This Little Piggy… by Joe Scruggs

There are so many versions of “This little piggy… ”   – don’t even get me started.  But I will tell you my favorite version, and who made it so silly.

The first four lines are the same, but are sung to a wonderful new melody, “This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy had none…”  But we have a surprise ending, “But the last little piggy, our favorite little piggy, the little piggy we all know, said “It ain’t no biggy, but I don’t play piggy, I’m just a little baby toe.”   And there are several more verses that are hilarious as the little piggies banter about the little piggy that won’t play the game.  It is remarkably hilarious on the video, as you watch an animated foot with the little piggy toes singing their hearts out.   This is from the very creative children’s artist, Joe Scruggs.

   Joe Scruggs is a performer from Texas, who writes some GREAT songs for kids, and for the whole family.  I actually got to see him and his group in concert, and THAT is a memorable experience – 100% fantastic.  He has eight CD’s and two videos, which are all very worth collecting. Check out the website www.HelloJoe.com . This is music that even my husband, who hears a lot of children’s music, really likes to listen to. The first time we saw Joe Scrugg’s 1st Video, we were laughing so hard we were crying. The Last Little Piggy song is such a great twist on the original rhyme, and the melody is so catchy, we end up singing it often, especially when one of us just doesn’t feel like fitting in.

I would HIGHLY recommend getting the DVD which includes both of his videos.  I have the two videos, and it is well worth all the fun and laughs.   The first video is all animated shorts with his songs, and the 2nd video is a recording of a live concert with he and his band.   Joe knows what kids and parents like, and makes a lot of great music for families.

Build, Bake, Sing & Scrub

The themes for both “Milk & Cookies” (Our Time) and “Our Kind of Day” (Family Time) focus on daily routines around the home.  Several of the DRMY kits fit into this category.  You can see pictures and find out more at www.drmy.com . 

Music Makes My Day  (infant and up)                                                     $32.95The Starter set includes a CD, a card book, two shakers, and a scarf.  This is a great gift for both new parents, all the way up to 1^st birthdays.  The music, collected from around the world, is wonderfully engaging, and the songs highlight many of the activities the baby will see in the book, playing with bubbles, scarves, shakers, or even balls.  It will inspire parents and children to play creatively during daily routines together.  A DVD can also be purchased, $14.95, which features live babies doing the same activities with the corresponding music playing along. 

What Do You Say?  Please and Thank You  (talkers)                              $19.95Teaching manners is so fun when you are dealing with funny animal friends, humorously portrayed in precarious situations in the book.  The songs are catchy and have children singing their way to polite phrases, even when the music is off.  

Pat-A-Cake  (infant and up)                                                                   $25.95This fun cloth activity book turns this Mother Goose rhyme into a multi-sensory experience for babies.  It is excellent quality and a fairly quiet toy – great for stimulating baby during times to be quiet.  The music on the CD includes upbeat dance renditions of familiar songs, ie. Muffin Man, and has new ORIGINAL songs like, “Zoom, Zoom, the Airplane spoon” and “The High Chair Drummer”.   

Noodles from Scratch (2 and UP)                                                           $32.95I LOVE this CD, it is pure Jazz fun, with “Laughter Makes the World Go Round”, and favorites like “Muffin Man” and “Little Sack of Sugar”.  This upbeat music is exactly what I need to keep me and the kids happy and hoppin’ around the kitchen while we prepare and/or clean up after a meal.  The rest is just icing on the cake… the book has a wonderful group of animal making noodles from scratch (the snake is used as the rolling pin), and is so much fun to read and sing.  The set also comes with a deep blue chef’s hat, and apron, with pockets to hold the child size utensils.  You can also purchase the cooking tools, ie. 3 nesting bowls, and a set of measuring spoons and cups, for $14.95.  I love the gripping rubber bottoms on the bottom of the bowls, it seems to help keep the bowl in place with such eager hands.  My nephew loves to don HIS outfit, and use his tools to help me make guacamole for our Tacos, as we dance around the kitchen to the music. 

Bake, Build, Sing, and Scrub ( 2 and up)                                               $14.95This is a simple and inexpensive set.  With only the CD and activity book, I almost overlooked this one… until I heard the CD and found some of the BEST cleaning songs I have ever heard.  The book is filled with fun, easy, and inexpensive ways to incorporate music and fun into your everyday routines… at almost any age. 

TLC – Grow With Me  (4 and up)                                                 $29.95 / $19.95All about gardening, this set is a great gift for a little green thumb in the making.  The little girl in the book receives a gift of a planted seed in a pot, and has to learn how to help the little seed grow into a beautiful plant.  The set comes with a white pot with gell shapes to decorate it with, and includes the dirt and some seeds of their own.  The CD has fun songs about the responsibilities and joys of growing your own plant. 

Night Time and Bathtime favorites will come in separate BLOGs.  Remember, I am the only consultant at this time in

Polk
County, so you need to order, or book your party through me.  And I could sure use some help…

Rockin’ Rhythms for Big Kids

Got Rhythm?   We do.  Several Do-Re-Me & You ! sets are designed for children around 6 and up (sometimes younger), to have fun while developing steady beat and complex rhythm skills.   These sets share, in a new way, what kids have been doing for centuries, hand-clapping activities, jumping rope, and tapping out a beat on anything they can find.   Each set comes with a DVD featuring children demonstrating these activities, from simple to complex, then breaking each activity down so it is easy to learn.   You’ll all be entranced, intrigued, and challenged to have fun moving to the beat!  What’s more, these activities are so much fun, children will be sharing them with others and making friends.

Get Up and Stomp!   – This is the newest set available and takes its inspiration from the musical group – STOMP !    Learn how to make instruments, create rhythms and dance routines using everyday objects, ie. pushing brooms, bouncing basketballs, and shaking macaroni boxes.  High quality wooden drum sticks and sand blocks are included.

 Jump to the Beat !   – This is jump roping fun at it’s best, and the kit has won several awards.  The DVD also includes the precision jump roping team, the Indy Air Bears, demonstrating some creative and challenging routines – WOW!  This kit comes with two Indy Air Bear endorsed ropes for single jumping or double dutch.  This set also comes with a CD, where you’ll find the techo style of music as accompaniments to these classic songs – which appeals greatly to this age child. Awards:  iParenting Media Winner, Dr. Toy Smart Toy Award, and The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.

It’s All in the Rhythm !   – This is the classic set from DRMY that has won several awards.  These classic hand-clapping rhymes and games are so engaging, children don’t realize they are developing good eye-hand coordination and sense of rhythm.  From simple routines like “Miss Mary Mack” to the complex “Shimmy Shimmy CoCo Pop”, and games that work their memory, like “Concentration”, this set has all a kid needs to get all their friends hand jiving.  It also includes a CD with all the songs, and a hand shaped flip card chart that includes the words of all the songs, and can be attached to a backpack or purse.  Awards:  National Parenting Publications Honors, iParenting Media Winner, and Teachers’ Choice Award.

I LOVE these sets, and highly recommend them as gifts, and for the whole family to enjoy doing together.  My 11 year old son has really enjoyed the first two sets and we are just starting to explore the new one.  Find out more about the DRMY products on the previous entry marked DRMY Introduction, or see these sets online at www.drmy.com . So get ready to stomp, jump, and clap your way to a fun and healthy day!