The music man Real Simple asked Stefan Shepherd, the man behind the children’s-music site www.zooglobble.com, for his top picks. He sorted through the 250-plus CDs he’s received this year — and a few family favorites — to find the most entertaining. Then kids of all ages (whose feedback consisted of dancing and head bobbing) narrowed down the list. Shepherd, a father of two who doesn’t get to listen to the band Spoon as often as he’d like, explains what makes these discs so appealing.

Best for Teaching Your Kids a Little Something New

Winner: ¡Nueva York!, by Dan Zanes and Friends
Zanes is the godfather of the children’s-music renaissance. He became popular with his unique take on folk songs and sea chanteys, plus the occasional original track. He hits a high note with this lively collection of Latino songs, recorded in New York. Your family probably won’t become fluent in Spanish by listening to the album, but they will learn many different types of songs and the stories behind them. More important, this disc is fun to listen to.

You Might Also Like: Here Come the 123s, by They Might Be Giants