Woody Guthrie

He wasn't necessarily a reliable father or husband, but Woody Guthrie sure knew how to sing for kids. Here, he's as quiet and un-ironic as you'll ever find him, singing about rattles, sugar and grass as it grows with keen attention and intimacy. It's been over 60 years since he recorded this 1947 album, but these sweet songs speak easily across the decades. The recording may pale, however, in comparison to more contemporary kids productions.