"Please Pass the Music!"

There will surely be more than two gathered for tea time if Indian Elephant Tea by The Big Kidz Band Featuring Skip Ewing is on the CD player. On his children's-music debut, Ewing, a noted singer/ songwriter from Nashville, has concocted a brew of freshly (and often hilariously) reworked kids' and family standards including the funky, rap-tinged "Bingo," as well as the rockin' "Old MacDonald Had a Sampler" and "If You're Happy and You Know It." Gentle guitar, harmonica and percussion give "The Old Man and His Dog" a smooth, James Taylor-sounding vibe. A version of "Dueling Banjos" features a tuba (sousaphone) section, and few listeners will be able to get "Mah Na Mah Na & A Side of Aunt B's Grits," blending the "Muppet Show" fave with the theme from The Andy Griffith Show, out of their heads. Outstanding musicianship and consistently fine singing have this selection brimming with talent and broad appeal. (Rounder Kids [800-768-6337], CD $14.98, all ages, Apr.)

Renowned children's performers Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer serve up a collection of food- and health- inspired songs with plenty of flavor on Bon Appétit!: Musical Food Fun. Tropical fruit gets a tropical treatment in the Calypso-style "Banana," while the title track's bluegrass sound features fine fiddling by Ron Stewart along with Fink's banjo and guitar and Marxer's mandolin. The mostly original songs deliver positive messages (the importance of breakfast, proper nutrition, exercise) that go down easy, thanks to lyrics with a great sense of humor and a smorgasbord of musical styles including blues, swing, rock and samba. Folk music legend Tom Paxton guests on the poem/march-like "Germs" and an ensemble of elementary school children joins in for several catchy choruses throughout. (Rounder Kids, CD $15.98, all ages, May)

Reminder: The Fall Audio Announcement issue is coming up (Aug. 4). Letters requesting information about new fall audio and video titles are in the mail. The deadline for listings submissions is Tuesday, June 10. If you need guidelines or information, contact Shannon Maughan at smaughan@zoominternet.net.