Alphabutt
Kimya Dawson
$14.98, www.krecs.com.
The Juno soundtrack raised Kimya Dawson’s musical profile after years in “anti-folk” cult band Moldy Peaches. Her first kids’ album is a curious work. While it’s a homemade, heartfelt effort, Dawson’s unfiltered approach earns her something of a “parental advisory.” If you don’t want your child singing songs with lyrics that include “fart,” “turd,” “poop” and “pee,” you might have to keep this disc to yourself. Quite unlike other kids’ music out here, Dawson has created nursery rhymes for future tattooed punks.

Loquat Rooftop
Randy Kaplan, Yellow Thing Records & Books
$15, www.Cdbaby.com.
Randy Kaplan may come from Brooklyn, but his music radiates with warm, Midwestern Americana. Kaplan’s humorous story-songs “Clothes Dryer” and “The Ladybug Without Spots” suggest a family-style Arlo Guthrie. His charming original tunes like “Loquat Rooftop” and the revved-up “Mazal Mazal” combine with inspired covers (from Leadbelly’s “Good Morning Blues” to the Leiber-Stoller classic “Charlie Brown” and Annie’s “Tomorrow”) to make Kaplan’s sophomore disc a pure pleasure for kids and parents.

Navigating the Spectrum
The Conducters
$11.99, www.theconductorsusa.com.
As a parent to a child with autism, “Smokejack” Joe Hutchinson wanted to make music for attention-challenged children; however, his band’s quick, catchy songs hold an appeal to all kids. True to their name, the Conductors do several train songs (the Steve Miller-ish original “Great Freight Train” and a propulsive version of “I’ve Been Working On the Railroad”) along with tunes that express the joys of being kids and the fun found in a back yard. A good album with a good heart.

Sesame Street Playgroun
Putumayo
$15.98, www.putumayokids.com
This disc draws on the wonderful world of Sesame Street. Show tunes come from Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and even North America. Some are slightly familiar (like the Chinese version of “Rubber Ducky”), while others are unique to their homeland (like Mexico’s “Ricas Frutas” or India’s version of the theme song). Putumayo and Sesame Street make a terrific team.