Review and Giveaway: William Avery's Learning Buffet

Thank you to Yummy English Snack Productions and William Avery for participating in the Bloggy Birthday Blowout Event on Goodie Goodie Gumdrops!

Here at Goodie Goodie Gumdrops, our ears love to indulge in melodious treats. From sugary sweet pop to spicy, savory rock, we've sampled many yummy tracks over the past year. But we hadn't discovered the musical equivalent to soul food until we found William Avery's Learning Buffet.

William Avery got his start in children's music while teaching English in Taiwan. A friend asked him to write original poems or chants for class and later, to set them to music. He got such a wonderful response, that it snowballed into something greater. William combines his experience and knowledge to produce his music. He relies on his students for direct feedback, so only the perfect ingredients go into a "Yummy English Snack".

While heavily influenced by hip-hop, William is also proficient in violin and piano, which he uses to express his feelings and moods. After a friend taught him the Jazz C scale in college, he began to interlace it into his own unique style.

His latest release, Learning Buffet is a hearty mix of stories, educational themes and phonic drills, marinated in a variety of genres.

Learning Buffet is 100% cool teaching from the soul. Children of all ages come back for seconds when learning the 50 state capitals, the American presidents, the 8 planets, 206 bones in the body, Mandarin Chinese and more... Served with fresh beats and bottomless imagination, each selection is seasoned with pizzazz and blends a tasty fusion of education and fun marinated in jazz, blues, pop, funk and hip hop. Enjoy a smorgasbord of 32 tasty tunes.

Track Listing:

1. Really (Instrumental)
2. Reading Is Fundamental
3. Trey and Lovely
4. Thank You Mean Ole Dog
5. I Am a Big Boy (Wash My Hands)
6. Snail Is Bored
7. Love My Cat
8. #1 Potion H2O
9. America, the Grand Tour (50 State Capitals)
10. American Presidents
11. 206 Bones
12. Sailing (Oceans and Continents)
13. Twinkle Twinkle Little Sun (8 Planets)
14. My Good Friend (Learn Chinese)
15. What's Your Agenda?
16. ABC Chant – ABC Animals
17. Short Phonics Drill
18. Long Phonics Examples
19. The Y Song
20. Bamalama Phonics Time (OW)
21. Bamalama Phonics Time (OO)
22. Bamalama Phonics Time (PH)
23. Bamalama Phonics Time (OI)
24. Bamalama Phonics Time (AR)
25. Bamalama Phonics Time (NG)
26. Rainbow Stylin’
27. Yummy Tummy Special (Monday - Sunday)
28. 12 Months (January - December)
29. Opposite
30. Flavors
31. Skinny Mosquito
32. Kangaroo

Many children's projects are deemed educational. But only with Learning Buffet are you taught everything from opposites to phonics to human anatomy. Each song has a lesson to be learned. Except you won't mind this homework! With invigorating beats and a hip-hop style reminiscent of the Sugarhill Gang or Run DMC, William Avery is the teacher everyone in school crosses their fingers for.

This album is a welcome departure from traditional children's music. It is unlike any family record I've heard before, which makes me want to hit repeat. I normally can't play hip-hop music for Nate because the content is entirely inappropriate. But that has all changed now thanks to Learning Buffet. The rap rhythms make it easier to remember important facts, like presidents and planets. My personal favorite is "America, The Grand Tour". The instrumentals are hot and the lyrics are catchy. If I didn't know my 50 state capitals, I sure would now!

I was chillin' in
Tallahassee, Florida
I saw an awkward alligator
It was coming at me,
so I headed for the border
Runnin' top speed to
Atlanta, Georgia
Stopped at a restaurant, ordered peach pie
Tasted so good I said "My oh my"
left a big tip for the waitress at the diner
Next
Columbia, South Carolina

I also really enjoyed the funky "206 Bones", which counts and names the bones in each part of our bodies, and cowbell-heavy "Yummy Tummy Special", which emphasizes the seven days of the week. Nate's favorite seemed to be the germ-free, "I Am A Big Boy (Wash My Hands)". I think he may be trying to tell me something. While most of the songs are light-hearted and playful, there are some profound tracks such as "Thank You Mean Ole Dog", which chronicles Avery's near kidnapping at the age of three.

With a whopping 32 tracks, Learning Buffet is one memorable meal. We'll definitely be serving ourselves another heaping spoonful of these delicious vittles!

BUY IT: You can purchase Learning Buffet online at CDBaby.com, Digistation, or Amazon.com (ARV $12.98).

WIN IT: One lucky reader is going to win their own copy of Learning Buffet!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Visit YESnack.com, listen to the Learning Buffet tracks (or read the lyrics if you don't have a QuickTime plugin!) and tell me which song you like most. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile or if you are not a blogger!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count!

1.) Follow my blog or subscribe via reader or email. Comment telling me which method you chose. If you already follow or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry)

2.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You may use the following tweet or come up with one of your own:

Serve your child a hefty helping of educational fun with the Learning Buffet CD @kris10chumley! Ends 9/12 http://bit.ly/ctXHxx

Just leave a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry)

3.) "Like" Goodie Goodie Gumdrops on Facebook. (1 entry)

4.) Add my button to your site and leave a comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on September 12, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. only. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this album from William Avery of Yummy English Snack Productions to facilitate my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. The opinions expressed in this review are purely my own. Your experience may differ.