Contributed via Creative Reporter by Susie Sunshine

My memories of the Captain Kangaroo show are vague but happy and involve falling ping pong balls, waking Grandfather Clock and REALLY wishing Mr. Green Jean's baby animals were mine.

When I learned a CD of children's songs from the show was available, I was excited but slightly hesitant. Could the reality live up to my memories?

I needn't have worried. Time Can Be So Magic is the musical equivalent of discovering a box of beloved photos you forgot existed.

Songwriter Bill Thomas shares the role as lead singer with a variety of extraordinary singers, including Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. The mixture of vocal styles coupled with the different types of music (blues, reggae, country, rock, slow and thoughtful, energetic and silly, sad, happy) make it an enjoyable auditory experience for people of all ages, which is a good thing as it has been a permanent fixture in my CD player by popular demand from my kids.

My ten year old son knows the words to Sunshine Friend and was signing it out loud in the other room. (I have never heard his singing voice before, so this was a big deal! The fact that Sunshine Friend was one of the songs I remembered makes it even more special.) Six year old Bono favors the title track and four year old DirtMonkey loves Eatin' Sketti.

I am haunted by the song Circles and my mind creates a musical video starring me in a twirly skirt while snippets of childhood days come flooding back every time I hear singer Cheryl Miller's ode to this simple shape.

Time Can Be So Magic is a great collection of music on its own merit, but it also helps fill the void of not having The Captain Kangaroo show available on DVD.
Thirty second samples of each song (along with three music videos that aired on the show) can be found here.

Susie Sunshine's exclusive interview with songwriter Bill Thomas can be found here.