Families enjoy silly and inspiring music for kids

Children, parents and grandparents sang together Saturday with award-winning musician and author Jim Gill, who brought his Nationwide Campaign for Play (2017) to the Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire.

The audience clapped, sang, danced and even sneezed along with silly and inspiring musical games that Gill created with energetic banjo rhythms. Saturday's session featured songs from his newest CD release, "Vote For Jim Gill!" and he led favorites such as "Spin Again" and his "Silly Dance Contest!"

Gill is a musician and author and child development specialist, completing his graduate studies in the field at Erikson Institute of Chicago with a special emphasis on the study of play. His recordings and books are created to provide playful interactions between a child and caring adult.

He has released seven CDs of music play for young kids and is the author of two children's books. The latest, "A Soup Opera," is a singalong opera inspired by concerts Gill performs with symphony orchestras.