Penny Pinching Parent: Product Review: American Heroes #3 CD by Jonathan Sprout

Product Reviewed: American Heroes #3 CD by Jonathan Sprout

Price: $13.99 CD/$9.99 MP3 price

Availability: CD Baby & KidzMusic.com

Product Description:

"Third in the series of American Heroes CDs, this album educates and inspires children with original songs about some of America's greatest citizens. Award-winning singer/songwriter Jonathan Sprout's careful research, creativity and performance experience in nearly 6,000 concerts have led to this top-notch collection of pop-rock tunes."

American Heroes #3 includes songs about the following historical figures: Milton Hershey, (chocolate king/philanthropist), John Muir (conservationist), Elizabeth Blackwell (first U.S. female doctor), Dr. Jonas Salk (polio vaccine), Jane Addams (Nobel Peace Prize), George Washington Carver (agricultural scientist), Wilma Rudolph (Olympic gold medalist), Thomas Jefferson (third president), Pocahontas(peacemaker) and Cesar Chavez (civil right activist).

Why the PPP family was interested in American Heroes #3?

When I was given the opportunity to try out American Heroes #3 I was pretty excited. You are probably thinking to yourself that I might need a hobby if I was looking forward to a history music CD, but I was, and I'll tell you why. I have a slight confession to make... history was not my greatest subject in school, I was a science and math nerd. I can recall a scientific or mathematical formula at a moments notice (well, might have to think about it since I haven't used it in a bit), but when it comes to history I stink!

I think part of the problem was history just wasn't ever fun for me. I can't ever recall having an entertaining history teacher, they were all pretty ~~mean~~ tough and I seemed to get in trouble for talking too much in history class always.

I don't want my daughter to hate history like I did...I want her to know all the wonderful people who helped shape our great country. I have even been brushing up a bit on some of my American History via trivia and a little book I thumb through every now and then... I do not want to look like a dummy when my little one starts school and knows more about U.S. History than I do!

What the PPP family thinks?

My daughter is in the preschool stages of learning, so to her this is just another fun music CD. To mommy, it's so much more. I can fully appreciate the value of learning that accompanies these fun songs and know that while she is having fun listening to a song while we are running errands in the car around town she is secretly learning.

Remember how when you were a kid you seemed to learn things better if they had a rhythm or were in a song? Well, that's what Jon Sprout has done with these historical figures. He has told their story in a beautifully rhythmic song. The lyrics are catchy, the tunes are easy and you find yourself singing along. I think even grown-ups will find themselves either remembering something they had forgot or a totally new fact.

Jon Sprout has been making children's music for a lot of years and it shows. I love the fact that his music doesn't seem like he's trying too hard... if that makes sense, it just seems to comes natural to him. It's not goofy or cheesy like some kids music. He's not trying to be cool, he's just trying to make really great music that our kids will listen to and learn from. This album actually sorta reminds me of some of the School House Rocks songs... remember those from when you were a kid? I still remember words to the ones about not drowning your food and about being about being a bill on Capital Hill... just to name a few. It's the same concept behind his songs,teaching through music.

The American Heroes series have received wide acclaim and multiple awards and for good reason. I love the fact that it's educational and my child will learn from it and it will grow with her as she matures, but also that it's music she will listen to and mommy and daddy won't be sick of after hearing it a gazillion times.

We definitely think that this CD is a both a fun and educational and would highly suggest it. We plan on packing it in the car for our family vacation next week!

You can listen to some samples of the songs off this album on his website JonSprout.com (along with the others in the series)