Track Listing

1. Night Light
2. Brontosaurus Got a Sweet Tooth
3. Nine Planets
4. Not Naptime
5. Billy the Bully
6. Pick Up the Pears
7. Moving
8. Three Days
9. 98.8
10. D-O-G
11. Dad Caught Stars
12. Last Night the Moon Was Full

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34695 in Music
• Brand: Justin
• Released on: 2004-11-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
Multi award-winning artist JUSTIN ROBERTS releases his newest collection of tunes, Not Naptime. Zippy lyrics and smart musical arrangements make Not Naptime a treat for grownups and kids alike. Justin explores the world with a fresh eye - from the importance of installing a "Night Light" to the exquisite pleasures of a summer night. Don't get caught when "Brontosaurus Got a Sweet Tooth" or when Mom wants you to take a bath after only "Three Days" of glorious griminess.

While most of Not Naptime is pure fun, some of the lyrics offer solace and inspiration for facing everyday problems - the school bully or the prospect of moving to a new home. And every kid will recognize serious the powers of persuasion employed when a kid asks his parents for a new "D-O-G."

"These songs speak to issues I remember were important when I was growing up, " explains Justin. "I want to make music that's fun but also write songs that speak to the whole of a child's experience."

While all of the messages are positive and wholesome for children, the music is sophisticated and catchy enough for a grownup audience. "Some of my biggest fans are in their 20s," Roberts quips.

Justin Roberts is an acclaimed folk-pop singer-songwriter with a gentle and youthful voice. Formerly with the Minneapolis band Pimentos for Gus, Roberts also recorded a solo release for adults called Bright Becomes Blue. His career as a children's musician began a few years ago when he was a Montessori preschool teacher and music director, writing original songs related to monthly themes in the school curriculum. The song "Apple Tree" written during this time became one of the highlights of Roberts' first family recording, Great Big Sun.

Roberts' second family release Yellow Bus won national acclaim and awards, including Gold Awards from both Parents' Choice and the National Association of Parenting Publications. It also was selected as one of Amazon.com's "Top 10 Children's CDs of 2001."

Amazon.com
Few singer-songwriters are as alert to what's whirring around in the minds of 3- to 8-year-olds--and fewer still capture it as honestly or intelligently--as does Justin Roberts. In a dozen songs as uniformly catchy as the cluster on 2001's excellent Yellow Bus, Roberts rubs the typically dismissive grown-up smear off of genuine childhood troubles: The moon and stars may be bright, but they can't hold a candle to a household full of night-lights ("Night Light"); Mama says moving will be all right, but her reassurances ring hollow when a beloved backyard fades from sight ("Moving"); and a temperature, no matter how slight, could signal the onset of a ferocious "fever fog" and ought to seal the deal on a home-from-school day ("98.8"). Set loose in songs sturdily built on folk, rock, and country foundations, and mellowed by Roberts's rich, way-back gargle, such sentiments generate warmth that lingers. --Tammy La Gorce

About the Artist
Award-winning family recording artist, Justin Roberts's affinity for music was identified at a very young age by a concerned preschool teacher. It seemed that Justin was spending more time with the record player than with his fellow classmates. Justin's relationship with stereo equipment continues to this day.

The music all began at a Montessori preschool where Justin worked as a music teacher by day while performing at night with his indie-folk group Pimentos for Gus. At first he was singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider," Sam Cooke, and Irish jigs with the kids, but soon he was writing his own children’s songs for the classroom. The kids loved the songs, but the teachers began laughing and singing along too.

Justin decided to make a home recording of some of these songs as a Christmas gift for several friends. One of those recipients was Liam Davis, college pal and Chicago producer. Liam suggested they record the songs professionally and release a CD.

With no advertising and a shoestring marketing budget, "Great Big Sun" began making its way across the country. Along the way, it received rave reviews from Disney’s Family Fun Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and was named "Best Music Gift of the Year" by Sesame Street Parents Magazine. Orders started pouring in from all over and shows began to sell out.

So, in the fall of 2000 Justin and Liam returned to the studio to work on the much requested follow-up to Great Big Sun.

Released in March of 2001, "Yellow Bus" turned out to be an even bigger hit than "Great Big Sun." Featuring songs about car rides, whales, and cookies, it continues to receive accolades from children, parents, and critics alike. At the end of the year, it received a 2001 Parents' Choice Gold Award and was named one of the "Top 10 Children's Albums of the Year" by Amazon.com.

Justin continues to perform for families across the nation and is working on material for a new CD that he hopes to release by the end of the year. The Los Angeles Times may have summed up Justin’s music best in its 2001 year-end recordings round-up: "his multilayered lyrics take aim at hearts, minds, and funnybones and hit the target every time."

Customer Reviews

Justin Roberts encourages meditation and conversation
Many of these reviews have mentioned how much adults like Justin Roberts as much as - or more than- their children. So much of what is available for children today is frenetic and nonsensical, and everything has its place. But as a high school teacher I see less and less introspection and more MTV mentality: make it fast, make it flash, forget about the depth. Justin's music allows quietness to enter the car, and encourages families to talk about the import of the song.

"Moving" in particular, struck a chord with my husband as his family moved frequently. We were able to talk with our daughter about the stability of our home, and how objects around us gain significance.

Throughout this album are kernals of parent-child time, rich with memories of moments spent alone with parents under the stars, on a camping trip, or just in the house.

I cannot recommend this album more, if not for a child, then for the child in you.

Great Music for When its Not Naptime
I bought this one at a Justin Roberts concert and I was not disappointed.

Justin covers a wide range of topics common to childhood from pretending to be sick to get out of school, to bullies, to fear of the dark and more.

Justin's music style also covers a wide range, jazz, R&B, Rock (in many forms), etc. This one is easy on adult ears and don't be surprised if you find yourself singing with your child.

My daughter will spontaneously start singing songs from this CD and we will have to play it. Billy The Bully is a particular favorite of hers with its "one by one by one by one" chorus.

Check out Justin's other music as well.

Tapping our toes after MANY listenings
The "conversation" at our house goes something like this:
2 year-old : "Mommy, play D-O-G-O song"
Mommy: Really? You just heard it.
2 year-old: "Yes. Play D-O-G-O song"
Mommy: Okay. One more time....
Song plays, Mommy & 2 year-old ROCK OUT!
Even after repeated (and repeated) playings, it's still funny, catchy, sweet, smart, funky, and hummable. Parents, we should be so thankful for Justin Roberts. He doesn't talk down to kids, he doesn't sugarcoat, he has a great sense of humor, and he makes grownups feel lucky to be included in the fun.