Thomas & Friends

With the first strains of the Thomas theme, any kid with locomotive love in his blood will go a little bonkers. Percy! James! Mavis! Daisy! Edward! Gordon! Steam-powered engines roll down the track, the tenders are piled with coal, and W.V. Awdry's inventions (conceived initially as an allegory for the relationship between a Christian god and his subjects) spring to life. Musically, there's next to nothing redeeming about these songs: children singers, pallid instrumentation and lyrics about how "we all live by rules and regulations" don't exactly inspire. But try telling that to your toddler.