Summer Soundtracks

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: It’s Friday, June 9th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Myrna Brown.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher. Coming next on The World and Everything in It: Summer soundtracks.

For many families, summer means road-trips. And a great way to pass the miles is by turning on the radio.

But turning to just any radio station might not be an option if there are little ears on board. Never fear! WORLD reviewers Emily Whitten and Bekah McCallum have some recommendations for what to play next.

COCO MOON: I think highly of Hawaii. I got a cheap flight and a plan. So heads up, Nancy. Don’t get antsy while I’m working on my tan.

EMILY WHITTEN, REVIEWER: That’s Adam Young, the creator behind Owl City. This March, he released an album called Coco Moon. If you like catchy, electronic pop, this upbeat album might just hit the spot.

COCO MOON: Cause when I need a vacation, I need some Vitamin Sea. Aloha, let the good times roll, when I walk on the beach, when I get kinda salty I need some Vitamin Sea.

Young often tells stories with his music–in Adam, Check Please, he celebrates the joy of his first job. In another called Field Notes, his Christian faith is on display as he retells Jesus’ parable of a hidden treasure in a field.

COCO MOON: It’s a fable you see and the moral is this, your heart’s with your treasure wherever it is. And trust me when you dig a treasure will be revealed. And you never know what could be buried in the middle of a field.

Renee Driver teaches music to elementary students. She thinks that kids as old as middle school would enjoy the nuance here.

RENEE DRIVER: I love the art of storytelling. And I was really captivated by that. And I thought: This guy has a very pleasant voice. To me, personally, reminds me a little bit of Andrew Peterson as far as the vocals.

One caution–some parents may not like the focus on tattoos in “Learn How to Surf”. The album is clean language-wise, though Young does mention hell in “Field Notes” and “The Tornado”. One final caution–“The Meadowlark” is an allegory about soldiers who choose not to fight each other. Parents may need to explain it’s meant for families–not real soldiers, otherwise it might seem to promote pacifism.

Next up–A lot of families may be aware of Disney’s new film version of The Little Mermaid. If you’d like your kids to take a deeper dive on that story, one option is a new audiobook of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic version. It’s narrated here by Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

AUDIOBOOK: The little mermaid set out from her garden to a forbidden stretch of water to where the sea witch dwelt. None of the princesses had ever dared swim in this direction before.

This version uses some creative license, but the plot resembles the original Anderson version. Which means it’s definitely different from what most kids are used to.

In this version, when Ariel falls in love with a handsome prince, she trades her voice to get an immortal soul like a human. Parents should also know that some parts get slightly spooky. The mermaids here are a bit like the sirens in ancient Greek myths:

AUDIOBOOK: Do you hear that? That is the sound of her five sisters linked arm in arm. and what I’m about to tell you might not sound very nice.

Other concerns–Ariel isn’t wearing any clothes when she comes out of the ocean–her hair does provide some covering. And instead of singing into a shell, her tongue is cut out by the evil witch.

Still, benefits for older kids are many. The original story has a richer vocabulary and weightier moral.

AUDIOBOOK: Would I do it again? No. I’m much wiser now. To be truly loved, you must be known. Enchanting someone with looks or talent isn’t enough.

Plus, there are fun sound effects and original melodies throughout. The story takes under an hour, so–as long as you prepare your kids that this isn’t Disney–Pinnock’s version can be a great way to deepen their appreciation of a classic tale.

PODCAST 5.5: Well, enough of the nonsense, let’s get on with the nonsense. Welcome back to Withywindle, a whimsical interactive show for kids who love stories, words, and groan worthy jokes.

That’s David Kern, one of the hosts of the Withywindle podcast for families. It often features kids’ book authors and illustrators. The hosts don’t take themselves too seriously, though. They answer questions from young listeners, rate favorite foods on a segment called “snack time,” and tell goofy jokes.

PODCAST: Hey Graeme. Hey David. I have a joke for you. Okay. Are you ready? Mhm. What kind of shoes do ninjas wear? I don’t know. Sneakers.

But when it’s time to chat with guests, conversations can be thought-provoking. Author John Erickson offered this advice for aspiring creators:

PODCAST 5.7: Stories should bring light, not darkness. And if you have no light in your life, don’t write, or write in a journal and keep it in a dark closet. Don’t inflict it on anyone else. If you don’t have anything beautiful to say, don’t say anything. Go watch birds and maybe they can teach you something.

We hope these audio options will teach your family something! But we also hope they might help you make some fun memories this summer, too.

I’m Emily Whitten.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.