2011 Grammy Nominee: Best Children's Musical Album Starred Review in the August 2010 issue of School Library Journal Judy Pancoast's concept album is one of a kind! In the last 15 years Judy Pancoast has brought her outrageously fun live concerts to kids all over the USA, touring through all 48 contiguous US states. She's seen just about everything from the Grand Canyon to the giant Jimmy Carter Peanut, from the huge Paul Bunyan in Maine to the huge Paul Bunyan in Northern California, and from the Louisiana Bassigator to the Wyoming Jackalope to Bigfoot in Oregon. Now she wants to bring you along on one of her wild and crazy road trips! From the moment you pop in this CD you'd better buckle up, because you're on the road with Judy in search of three things: real-life children's literature connections, cool places to visit and just plain weird things. Through narration and clever original songs you'll learn stuff about the US that you never knew before, and you'll have a blast while you're doing it. Gwyneth Butera of Gooney Bird Kids radio says: "It's great! We really enjoyed the mixture of music and narration." Whether you're a kid who just wants to have fun, a parent who would like a little learning with the fun, a librarian or a teacher, you'll have a terrific time when you find out that "Weird Things are Everywhere!" To find out more about Judy Pancoast, visit her website at www.judypancoast.com. School Library Journal, the world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia and technology for children and teens said: Weird Things Are Everywhere!: A Reading Road Trip with Judy Pancoast. CD. 57 min. Mamanook Music. 2009. $15. Gr 1-4–New Hampshire resident Judy Pancoast motors across the country on this concept album. A vocal chameleon with a terrific back-up band, she mixes up musical styles for each of these 12 numbers. She sets the tone for the recording with the title cut (a jazzy techno pop tune that features a slick saxophone). Between songs, Pancoast vamps an "auto tour" of the country, mentioning facts, sites to see, and books about selected states. She often encourages visits to the library. Standout songs include: "Yucky" (a commentary on nursery rhymes featuring a Caribbean beat), "Superman Can" (a cool jazzy comparison of comic book heroes), "I Can't Go Surfin'" (a lament about living in Idaho, set to 60s beach music), "Bum-de-Bo" (a tall-tale ballad that picks up the tempo halfway through), and "A Little Bit of Elvis" (a rockabilly tribute to the King). Librarians will particularly enjoy "Once Upon a Time," a story/song about a princess who meets her prince in the library, and "Take Me to Your Reader," a rap/boogie-woogie number about an alien who wants to learn how to read. Included is a map of the U.S., with a list of books set in each state, cool places to visit, and weird things to see. Lesson plans can be accessed at judypancoast.com. The focus on literacy and reading, the fun segues between songs, and the performer's superb voice makes this an excellent choice for use in a school setting.–Stephanie Bange, Wright State University, Dayton, OH