By an award-winning singer-songwriter who’s also a single gay mom, this album “celebrates the hours that lead up to bedtime and the magical worlds we enter when we finally succumb to sleep.” It includes lullabies among often upbeat tunes, in a variety of genres, by an artist who realizes (as all parents do) that bedtime for young children isn’t a moment, it’s an extended, energetic experience. The last song, however, is a “Lullaby for Grownups” that smartly puts the child in charge of sending the adults off to sleep (while perhaps also subversively soothing young listeners). Other songs reflect aspects of home life, child’s-eye views of nature and the cosmos, and the world of dreams—all with smart lyrics and melodies that even adults will want to listen to multiple times. Lovell (and co-writer Monica Pasqual) have crafted the lyrics to include all families. Some of the songs, though, speak to themes that LGBTQ families (among others) should definitely appreciate. In “Little Bug,” a child reflects on both differences and similarities; “Rocket” calls listeners to “to be brave and to be strong” as they try new things.
