Album Notes

Breaking News: "If I Had a Giraffe" wins 1st place in the "children's music" category of the International Songwriting Competition. (Out of 15,000 entries)

Have a quick listen! The most popular songs are "If I Had a Giraffe," "Flyswatter Soup," and "Polar Bear Hug."

Reduced price for limited time, price returns to $13.99 on June 1. One of CDBaby's best-selling children's CDs.

"The best children's CD ever?" you decide!

Please click the purple "play all songs" button on the left if you have a fast connection, and you can listen to most of the album right here! Be sure to listen to "If I Had a Giraffe", "Flyswatter Soup", "Birddog and Dogbird", and "Polar Bear Hug."

"Wow! Finally a kids CD that doesn't make us parents want to crash the car. Not only does my daughter walk around singing "Flyswatter Soup" and "If I Had a Giraffe", but I've been finding myself singing these catchy songs as well. And as an adoptive parent, I think that every adoptive parent and child should have a copy of "Callie's Lullaby"! Thanks for the best kids CD we've ever bought." -- Reviewer: Larry Koenig - DE

"Finally, a kid's CD that adults can enjoy! Not sinced I bought Kenny Loggins' 'Return to Pooh Corner' have I found a CD that lets me and my two kids enjoy the same music." -- Reviewer: Bill Diaz - Florida

"The parents like it as much as the kids do!" Fran says, though he admits he isn't surprised. "I wanted to make a CD that didn't talk down to kids - they don't have to get it all right away. That way they can re-discover the album again and again as they grow."

"My kids love this CD! I am a mother of two and a pre-K teacher in Roswell, GA. My kids and my "kids" are all crazy about this CD. The recording of "Five Little Monkeys" is so much better than the others I've heard. Way to go Fran and Friends!" -- Reviewer: Alice Freewell - Atlanta, GA

This wonderful CD is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. If not completely satisfied, we will refund you purchase! And be sure to take advantage of the quantity discount - available until March 1, 2008!

Background:

Shortly after moving to Atlanta, GA, in 2002, Fran Snyder unexpectedly starting writing children's music. While Christmas shopping for children's gifts for his friends and family (having no children of his own), Fran picked up the book "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" by Eileen Christelow. Flipping through the pages, he had the notion that it might go well with some music.

Snyder bought the book, took it home, and started goofing off in the studio with the keyboard and some drum loops. It was immediate. Everything fell into place, a few friends dropped by to lend their talents, and the acid jazz/hip-hop influenced "Five Little Monkeys" song was finished.

It then occured to Snyder that he might combine his previous children's recordings with the new track and send them on CD along with the book to all his friends with kids. The feedback was overwhelming and he began selling the demo online.

In 2004 Snyder moved to Keller, Texas. Encouraged by the continued positive feedback he found himself goofing off in the studio again, this time while visiting with talented Atlanta singer-songwriters James Casto and JPWilliams. Two more children's tunes were born - the rolicking "Polar Bear Hug" and the sweet "If I Had a Giraffe." It was at this point he knew he had something great on his hands.

Then two more songs showed up. Dan Hall a new singer/songwriter friend he met while touring in Michigan, had a song he'd co-written with his daughter years before, and it was perfect. Entitled "Birddog and Dogbird" - continuing the animal theme, the song describes the unlikely though fleeting friendship of a dog and bird.

The bonus track, "Callie's Lullabye" was inspired by the adoption of a Chinese baby girl, after a couple had tried for years to have a baby. The message is inspiring and clear - the bond of mother and child is far deeper than the physical act of childbirth."

"You were born, here in my heart
and grew as deep as baby's ever grow
and if you ever doubt your place in this world
that's the one thing you should know."

Snyder then buckled down to finish the project with a few more compositions of his own, most notably, the scream-along "Flyswatter Soup". Looking to actually put a few kids on the kids CD, he enlisted the help of the neighborhood kids to stop by the studio. Driving home the reason Sluffy the Spider enjoys his soup, they chant "Cause it's got BUGS IN IT!!"

Brilliant illustrations from Jas Ingram are very engaging and fun. His work is featured on the CD cover and also the website, which also has free coloring pages and activities you can download for your kids.

Pick up a few copies for today - this CD makes a fantastic gift for birthdays, baby showers, or just to let someone know you care.

New development: "If I Had a Giraffe" is also a picture book!

Find out more at www.fivelittlemonkeysmusic.com