Tumble Bee

Laura Veirs’ music has always had a sweetly melodic, lullaby quality, so gearing an album toward children seems fitting for this singer/songwriter. The younger set won’t be the only ones smitten by this charming collection of mostly traditional American folk songs. *Tumble Bee* was recorded by Veirs’ husband, esteemed producer and musician Tucker Martine, and it includes guest appearances by Bela Fleck, Brian Blade, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, and Colin Meloy of The Decemberists. The performers are clearly having a good time, and the songs are a delight, featuring inventive arrangements and a fun smattering of instruments (fiddles, percussion, guitars, mouth harps). Several tunes (“Little Lap Dog Lullaby,” “Prairie Lullaby,” and “All the Pretty Horses” among them) are suitable for naptime. But most of the tracks—especially “Jack Can I Ride” and “Jump Down Spin Around”—will have wee ones (and others) dancing in the living room and singing along. *Tumble Bee* is an endearing and enjoyable album that kids will love and parents won’t mind hearing over and over again.

What do you get when you mix rollicking and soulful folk songs with captivating vocals and a first-rate mix of harmonies, guitars, banjo, piano, percussion, accordion, brass, strings and whistles? A topnotch family folk album, shaped, layered and made shiny new by skilled musicians led by vocalist Laura Veirs, whose voice is graceful, expressive and utterly charming. Each song is a memorable little jewel, from the familiar ''All the Pretty Little Horses'' and a version of ''Froggie Went A-Courtin' '' called ''King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O'' to Wood' Guthrie's ''Why Oh Why,'' Ruth Seeger's arrangement of ''Jack Can I Ride?'' and ''The Fox,'' based on a 15th century poem about a foxy late-night poultry raid. The one new song ''Tumble Bee,'' written by singer and multi-instrumentalist Karl Blau, fits right in. --Parents Choice Award Gold Medal

Maybe the smartest thing about Laura Veirs' new children's album is that some of its tracks-- including a duet with the Decemberists' Colin Meloy-- aren't children's songs.

On the appropriately titled Tumble Bee: Laura Veirs Sings Folk Songs for Children, Viers and Martine, along with special guests Béla Fleck, Basia Bulat, Colin Meloy (Decemberists), and Jim James (My Morning Jacket), explore some of the genre’s oldest tunes, including work songs (“Jump Down Spin Around”), Civil War tunes (“Soldier’s Joy”), and even a calypso (“Jamaica Farewell”).

Tumble Bee is mostly sweet without being cloying, its songs antiquated without feeling outdated.

Laura Veirs follows in the footsteps of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and others with Tumble Bee, a collection of songs for children.