Review of Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies

The Short of It

Artists: Andrew Peterson & Randall Goodgame
Release Date: December 22, 2006
Label: Square Peg Alliance
Audience: Children ages one to six (and their parents)
Available for Purchase: Randall Goodgame Store


The Long of It

Several months ago, my two-year-old daughter, Olivia, and I checked out a Laurie Berkner CD from the library. While Olivia loved the songs, I was concerned that she was listening to nonsense all day long. It was my desire to find a CD that was just as fun, but at the same time communicated spiritual truths, especially since she sings along to everything. About a month ago, I stumbled across an ad for Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies, a new children's CD from CCM artists Andrew Peterson and Randall Goodgame. Being an avid listener of Peterson's music, I immediately ordered the project.

The album -- whose linear notes read at one point "No children were eaten during the making of this record" -- is broken into two parts. The first two-thirds of it contains fun kids songs (many of them very silly), while the remaining one-third is tender lullabies. Styles range from swing to folk to jazzy blues to what Olivia calls "yeehaw music." There's even a little bit of pirate "yo-ho-hoing."

As a whole, the project has a very organic feel. What I mean by that is you'll find no auto-tune happening here. There are several songs where Goodgame could've used a bit, such as in "God Made Me" and "Beautiful Girl," but instead a decision was made not to use the tool. And frankly, it's refreshing. There are times when I want to hear a human voice sing without all the bells and whistles of technology. To me, children's music is perfect for this; it shouldn't be too polished.

While I know little about Goodgame, I've come to expect much from Peterson. In my book, he's one of the master storytellers in Christian music, able to beautifully craft songs that make me smile, cry, and think deeply. After listening to this CD, I've had to add laugh to that list. For anyone who picks up this album, get ready to be very amused.

The album contains songs that are simply silly, such as "Piggy Little Toes" (or "The Yeehaw Song" as Olivia calls it), "Bears," and "Tractor, Tractor," as well as songs that communicate spiritual truths including "Stop" and "God Made Me."

"Piggy Little Toes" tells the story of a dad (Peterson) looking for his daughter at a square dance. He sings:

Hey, little Skye girl, where did you go/Out of the holler in the rain and snow?/Maybe she's down at the Do Si Do/Just kicking her feet with the piggy little toes

My girl's got one bellybutton and two elbows/A cute little face and a pretty little nose/And one-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine-ten piggy little toes

In "Bears," we hear:

No grizzly bears don't wear underwear/Socks, or jammies, or gloves/No baby bears don't wear diapers/No Pampers, no Huggies, no Luvs ...

No panda bears aren't so scary/They're eatin' up China bamboo/But if you don't mind your mama/They might just come and eat you

One of Olivia's favorite songs on the CD, "God Made Me," uses humor to teach kids that God made them:

God made slugs and bugs and rats and bats/And nasty bees that don't say please/They'll sting your elbows and your knees if you chase them

But God made me like he made the sea/He filled it up with green and blue/He sent His Son, His Only One/To fill me up and make me new

What's great about this CD is that Peterson and Goodgame have managed to do what VeggieTales has done -- make an entertaining product for both children and parents. For example, kids may not understand the humor in a song such as "Chicken Wiggle," but any parent who's had problems burping their baby will love hearing:

You've got bubbles down in your tummy/And they'll be trouble if they don't rise/Well I know that milk is yummy/But the doctor says no matter how much the baby cries, you've got to ...

Burp, burp, Chicken Wiggle, don't spit up ...

It also has the distinct touch of "dad." Written, performed, and produced by two dads, it's no surprise to find an entire song about eating beans that ends with:

Why did you eat them beans, boy/Why did you eat them beans?/The neighbors done up and they moved to Queens, all 'cause you ate them beans

"Who's Got the Ball," also known as the "ballgame song" at our house, celebrates the fun of kids playing ball with their daddy. The track includes a sports announcer midway through the song, adding a fun touch to what would have otherwise been too repetitive if left solely to its lyrics.
The one complaint I have about the silly tracks is that I think Peterson and Goodgame were unknowningly influenced by already existing children's songs. The music to "God Made Me" reminded both Ted and me of something off of Blue's Clues, while "Dreams" brought to mind VeggieTales' "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything."

As a parent, my favorite part of the album is the lullabies. Let's just say, they've brought me to tears on many occasions. While auto-tune is clearly missing from Goodgame's "Beautiful Girl," I love this song because it reminds me of the times I've heard my husband singing our girls to sleep. In it, Goodgame sings:

I've got you swaddled and I've got your bottle/And you're too loud to ignore/Your mama is sleeping/The angels are keeping/So cry no more

Hey, beautiful girl/Daddy loves you, he loves you/Most beautiful girl in the whole wide world

However, my two favorite songs on the album are Peterson's "May the Lord Bless and Keep You" and "My Baby Loves to Dance." In "May the Lord Bless and Keep You," we hear:

Goodnight, my dear/Be at ease/Till you're floating like the sunlight through the trees/Be at ease

May the Lord bless and keep you/The Lord shine His face upon you, child/And give you grace/May the Lord turn His face toward you, love/And give you peace

In "My Baby Loves to Dance," Peterson sings:

My baby loves to dance/She loves to spin around/She's only two feet tall, but I don't mind at all/She hears a song in every little sound ...

My baby loves me so/She loves me as I am/She lifts her little hands/Her wish is my command/I'll pick her up forever if I can

In the end, the lullaby portion of this album is more than songs meant to soothe and settle down kids. It's also a beautiful testament to the joys of parenting; hence the reason it brings me to tears at each listen.

Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies. It's silly. It's moving. And to borrow a popular phrase, at our house, it's kid-tested. Parent approved.

Emily's Balloon

As one who's always loved picture books, I get excited about our weekly trips to the library. For me, there's such delight in searching through the shelves of children's books and looking for ones that appeal to my two-year-old Olivia's current interests.

Last week we picked out books about a train, a red apple, the moon, and a mouse. All of which Olivia managed to memorize and "read" to my husband and me last night before bed.

Today, the girls and I found two books: one about cars and the other about a balloon. Both subject matters of great interest to Olivia. We've yet to read the car book, but we did read Emily's Balloon before Olivia's nap. Written and illustrated by Komako Sakai, the book was named a winner in Child magazine's 6th Annual Best Children's Book Awards. And rightly so. The charcoal-hued drawings, which feature color here and there (such as the bright yellow balloon) are absolutely charming. I'd love to frame these pictures in Olivia's room.

The story itself is simple and sweet. It beautifully captures the pleasure a young child can find in a balloon.

It is also realistic. At one point, Emily lets go of her balloon and it flies to the ceiling. The only text on the page is: "Uh-oh." Then, on the next page, the same thing happens again. This time the text is "Again?" At our house, balloons always managed to find their way to the ceiling and events play out fairly similar to what happens in the book.

Another plus is that the book helps prepare young children for the possibility that a balloon they have in the future may fly away.

The only aspect of the story that bothered me was no father was mentioned, not even at the dinner table. It was simply Emily and her mother. When reading it to Olivia, I changed some of the words, telling her that Papa, instead of Mommy, would rescue her balloon. For at our house, Papa tends to be the hero.

But despite this, it is one of my favorite picture books to date. It's simple, charming, and sure to be read many times before finding its way back home to the library.

Ants'hillvania

On a shopping trip to our local Christian bookstore a few months ago, I purchased the 20th anniversary edition of Ants'hillvania. I remember listening to this audio production when I was a kid. So buying it was partly an act of nostalgia. However, it was also an effort to start introducing Olivia to more stories on CD. I wanted to get her imagination working as well as help her improve her listening skills.

Written by Jimmy and Carol Owens with Cherry Boone O'Neill (one of Pat Boone's daughters), Ants'hillvania is a musical take on the biblical story of the prodigal son. It centers around Antony, who decides he doesn't want to be like everyone else in the ant colony. Instead, he wants to be "independ-ant." He dreams of being rich and famous. Antony asks his father for his "share of the family fortune" and strikes out on his own on the garden path. Along the way, he mets characters including Mr. Worm and Miss Millipede. In the process he discovers that he's made poor choices.

Ants'hillvania is fun in its effort to teach kids about making wise choices. But, it's also a bit cheesy in parts. Adults can only take so much of the word "ant" being used continually. There's "Ant"ony, Command"ant", independ"ant", Bry"ant," and extravag"ant" to name a few.

Overall, Olivia loves this CD. She sings along to the "Work Song" and "Independ-ant's Song" and asks to listen to the production over and over again. Although each time she listens, she does ask me to skip over the track when Antony is trapped in the spider's cave.

As a mom, I don't mind listening to it multiple times because I love musicals. If you don't care so much for this genre, Ants'hillvania may very well drive you crazy.

Playtime Devotions

This morning I picked up a book called Playtime Devotions: Sharing Bible Moments with Your Baby or Toddler written by Christine Harder Tangvald and illustrated by Tamara Schmitz. I haven't had an opportunity to use it yet with Olivia and Ava, but am excited to have a resource that combines games and songs with teaching little ones about the Lord.
Published by Heritage Builders, a ministry of Focus on the Family, the book contains 30 devotions as well as extra rhymes and games. Each devotion includes:

• Key Thought
• Bible Verse
• Rhyme, Game, or Song
• Prayer to Say

Key Thoughts include "God is Love," "God Listens and Cares," "I Obey Mommy and Daddy," and "Church Is a Happy Place." Familiar games and songs are paired with new words that teach little ones Biblical truths. The only drawback I can see from looking over the book is that it relies too heavily on using patty-cake; it's eight out of the nine games.

Creation as Told to Infants

I purchased God Made Me, the first DVD in FamilyTreeMedia and Integrity Publishers' Baby Faith series, because I wanted my infant daughter to learn at an early age that God loves her and that He made her. The production was an instant hit with her. She loved the puppets, the bright colors, and the music. It definitely held her attention.

My husband, on the other hand, found immediate dislike for the release. He commented that it looked like a something a film student threw together, viewing the DVD as amateurist. He felt that it paled in comparison to Big House Kids' PraiseBaby Collection, which he loved. After seeing how much our daughter enjoyed the video, he softened his response a little. However, he still found the music grating and the images second-rate.

Designed for infants and toddlers ages 0-24 months, God Made Me is "guaranteed to hold baby's attention longer than any other faith-based baby video or your money back." While the release has not proven to hold my daughter's attention longer than PraiseBaby, it has entertained her long enough that I don't feel the need to take the company up on their money back guarantee. Simply seeing her face light up at the puppets and hearing her sing to the music has made this video a valued purchase in my home.

Concept-wise, the video tells the story of Creation, taken from the book of Genesis, in a way that is simple for baby. And, while your infant may not understand the story until an older age, he or she will become familiar with phrases such as "God loves you" and "God made you." Which, in my mind, are foundational concepts for my daughter to learn. The creators have used puppets, hymns, animation, pictures of babies, and moving objects to tell the story. Additionally, the DVD features the voice talents of Jodie Benson, better known as the voice of Disney's The Little Mermaid.

In the end, my daughter enjoyed God Made Me so much, that I purchased the next video in the series God Made Animals. And yes, while the music can be a bit grating after hearing it for the sixth time (not all in one day, mind you), it is a good addition to a baby's video library.

VeggieTales' Duke and the Great Pie War

I don't know about other moms of young children, but I'm constantly (and I do mean constantly) making up silly songs to entertain my daughter. Whether it's while I'm changing her diaper or riding in the car or even as I put on her socks, it seems there's a simple, not always sensible, song finding its way to my lips. When I'm singing these songs I often wonder if Big Idea's VeggieTales grew out of similar silly songs the creators used to keep their own children happy. Whatever the case may be, VeggieTales has proved to be one of the most popular Christian video lines for children. It has sold almost 40 million videos and five million audio recordings to date.

Never waning in creativity, the folks at Big Idea have once again achieved a VeggieTales masterpiece. Their latest adventure, Duke and the Great Pie War, is colorful (in the true sense of the word) and silly, yet didactic. The production will keep your children, as well as yourself, entertained while teaching valuable lessons in loving new siblings and being devoted to one another.

The VHS/DVD's first feature is a retelling of the biblical story of Miriam and Moses. It focuses on the issue of bringing a new baby into the house and the adjustment it is for older siblings. The story seems to serve as a valuable teaching tool for parents who are having a second child. Personally, I see myself showing the video to my daughter when it comes time for a younger brother or sister.

The gem of the production is the title tale featuring Larry the Cucumber as the "Duke" (a.k.a. Boaz in the story of Ruth). Set in the medieval ages, it is the retelling of the book of Ruth and includes a brand-new Veggie Tales character, Princess Petunia. The adventure is filled with kingdoms, rulers, love, and pie throwing.

Also part of the VHS/DVD is "Larry Sings the Blues." Amusing and quite funny, Larry's lesson in singing the blues will definitely draw some laughs.

Duke and the Great Pie War is a wonderful addition to any children's video library.

PraiseBaby God of Wonders

At my house, we have a variety of videos for our 7-month-old daughter, ranging from the Baby Einstein collection to Integrity Publishers' Baby Faith series. However, for me and my husband, the PraiseBaby Collection reigns supreme. We loved the first in the series, Praises and Smiles, and the love only continues with Big House Kids' newest release God of Wonders.

We were first introduced to the series when I received Praises and Smiles as a gift prior to our daughter's birth. I watched the video once and found it to be interesting, but a little slow moving for my taste. It wasn't until I showed the DVD to my 2-month-old infant that I realized what a find it was. She sat captivated and even vocalized at various images. Now at 7-months she is constantly singing to music and I wouldn't be surprised if PraiseBaby was instrumental in cultivating her love for music.

Additionally, my husband loves the PraiseBaby DVDs. While he finds the Baby Faith videos a bit cheesy and underproduced (despite my daughter's love for them), he has commented many times on the quality of the PraiseBaby Collection, not only visually but musically.

God of Wonders is similar to Praises and Smiles in that it features children playing, animated abc's and 123’s, and animals. However, this release spends more “screen time” on nature with an increased number of images of animals, insects, flowers, and fish. Additionally, with this release the creators have added what I call "more effects." For example, the DVD opens with the song "God of Wonders," drawing attention to the words with a tri-split screen featuring a picture of earth (a field of dandelions), water, and sky.

The only complaint I have is the addition of two blue gloved hands waving and counting. While the hands seem to catch my daughter’s attention, I find them a bit unsettling.

Musically, God of Wonders offers a nice compilation of popular worship songs presented in three listening choices: female lead vocal (or “mommy” vocal), child lead vocal, and instrumental. The songs support the theme of the DVD, centering on God’s creative power. Tracks include “This Is My Father’s World,” “You Created Me,” and “All Creators of Our God and King.”

For any parent looking to encourage and nurture their infant’s spiritual development as well as cognitive, social, and emotional development, the two DVDs in PraiseBaby Collection are the products to purchase. The DVDs will do these
things while keeping the baby’s attention and not driving the parent crazy in the process. It is a DVD I don't mind watching and listening to time and time again.