On Saturday, June 26th 2010, bring your fairy wings to Prospect Park’s Imagination Playground and join PLG Arts as they team up with Park Slope Parents and children’s singer/songwriters Suzi Shelton and Charlie Hope for a musical fairy party! In celebration of the end of the school year, this event will begin at 10am in addition to the regularly scheduled performance of Daydream by PLG Arts at 11am.

Pre-show activities include a 30 minute musical performance by kindie favorites Suzi Shelton and Charlie Hope , accompanied by drummers Kyle McGee and Vin Scialla from Off Beat (a rhythm collective dedicated to help people access the healing benefits of the drum). Suzi Shelton is a local Brooklyn favorite in the playground set and will be singing songs off of her two award winning CD’s, Simply Suzi and No Ordinary Day. Charlie Hope is a gifted, award winning singer songwriter who knows how to tug the heartstrings of children – and their parents, too. You can catch her whimsical sound and melodic lyrics in her Award-winning debut album, I’m Me!.

The main event begins at 11am with a forty-five minute adaptation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” entitled Daydream by PLG Arts followed by post-show kids’ activities, which are held at each show. You can catch Daydream, directed by Rohana Elias-Reyes, every weekend this June. Saturdays at 11am and Sundays at 3pm. PLG Arts hotline number is (718) 393-7733.

Media sponsor Park Slope Parents, NYC’s largest online parenting community, will be there to help facilitate the days’ activities.

All activities are FREE to the public. Children can bring a bathing suit to play in the fountain after the show. Seating is on the ground so bring a towel for comfort.

Prospect Park’s Imagination Playground is located in the park from Ocean Avenue between Lincoln Road and Parkside Avenue. Take the Q or S train to Prospect Park, exit to Lincoln Road.

Click here to see the Imagination Playground on our Interactive Map.

Cool Mom Picks has recognized Charlie Hope’s “World of Dreams” as one of its top five recommended lullaby CDs (see 5th row, far right), and given it high praise in a review posted today.   Many of you have told us how soothing Charlie’s voice is, so naturally a lullaby CD fits right into her repertoire.   Take a listen to World of Dreams and let us know what YOU think….that is if you are still awake at the end.

Today Charlie Hope made her debut on CBC Radio, on the Vinyl Cafe.  This program is a wonderful mix of story and song.   This week the theme for the show is Children’s Music.  Here is how they describe it on their site:

This week on the show we talk about Children’s Music – and not the stuff you’re thinking of……not the “can’t get it out of my head, please make it stop” kind of Children’s Music, but the stuff we liked to listen to as kids and the sort of stuff we encourage our own children to listen to.

Stuart plays some of the songs he used to listen to as a kid and some of the interesting new kids music being made in Canada these days.

As part of the show, they played Charlie Hope’s Train Song from her award winning, and Juno nominated album, “I’m Me!”    It is an honour to be a part of this wonderful radio show.

Canada’s Leading Children’s Music Artists to Perform at Kids’ Jam for Janeway in Support of Good Music and Goodwill

St. John’s, NL – On April 17, Charlie Hope, Bobs & Lolo, The Bee’s Knees and The Kerplunks, all JUNO Award nominees for Children’s Album of the Year, will perform at Kids’ Jam for Janeway, a free concert to benefit the Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre. The concert is being coordinated by Kids Music Connection, an initiative to support music and the arts in the lives of children.

“It’s truly inspiring whenever artists who are competing against each other for the same award can come together in support of a wonderful cause,” said Charlie Hope, singer/songwriter. “We are all passionate about the happiness, health and wellbeing of children, and support the Janeway and its mission of healing and hope.”

Just after receiving her first JUNO Award nomination for her debut children’s album, I’m Me!, Hope got the idea to organize the benefit concert and immediately reached out to her fellow nominees for their support and participation. The other artists were eager to lend their voices, and financial and logistical challenges were overcome by the outpouring of support from local businesses and organizations.

Dan Rubin, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Musicians’ Association (AFM Local 820) has offered sponsorship as well the possibility of support by the Music Performance Fund, a New York-based fund which uses money from the recording arts industry to support free educational and public performances across North America. Additionally, Little People’s Workshop, Gower Street United Church, Oompa.com, and Sheth Graphic Design are generously supporting the event.

“We are honoured by the generosity of the artists and organizations who are donating their time, talent and resources,” said Jenine Kerrivan, Manager of Community Initiatives with the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Support from the community allows us to continue providing our province’s sick and injured children with the special care they need and deserve, and our staff and patients are very appreciative of Kids Music Connection and the JUNO Award nominees for their kindness and caring.”

The Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre is Newfoundland and Labrador’s only hospital specializing in pediatric health care. The Janeway is a tertiary care centre with modern emergency, diagnostic, operating and development and rehabilitation departments, and serves thousands of children and families each year.

Kids’ Jam for Janeway will be held on Saturday April 17th at 10 a.m. at the Gower Street United Church, located at 99 Queen’s Road, St. John’s, Newfoundland. The event is free and open to the public. Rik Barron, renowned local folk and children’s performer and two-time ECMA winner for Best Children’s Artist, will serve as the host of the event.

As part of the fund raising effort, Kids’ Music Connection is holding an online auction for a set of 4 Juno Nominated, autographed children’s cds.

For more information about the event and free advance ticket reservations, visit www.kidsjam.ca.

We offered the Train Song as a free download and over had an amazing response of over 1,000 downloads! Choo Choo!

IWearYourShirt.com

Today Jason Sadler & Evan White are wearing Charlie Hope’s shirt….well, not one from her closet, a Charlie Hope shirt.

For those of you that don’t know them, they are social media gurus that wear a shirt from a different performer each day, and promote them on their blog, twitter, ustream/youtube, etc.   They also talk about a lot of other interesting things at the same time.

As part of the promotion, we are giving away a free download of the TRAIN SONG!  This is a favorite of so many people, both young and old—-yes, many adults have mentioned how they really enjoy it.  This is the song that plays on the video on our  home page.

This download is for one day only.  You can click on the file here.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mgjhjtyz2ut

If you like this, and want another, the Frog Song in the shopping cart is “pay what you will.”  All proceeds from this download will be donated to the Janeway Sick Children’s Hospital in St. John’s Newfoundland, as part of the benefit concert Charlie is organizing with the other children’s nominees, on April 17th.

Green Mamas Pad
Are you sick of the same old children’s music? Have you had enough of The Wiggles? (No offense guys!) My oldest used to listen to The Wiggles all the time. However with the twins, we just really never got into them. For one I was tired of listening to them over and over again and to be honest, we don’t listen to music as much as we should. So when I was given the opportunity to review Charlie Hope’s new CD “I’m Me!” I jumped on it! A little bit about Charlie Hope…

Non-Toxic Kids

What a cool name. I mean, really. Charlie Hope.

I was luckily the recipient of a new CD from Charlie Hope, called I’m Me! A collection of songs for children. Oh, and it’s so sweet. This is a lovely, folky CD with a plenty of catchy, funny and poignant songs for kids…

Kiwi Magazine Online–I’m Me! Review

I have secret (well, not anymore) musical crushes on some bands who perform songs for children. Numbered among them are Recess Monkey, Elizabeth Mitchell, Lisa Loeb, Frances England and Milkshake. It is very hard to make my music crush list. Very. But, Charlie Hope, you had me at track one. Charlie is an astounding female vocalist who reminds me of the lead singer of The Sundays or even Frente with a touch of Three Non-Blondes. Even the up-tempo songs showcase her soothing, intoxicating voice. This is one of those CDs that parents will continue to play long after the children have gone to sleep. The original songs are instant classics…

Kiwi Magazine Online–World of Dreams Review

I am very happy that someone thought to send a Charlie Hope CD to me because she is a new favorite children’s music artist. There are some amazing children’s artists on the shelves lately, and Charlie Hope is in good company with some of the best lyricists and vocalists out there. Her soothing and intoxicating voice will even have mom and dad playing this CD even when the kids aren’t around…

Petit Planet

Having exhausted every Jack Johnson album in existence and listening to his music over and over again every single time we’re in the car, I was elated to come across the kid and adult friendly, enchanting and refreshing music of Charlie Hope. Her ‘I’m Me!’ CD collection of songs for children is full of fun-loving, feel good music that had my extremely picky, (”NO! Not that one song, mommy!” is what she yells from the backseat if a tune comes on that she doesn’t want to hear) two year old smiling from ear to ear and nodding her head to Hope’s music in pure enjoyment declaring, “I LIKE this!”…

Cleeo and Bea

Not sure why, but Charlie Hope’s I’m Me! a collection of songs for children melts our heart. We find ourselves listening to it over and over again. Something about Hope’s beautiful voice, the folksy acoustic guitar and sweet lyrics have us reaching for the tissue and our wee ones, every time. Our favorite song, hands down, is “Train Song.” The strum of strings and Hope’s siren like train horn vocals are great. The kiddos love this collection, too. “Frog Song” is a real crowd pleaser, we love to change the lyrics of what the frogs eat and get belly laughs every time. And we usually can’t say this, but the cd packaging is green (hooray), made with 10% post-consumer recycled content and printed with vegetable inks. A cleeo & bea favorite.

Boston Children’s Music Gives “I’m Me!” 5 Stars!

When I first heard this CD, I thought, “Wow! Five stars!” Which of course gave me the idea to add star ratings to the site, but I’m still looking for a good widget.

In the meantime, just imagine FIVE stars next to Charlie’s CD!

Charlie’s voice is light and sweet. Her original songs are very catchy and easy to sing along to (always a plus for kids’ songs)…

Cool Mom Picks

When you hear my kids identifying a song from System of a Down, you get a pretty good idea of the the type of music I lean toward: Loud, fast and hard. But, that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the polar opposite of hand-banging, and I offer up my love of the Charlie Hope’s I’m Me! kids’ music CD as proof…

WERS The Playground

This delightful new album features a silky-voiced and up-beat young woman with enjoyable and comforting songs that are truly a delight to listen to! With songs ranging from the well known “Mr. Sun,” to great new ditty’s such as “I’m Me,” this album deserves a great deal of attention! All around it is an incredibly well made and produced album that is absolutely a new favorite on The Playground!

- By Sweet D

Boston Children’s Music (Lullaby Review)

Charlie Hope, World of Dreams.Charlie Hope’s new lullaby CD, World of Dreams, is a wonderful CD for relaxing your child and getting them in the mood for sleep. The songs move from one to the other very nicely so there aren’t any jarring shifts and Charlie’s voice is simply beautiful…

9th Annual Independent Music Awards: Best Children’s Album of 2009 (I’m Me!)9th Annual Independent Music Awards: Best Children’s Song of 2009 (I’m Me!)

2010 Juno Award Nominee: Children’s Album of the Year (I’m Me!)

Boston Children’s Music Favorite Kid’s Album 2009 (I’m Me!)

Parents Choice Silver Award 2009 (I’m Me!)

Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award 2009 (I’m Me!)

American Library Association Finalist, Notable Audio Award 2010 (I’m Me!)

Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence Award 2009 (World of Dreams)

Parents’ Choice Recommended Award 2010 (World of Dreams)

“…it is brilliant,” said Zachary Monson, station manager at Galaxie Kid’s Stuff, a popular Canadian children’s music station. “It’s probably the best produced, most well-written children’s album I’ve ever received. It wouldn’t surprise me if she wins the JUNO Award for Children’s Album of the Year.”

Since the release of I’m Me!, the album has received two Independent Music Awards for Best Album and Best Song and the Silver Parents’ Choice Award. Adored by critics, Hope’s vocals are “clear-as-glass, pitch-perfect” according to Cool Mom Picks, and according to Kiwi Magazine, she’s “in good company with some of the best lyricists and vocalists out there.”

“I’m overjoyed that I can bring such delight to kids and parents, and that critics have responded so warmly to the album,” said Hope, who was born in Toronto, and moved to Massachusetts at the age of 11. “All of the accolades that I’ve received for the album thus far have been wonderful, and a JUNO Award nomination is really a dream come true for me.”

Hope leveraged her songwriting talent, her degree in Art Therapy with Children from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and her experience as a caregiver to create an award-winning album that resonates with both kids and parents. Fan favorites, including “Train Song,” “Frog Song,” “New Baby,” and the title track, “I’m Me!,” entertain, enlighten and bring endless joy to her audience.

“It’s clear to anyone who listens to Charlie’s music that she is uniquely in tune with children and that she truly loves what she does,” said Rob Wilson, vice president of Challenge & Fun, Inc., distributor of I’m Me! “She’s a remarkable artist and we’re excited to celebrate her first JUNO Award nomination. It’s certainly well deserved.”

First established in 1970, the JUNO Awards honor Canadian music artists and  their artistic and technical achievements. This year’s awards will be held in St. John’s, Newfoundland and will be broadcast on CTV. Charlie Hope will go up against Bobs & Lolo, Norman Foote, The Bee’s Knees and The Kerplunks, her fellow nominees, for her first JUNO Award win.

For more information about Charlie Hope, including audio, video clips, photo galleries and bio, visit www.charliehopemusic.com. For the latest updates, connect with her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

For more information about the 2010 JUNO Awards and to view the complete list of nominees, visit www.junoawards.ca.

To request copies of I’m Me! for review, schedule interviews with Charlie Hope or request hi-res images, contact Rob Wilson at (888) 384-6200 or info[AT]challengeandfun[DOT]com.

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Oh, and one last thing…5 stars is good….1 star…not so good.