Arthur the Aardvark, of author Marc Brown"s creation and of the Emmy Award-winning cartoon series, descends into his basement to make a home recording with the aid of his best buddies: bossy Francine, precocious D.W., and other favorites from the program. Many songs are instantly recognizable from the show, including the popular reggae-inflected theme song, performed by Ziggy Marley. Also on hand are songs from the 1998-1999 season, such as Art Garfunkel"s "The Ballad of Baxter Bunny." Arthur and his friends reinforce positive messages: respect for self and others, creativity, open-mindedness, and a deep-rooted sense of fun. Moreover, little ears are exposed to a wide variety of rockin" music styles, from rap to a cappella doo-wop, glam rock to folk, and the wonky, kiddie indie rock of D.W."s favorite song, "Crazy Bus." --Paige La Grone