Hip-hop lyrics and moves send an upbeat message

The musical group the Figureheads -- hip-hop artists Jeremy Bryan and Greg Marshall and musician Dave Olson -- have earned critical acclaim for their driving beat, realistic street vibe and uplifting, child-respecting lyrics. Now they’ve released their first DVD: “Keep It Movin: The Figureheads in Concert.”

Featuring songs from their CD “The Movement,” they shape their signature musical affirmations around young, nonprofessional dancers onstage and off. The overriding message “You were born for a reason” is sent out to children loud and strong in songs about overcoming feelings of isolation, anger and confusion and songs about sharing, community and purpose.

Viewers can follow along with the “kiddo crew” as a dance instructor teaches smooth moves. Special features on the DVD (Kiddo Publishing, $15, ages 8 and up. www.figureheadsinc.org) include a “Live in L.A.” appearance, a freestyle dance segment and comments from the artists about their mission.

Other new releases:

“cELLAbration Live! A Tribute to Ella Jenkins”

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. DVD: $14.97. Ages 3 and up. www.folkways.si.edu

Ella Jenkins, a children’s music pioneer and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, is still going strong 50-plus years after she began bringing the gift of song -- and her baritone ukulele -- to Chicago schoolchildren. A collector of folk songs and play songs from the world over and the creator of simple, singalong tunes, Jenkins is an inspiration to other folk artists and children’s music makers who followed her.

On this DVD, many well-known veterans pay warm tribute to her in a communal concert: Pete Seeger, Bill Harley, John McCutcheon, Tom Paxton, Tom Chapin, Sweet Honey in the Rock, the event producers Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer and more.

Jenkins performs too, and audience participation is a big part of the mix in such classics as “The World Is Big, the World Is Small,” “This Pretty Planet,” “Jambo” and “You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song.”

“Knuffle Bunny ... and More Great Childhood Adventure Stories”

Scholastic Storybook Treasures. DVD: $14.95. Ages 2 to 8. Storybooksondvd.com

It’s difficult to go wrong with Scholastic’s collections of beautifully animated children’s stories from the noted production house Weston Woods.

This first release in the new “Storybook Treasures” series -- with more content and an enhanced read-along option -- includes an irresistible adaptation of a 2005 Caldecott Honor book, “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale,” by author-illustrator Mo Willems; Cari Best’s shy girl tale, “Shrinking Violet,” narrated by Calista Flockhart; William Steig’s touching “Brave Irene,” with narrator Lindsay Crouse, and three other charmers.

“A Crooked Kind of Perfect”

Listening Library. CD: $25. Ages 8 to 12. www.listeninglibrary.com

Ten-year-old Zoe is certain she’s a musical prodigy. All she needs is a piano. But her bargain-minded father buys her an organ, the Perfectone D-60, and instead of Tchaikovsky, she’s learning “The Hits of the Seventies.”

Still, if practicing won’t get Zoe to Carnegie Hall, it does take her to the annual Perform-O-Rama organ competition, with life-changing results not only for Zoe, but also for her quirky new friend, her too-busy working mom and her agoraphobic, panic attack-prone, stay-at-home dad.

Author Linda Urban’s first novel is smart, funny and compassionate; reader Tai Alexandra Ricci, a stage and screen actor, is pitch-perfect.

“Down at the Sea Hotel”

The Secret Mountain. Book and CD: $16.95. Ages 3 to 8. www.thesecretmountain.com

Lull them off to sleep with gently rocking folk-pop lullabies softly sung by such veteran folkies as John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky. But read the book first: The CD’s title track, by Greg Brown, is illustrated as a dreamy little seashore fantasy by artist Mireille Levert. The book is rounded out with illustrated lyrics to all the songs.

Other tracks on the CD include Tom Waits’ “Midnight Lullaby,” Neil Young’s “Barefoot Floors,” Billy Joel’s “Goodnight, My Angel,” Nanci Griffith’s “Midnight in Missoula” and Don Henley’s “Annabel.”

“Brazilian Playground”

Putumayo Kids. CD: $14.98. Ages 0 to 9. Putumayokids.com

This is another sunny delight from global music purveyor Putumayo. In the bounce and sway of samba, bossa nova and fizzy dance rhythms, the songs culled from regions across Brazil and played using traditional instruments are beautifully rendered by skilled vocalists and musicians.

As usual with Putumayo releases, the colorful and informative liner notes shouldn’t be missed.

--

lynne.heffley@latimes.com