Fred's CD Pick of the Month

Terri Hendrix
Celebrate the Difference
Wilory

"CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENCE" Terri Hendrix, a singer/songwriter from San Marcos, Texas, has released her first CD for kids and it is outstanding. It features clever, childlike songs coupled with hip, adult-friendly musical arrangements. Musically, it is all over the map, gliding smoothly between Texas swing and folk rock. It even features a wonderful hybrid of sorts with a funky banjo set to a techno beat in "Get Your Goat On."

Favorites with my students at school include " Celebrate the Difference ," which uses the animal kingdom as a great metaphor for looking at people and "First Place," which encourages kids to "Walk like you're in first place / Talk like you're in first place / Run like you'll win first place / on the track of the human race."

You won't find this recording alongside the Disney soundtracks at your local retail outlets, so go to her Web site, listen to some samples of the songs and buy the CD directly from her. You will feel good about supporting independent music and you will add a great recording to your children's musical library. And if you are like me, you will be impressed enough with her adult music to buy one of those CDs, too.