So I made the trek to Barnes & Noble today to finally get myself a copy of Lisa Loeb’s newest Children’s Album “Camp Lisa.” I know that I ranted a lot about the whole exclusive B&N thing (see here) but it turns out there’s a reason for it.

“In conjunction with the release of the Camp Lisa CD, Loeb will launch the Camp Lisa Foundation, a non-profit organization that will raise funds to help send underprivileged kids to summer camp through its partnership with S.C.O.P.E. (Summer Camp Opportunities Provide an Edge, Inc.).” -Excerpt from Camplisa.com

Lisa Loeb has always been an amazing person and this is a beautiful step. I myself never went to Summer Camp, just a crazy Day Camp at a farm. So in a way this album gives me a melancholy smile every so often, but in most cases It just gave me the biggest, brightest grin.

The album starts out with the song “Are You Ready For Summer?” which is a just a sing-song listing of all the things we love about summer. Sure it’s directed towards children, but that doesn’t mean you and your inner child can’t relate. Every so often I caught myself snorting in laughter because something just pulled my heart string and tickled me in that perfect way that only Lisa Loeb could.

From there the CD kind of follows a journey through Summer Camp. From “Going Away” which about packing and all the little things that matter, to “The Wake Up Song” which is about… well waking up. But this CD doesn’t have to be complex to be amazing, it’s another clever catchy song (complete with alarm clocks and a wake up trumpet.) The last two songs on the CD are the perfect closing to a summer, “It’s Not Goodbye” and “Linger.”

In between the CD throws at you a bunch of classic camp fire songs, like “Home on the Range,” and the name game “The Cookie Jar.” (The Cookie Jar has two version, one with a group of kids and another more Harmonic version that she sings with Michelle Lewis, and Jill Sobule.) There’s even three tracks of her teaching the kids “Woodchuck.” All of it screams with Lisa Loeb innocence and charm. And her original contributions to the album (my favorite being “Best Friend”) make it a must have for any Lisa Loeb fan.

The album advertises guest appearance by Kay Hanley, Dave Gibbs, Nina Gordon, Jill Sobule, Lee Sklar, Maia Sharp and comedian Steve Martin. Some of these people you may recognize, others you may not. But they complete and round out all the songs. And at first I was amazed that Steve Martin was on that list, but it turns out he plays a mean Banjo in the song “The Disappointing Pancake.”

How could you not buy an album that has Steve Martin rocking out on a Banjo? Especially on a song called “The Disappointing Pancake?” Don’t “Linger” on that question too long, (see what I did there with the song title?) and run out to your nearest Barnes and Noble to pick up this album. It’s cute, it’s fun and catchy, you’re supporting a good cause, and your inner child will thank you for it.