Folksy fantasy

When Bullfrogs Croak

All ages

Zak Morgan; CD: $15

www.zakmorgan.com

www.cdbaby.com

Guitarist-singer-songwriter Zak Morgan, one of this year’s Grammy nominees for best musical children’s album, deftly mixes the everyday stuff of a kid’s life -- sibling rivalry, chicken pox -- with a little funky fantasy (“It’s a Drag to Be a Dragon”) and such tuneful educational tracks as an ode to John “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman (“The King of Fruits”) and the title track, with its lively description of an amphibian as “a patient tongue slinger who shoots from the lip.”

Heading a host of top-notch musicians, Morgan vividly shapes each song, including kindred spirit Shel Silverstein’s “Unicorn” and Cat Stevens’ “Peace Train,” with his warm, folk vocals. His most deeply resonant track, “When Cordelia Played,” co-written with musician Ric Hordinski, about a lonely little girl who makes beautiful music on an old violin, goes straight to the heart.

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Froggy’s Country Storybook

Series: The Ugly Duckling

Ages 3 to 7

Virginia Records; CD: $9.98

(888) 7-FROGGY

www.froggyscountrystory.com

Hans Christian Andersen’s tale about an outcast duckling who’s really a beautiful swan in the making is narrated by country star Terri Clark and features such ditties as “I Try to Think About Elvis” and “If Bubba Can Dance.” A mite too short at about 19 minutes, it’s sweet storytelling with a down-home flavor (the ducks line dance at the “Come On Inn.”)

Other CDs in the series: “The Emperor’s New Clothes” with Vince Gill; “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” with Pam Tillis and “Jack and the Beanstalk” with Bryan White.