Listening Ears On!: A Review of Tiptoe Giants’ Little Steps Big Adventures

This is the second in a monthly series highlighting children’s and family music that we’re enjoying, and we think you might like, as well. 

You know you have a winner on your hands when the 5 year old asks you to “play that one again.” And then again. And then, a week later, you have to remember what she’s talking about when she randomly asks to hear “the coconut song … you know, the coconut song” again. So it has been with our repeated listening to the Tiptoe Giants.

The Tiptoe Giants trio is comprised of Leanne King, Megan Lipworth, and Vanessa Couper, and their cheerful vocals are accompanied by ukulele, guitar, flute, and a whole array of percussion and keys. Their Little Steps Big Adventures album begins with a self-titled song that lets us know what this album is going to be about: “little steps make big adventures”.

Musically and lyrically, the songs go on to take us on an adventure, as promised. “Island Melody” (my daughter’s beloved “coconut song”) is a calypso celebration of all things tropical. “Sanibonani – Zulu Good Morning Song” is an African drum toe-tapper. “Hello Song” celebrates the greeting in languages around the world. “Banana Smoothie” also has a tropical feel to it (and I love the flute solo).

It becomes clear that the Tiptoe Giants know little kids pretty well when you hear “Emergency (Wee Wah),” all about emergency vehicles. You had every pre-schooler ever at “wee wah, wee wah” ladies! My daughter also finds the counting/rhyming song “Arty Mcarty Birthday Party” particularly funny.

The parent in me loves the second track, the lively “It’s Fun to Be an Individual,” which celebrates being unique, and has been a nice conversational jumping off point for me to ask if my daughter knows what it means to be “an individual,” something that’s been on my mind since she started school this year.

The three women’s voices sounds particularly lovely together on the soothing “Rocking Chair” lullaby. And, my favorite on the album has to be the final track, the ukulele singalong “Shoobeedoo (We Go Together)”. With lyrics like “I’m the Robin to your Batman” and “like paper goes with glue, you’re stuck on me, I’m stuck on you,” you just want to take your kid’s hand and skip across a field together.

Tiptoe Giants’ Little Steps Big Adventures is a joyous, uplifting, and beautifully tuneful trip through imaginative moments. It is fun and catchy, and everyone in our family is happy to give it yet another spin.

Find out more about Tiptoe Giants and buy the album on their website. (Also available on ITunes and Apple Music)

Or, try your hand at winning a copy for your very own, and you too can listen to the “coconut song” many times! We have THREE copies to give away – head over to @artsplorers_au on Instagram to find out how! (Contest ends Sunday 4 March 2018).

A copy of Little Steps Big Adventures was kindly gifted to us by the Tiptoe Giants to consider for review. The opinions and decision to review are entirely ours.