Kids Bugs, Birds & Critters

Kids, prepare to buzz, croak, and chirp along with a batch of songs about the common-or-garden animal kingdom. Float like a butterfly with the Wiggles on "Butterflies Flit," bounce around to the techno sound of Crazy Frog on "Who Let the Frog Out," and celebrate your lack of parasites to Grisman & Garcia's "There Ain't No Bugs On Me."

Mom and pop, there's plenty for you to savor here as well, especially the work of Dan Zanes, a former member of the Del Fuegos, whose output straddles the generation gap. Zanes has made a habit of recruiting big-name collaborators, like Aimee Mann ("Night Owl"). Likewise, the whole family will enjoy the Three Stooges' "Two Little Birdies."

There's something a little surreal about the critters in our connoisseur's selection of creature tunes — from Fred Penner's bubble-blowing "Blue Frog" to Tom Paxton's supposition that birds dream of being fish on "Fish Are Orderly." Canada's Chris McKhool plays the eco-troubadour on "I Am a Turtle," a tale of ruined natural habitats.

Just as diverse as the creatures that form the basis of this collection are the performers who sing about them — from folk legends Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon, to crooners like Tony Bennett (who delivers the definitive recording of "The Inch Worm") and rock legends David Grisman and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. Catchy, educational, and just plain delightful, these ditties give a voice to the planet's littlest citizens.