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Children's music and multimedia are booming, as today's parents search out entertainment options for their kids that at the same time won't send their grown-up brains into sugar shock. Why shouldn't toy retailers get in on the action? Divert your customer's Best Buy impulse purchases with a selection of new CD and DVD releases that are stirring up buzz on the kiddie culture blogs.

The world's music continues to be Putumayo's oyster. This month, the label releases the latest CD in its popular Playground series, Animal Playground, a globe-spanning collection of 13 multilingual, animal-themed songs that it promises will have music fans of all ages jumping, hopping and singing along to playful, upbeat melodies, like "Quartetto Cetra," a version of "Old MacDonald" in Italian. To support the release, Putumayo will kick off a concert tour this month of more than 25 zoos, museums and children's retailers featuring Asheba, a Trinidadian performer whose video for "No More Monkeys!" is included on the CD. ($14.98) Putumayo Kids, New York

What do you get when you pair professional musicians with elementary school kids and ask them to collaborate on writing songs? To the pleasant surprise of all those involved, you get some great songs spanning the spectrum from silly to wise beyond their years. The best of the bunch can be found on Kid Pan Alley: Nashville. The CD features a cast of country music stars—Suzy Bogguss, Amy Grant, Delbert McClinton and Brooks & Dunn's Kix Brooks among them—along with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and kids who participated in Kid Pan Alley songwriting workshops showing off what happens when kids' creativity gets a little guidance from full-time songsmiths. ($15.00) Compass Records, Nashville, Tenn.

Some have called Gustafer Yellowgold's Wide Wide World a cross between Dr. Seuss and The Beatles—we'd call it the perfect way to prep an 8-year-old for a lifetime appreciation of concept albums and rock operas. Originally a multimedia stage show from noted illustrator and songwriter Morgan Taylor that's already warmed up the crowds at Wilco and Polyphonic Spree concerts, Gustafer has been repackaged as a DVD/CD set. It follows Gustafer Yellowgold as he arrives on Earth from the Sun and befriends an assortment of the planet's odder creatures—all to a soundtrack that ranges from gently psychedelic folk pop to blissful lullabies. ($16.99) Little Monster Records, New York

Is there a better way to both send a newborn off to dreamland and prove that the music-loving life doesn't stop at parenthood than with a lullaby version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" played on harps, glockenspiels, vibraphones and Mellotrons? We think not, and apparently we're not alone. In less than a year, Baby Rock Records has released 19 CDs in which classic rock bands have had their songs re-recorded as soothing instrumental lullabies to widespread press—and noticeable sighs of relief from those who've had enough of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." The series' latest releases included CDs devoted to Bob Marley (pictured), The Beatles and Bjork. The 20th title is on the way with next month's release of Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Pixies. ($16.98) Baby Rock Records, Los Angeles