This recording includes 13 all-original songs by Justin Roberts with his unique kid-friendly style of modern folk, rock, and pop. The songs are full sounding, with a variety of instruments including drums, horns, electric and acoustic guitar, organ, percussion, bass, banjo, electric piano, keyboard, synthesizer, and mandolin. This CD is perfect for car ride entertainment or playtime sessions.

Roberts' songs draw children in immediately with catchy tunes and topics a child can easily relate to. There are songs about learning to ride a bike without training wheels, spending quality time with Dad, using your imagination, having a sibling, and much more. Roberts' varied influences also result in the songs emitting many different sounds and feelings. For instance, Taking Off My Training Wheels has a bluegrass feeling to it when Roberts throws the tune around and almost yodels some of the words. Sand Castle has elements of jazz and rock, with a vibraphone keeping the beat. Song For You is a sweet slow ballad with a pretty string arrangement. Maybe the Monster begins with the fun sounds of vibes plunking, and will likely get you smiling when he sings some falsetto lines. Roberts' humor is also appropriate and entertaining for child, like when he states that his grandma is "many, many many minutes" (old), the irony of thinking his imaginary rhino friends is silly for saying he has an imaginary friend too, or blaming his brother for things that he did in My Brother Did It!

Roberts' ability to connect with children through song, addressing subjects they care about is his main attraction. Many children deal with the fear of a monster in their room, or just a general fear of the dark. Maybe the Monster introduces a great epiphany that you can stress to your child, "maybe he's [the monster] waiting there quietly, cause maybe the monster's afraid of me." The song helps make the monster seem not so scary by referring to him in cowboy boots, blue jeans, and a vest, or suggesting that he's trapped in the closet and misses his 'monster mom and dad'. Helping your child see fear from another perspective - one that may eradicate that fear altogether - is a very valuable lesson. Any child with an imaginary friend will love Our Imaginary Rhino, and those without imaginary friends will just enjoy the creativity in the song; the "Rah na na na, rah na na na na" are fun to sing along with too! Another song that opens up a valuable discussion is Cartwheels & Somersaults, a face-paced song about getting a new little sister. If your child is going to be a big brother or sister, this song is an excellent tool to help them get excited and see the expanding family in a positive light, "All the present 'round the tree were mostly meant for me, but if that's how it's got to be, we'll split 'em up evenly, because you're worth it, maybe more."

My four-year-old niece, Emily, received this CD in her Easter basket. Very excited, she put it on right away. The energy in the recording matched her excitement that morning and she was dancing and making noises right along with the music. The choruses were easy, fun, and repeated enough that she was able to sing along with them by the end of each song. When More Than Just a Minute came on and there was a line about how when mom says 'just a minute' it can often mean much longer, Emily stopped dancing and explained, "Oh, I HATE that!" I laughed and made a mental note not to say that to Emily in the future.

--Audra

Roberts' music has won multiple awards and recognitions. "Not Naptime" made the list for Parents Choice 25 Best Children's CD of the Past 25 Years. His CDs have also won multiple Parents' Choice Gold Awards; "Meltdown!" in 2006, "Way Out" in 2004, "Not Naptime" in 2003, and Yellow Bus" in 2001. Sesame Street Parents Magazine also named Robert's first CD, "Yellow Bus" its "Best Music Gift of the Year."

Roberts began his career while working a second job as a Montessori preschool teacher. He started writing songs for his students and was inspired to record some of his songs, which he gave to friends and family for Christmas gifts. One of the recipients was a music producer and suggested that Roberts record the song professionally; his first CD was the result.

Roberts started travelling on the road full time in 2001, and is now a leading presence in the indie music family scene. He travels all year performing live concerts with his bandmates, called "The Not Ready for Naptime Players." Roberts has played at renowned venues like NYC's Symphony Space, CD's national Geographic Live, LA's Getty Museum, Seattle's Moore Theater, Lollapalooza, and Chicago's Ravinia. Roberts has also performed on The Today Show.

1. I Chalk

2. My Brother Did It

3. Get Me Some Glasses

4. Our Imaginary Rhino

5. Meltdown

6. Maybe The Monster

7. Sandcastle

8. More Than Just A Minute

9. Taking Off My Training Wheels

10. Cartwheels & Sommersaults

11. Koala Bear Diner

12. It's Your Birthday

13. Song For You