Golden Kids Rules

K-Gr 4—Singer/songwriter Chip Taylor (composer of many songs recorded by country artists such as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson) has turned his songwriting skills toward his family with his first album intended for children. Celebrating families and the love they share, each of the 12 tunes have thoughtful lyrics and are wonderfully arranged and performed. Taylor's aging, world-weary voice stands in contrast to the youthful innocence of his granddaughters. Standouts include "Big Ideas" (a ballad about respecting the thoughts of children), "Daddy Is a Red Sox Fan/Mommy Is a Yankee Fan" (a celebration of baseball that cleverly weaves in snippets of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"), "You Can Come and Play with Our Toys" (an encouragement to join in on seasonal fun), and "The Possum Hunter" (a toe-tapping story song about Taylor's son). Brilliant songs by a music legend!—Stephanie Bange, Wright State University, Dayton, OH