The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, an independent consumer review group founded in 1989, annually recognizes high-quality children's media. The 2009 Platinum Award recipients for kids' music include Cathy and Marcy's GRAMMY-nominated Banjo to Beatbox; Woody's granddaughter and Arlo's daughter Sarah Lee Guthrie and Family's Go, Waggaloo; and Austin, Texas-based singer/songwriter Laura Freeman's long-awaited second kids' CD Somersault Season.

Looking for free holiday music to liven up your family gathering today? Check out this downloadable 10-song collection from Hullabaloo, a kids' band from southern California. Holiday Hullabaloo is a great set of acoustic Hanukkah and Christmas tunes perfect for fireside revelry, and it's absolutely free! Steer your sleigh over to Hullabaloo's bandcamp website for your free download of some sing-along holiday songs for the whole family.

Songwriter/musician/poet Todd McHatton is giving the gift of music this holiday season: his 5-song EP Christmas Songs: A Brief Collection of Holiday Fun is available as a free download on his official website.

From the full-on rockin' "Santa Flying In Your Sleigh" to the jazzy, swirling "Looks Like It's Christmas Time," McHatton's musical influences are worn proudly on his sleeve. You'll hear flashes of "I Am The Walrus"-era Beatles, The Flaming Lips, and The Smashing Pumpkins, and the tune "A Christmas Song for Harry Nilsson" couldn't be more appropriately titled.

Visit Todd McHatton's website for a free download of Christmas Songs, and check out his other music for kids and families while you're there.

The folks over at Jitterbug.tv have put together a fantastic playlist of holiday music for kids, free for the downloading! Jitterbug.tv's tagline is "Music for Hip Kids," and it shows with this collection of tunes they put together for DailyCandy Kids, the online "insider's guide to all things mini in your city."

Kindie rock bands like The Hipwaders, Gustafer Yellowgold, and Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could perform holiday originals for the whole family. Head on over to Jitterbug.tv and listen to or download your free set of holiday tunes today!

Image Courtesy Jitterbug.tv