The Best Children's Music Album category name has changed a few times over the years, but awarding outstanding songs made for kids has been part of the GRAMMYs since its inception in 1959, when Ross Bagdasarian Sr.'s "The Chipmunk Song" was crowned the Best Recording for Children. Sixty-four years later, the Best Children's Music Album nominees at the 2023 GRAMMYs are all celebrating this youthful corner of the music business for making strides in diversity, inclusion and representation in a digital world.
"What an exciting time for children's music!" enthuses Divinity Roxx, whose album Ready Set Go is one of this year's nominees. "There are so many incredible and diverse artists dedicated to enriching the lives of children through music and content that inspires, empowers, and encourages… The digital era allows us to connect directly with fans and smashes the barriers to accessibility for artists and music lovers."
Though streaming has outstripped physical sales across the board in the music industry, children's music has endured in all forms.
"While I feel like kids' music has been totally transformed, I think children's music was always a little beyond the curve on streaming," notes Justin Roberts, a five-time GRAMMY nominee whose Space Cadet is up for Best Children's Music Album. "I think physical sales had a longer life in kids music than in many other genres. I also keep hearing that the album is dead and it is a world of singles and playlists, but I've been moved by how many kids and parents mention the deeper cuts on Space Cadet… It's been amazing to feel like the kids music world has exploded with streaming, both in terms of the diversity of music being made and the more global reach of the songs."
Regardless of a listener's preferred format, the content of children's music is gaining more substance. And the audience spans more generations than ever.
"Music is slowly taking a turn from teaching school lessons and promoting play to instilling life lessons and questioning our humanity," share Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Soulati Shepherd of Alphabet Rockers, who were nominated for The Movement. "Music can be a soundtrack for how to be. We listen to all genres of music and children's music continues to spark imagination and connection between generations."
Also nominated in the category are Wendy & DB and Lucky Diaz & the Family Jam Band; this year's Best Children's Music Album winner will be announced at the 2023 GRAMMYs on Feb. 5. Below, hear more from each nominee about what makes children's music so special — and why a GRAMMY nomination is the cherry on top.
Alphabet Rockers — The Movement
In 2022, Oakland's Alphabet Rockers released their sixth album, The Movement, which includes young lyricists singing about diversity and strength in unity. Songs such as "Juneteenth" and "Restorative Justice" educate about the past as well as current issues.
"We write for the moments where families have the 'big' conversations, and we do it with great joy," Alphabet Rockers' Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Soulati Shepherd share. "Whether a child is 3 and learning about fairness, or 6 and learning about racism, we write to weave real narratives into family conversations."
They add, "Plus, we make songs that we want to turn up no matter the age of who is around. Whether carpooling or hosting family parties, we know the music plays to all of us."
This is Alphabet Rockers' third nomination in the Best Children's Album category. Their 2019 album, The Love, and 2017 album, Rise Shine #Woke were also nominated.
Justin Roberts — Space Cadet
The 16th full-length release from Justin Roberts, Space Cadet engages listeners young and old with lyrics about acceptance and inclusion set to beats and melodies meant for wiggling. The power pop album has earned the Chicago singer/songwriter his fifth GRAMMY nomination.
"It means so much to know that my fellow musicians still feel that my work deserves this special recognition," he says. "I'm always trying to make something new and different from what I've done before, and even when I feel pretty good about it, it's hard to know if it will translate. Hearing this kind of positive recognition from your peers is always a sign that it did."
Wendy & DB — Into the Little Blue House
The fifth children's album by Wendy & DB (Wendy Morgan and Darryl Boggs), Into the Little Blue House sings sweetly to preschoolers about topics such as curiosity, history, diversity, and science, all to the tune of Chicago blues.
"Making music that resonates with today's children and their families is at the heart of everything we do," the duo shares. "One very important state of children's music is the remarkable wave of increased diversity within the children's music world. That is very exciting to see."
This is their first GRAMMY nomination, and they are thrilled to be recognized: "This honor has left our team feeling gratified, encouraged and truly humbled."
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band — Los Fabulosos
Los Fabulosos has earned the Los Angeles-based Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band a second GRAMMY nomination — and second in a row, as their first nomination came last year for their 2021 album Crayon Kids. They are also two-time Latin GRAMMY winners for Best Latin Children's Album (Mejor Álbum de Música Latina Para Niños) as well as four-time Latin GRAMMY nominees.
"We get to be a part of something that connects parents to their children, across the world, which connects us to humanity on a greater level," says Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gaddis. "That is a privilege and a responsibility."
The lighthearted humor that's present on the album also peeps out when the band is asked how it feels to be GRAMMY-nominated: "Wait... we're GRAMMY-nominated?!"
Divinity Roxx — Ready Set Go!
A former touring bassist and musical director for GRAMMY record-breaker Beyoncé, Atlanta's Divinity Roxx is also breaking barriers with her Best Children's Album nomination. Her 2021 LP, Ready Set Go! — an album of positivity anthems that infectiously spread joy, love and unity to bouncy beats — isn't just her first nomination, it's the first nomination for a Black woman in the Best Children's Music category.
"I am honored to stand on the shoulders of great pioneers like Ella Jenkins, who dedicated her life to making music for the most vulnerable among us," she says. "The award show falls on my birthday this year, so no matter who takes home the award, I will be celebrating and basking in the light of it all throughout the rest of the year!"