Rhythms on Parade, a revised and expanded version of an earlier album, is one of Palmer's most inspired collections. Catchy tunes encourage kids to sing, play, and march along, while Palmer skillfully uses pitch, tempo, and rhythm to reinforce his lyrics. In "Roller Coaster," for instance, tempo and pitch vary to conjure an image of a roller coaster slowly climbing a hill and then rushing down the other side. Palmer sounds comfortable using a wide variety of sounds (including a children's chorus, percussion, keyboards, strings, and woodwinds) in a number of styles (ballads, jitterbugs, and country, among others), which should delight most any child. Rhythms on Parade is an easily accessible study of rhythm that will leave both parent and child humming long after the music stops. --Tami Horiuchi