeth Mitchell - Blue Clouds

3. The Board of Education - Binary

4. Dog on Fleas - Invisible Friends

5. Johnny Bregar - My Neighborhood

6. Lunch Money - Spicy Kid

7. Recess Monkey - In Tents

8. Various Artists - Science Fair

9. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo - Make Believers

10. Various Artists (Matt Wilson) - WeBop: A Family Jazz Party

Albums 11-25 (unranked, shown in alphabetical order)

Caspar Babypants - Hot Dog!

Coal Train Railroad - Swings!

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - A Potluck

Duke Otherwise - Creepy Crawly Love

Elska - Middle of Nowhere

Jennifer Gasoi - Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well

Jumping Through Hoops - Rockin' to the Fiddle

Randy Kaplan - Mr. Diddie Wah Diddie

Kori Pop - Songs for Little Bean

Elizabeth Mitchell - Little Seed

Elena Moon Park - Rabbit Days & Dumplings

The Pop Ups - Radio Jungle

Renee & Jeremy - A Little Love

They Might Be Giants - No! (Deluxe Reissue)

Laura Veirs - Tumble Bee

A special shout-out here to Adventures of Chicken Weebus , which isn't really kids music so I didn't really consider it for this list, but based on pure entertainment value definitely ranks in our Top 25.

Top Kids Music Debut Albums (listed alphabetically)

Duke Otherwise - Creepy Crawly Love

Elska - Middle of Nowhere

Kepi Ghoulie - Kepi for Kids

Jumping Through Hoops - Rockin' to the Fiddle

Kori Pop - Songs for Little Bean

Alison Faith Levy - World of Wonder (I know, not quite fair given her history with the Sippy Cups, but still...)

Elena Moon Park - Rabbit Days & Dumplings

Play Date - Imagination

Laura Veirs - Tumble Bee

Various Artists (Matt Wilson) - WeBop: A Family Jazz Party