Ranger Rick's Trail Mix: Vol. 1

K-Gr 5—The National Wildlife Federation and Ranger Rick teamed up with eco-minded The Wizpops! for an album chock-full of facts about endangered animals in North America. The original songs in this collection are about animals such as swift foxes, black-footed ferrets, bison, and wolverines. Whether they are singing about the daily life of a walrus in "Everything's Better with a Mustache (Walrus Song)" or the complete life cycle of a "Monarch," The Whizpops! skillfully combine a variety of musical genres (country, reggae, 1970s pop, and rap) with lyrics that are both clever and highly informative. While the songs include facts about the animals' physical attributes, habitats, and feeding habits—and don't shy away from using terms such as carrion, chrysalis, and metamorphosis—they never feel didactic. The 11th song, "Extinction Really Stinks," begins almost like an arena rock anthem, then slides into the feel of 1980s songs like "We Are the World." Guest artists such as John Wicks (Fitz and the Tantrums), Bill Harley, Recess Monkey, and Aaron Nigel Smith add to the delight of each song.