They say the darndest things

Pop music: it's not just kid stuff anymore . . . or is it? From Jack Johnson plugging in for the "Curious George" soundtrack, to They Might Be Giants' February release of "Here Comes the 123s," rock musicians are increasingly expanding their repertoire with more tot-friendly fare.

It's only fitting that the latest band to join the fray is the Barenaked Ladies, whose catchy hooks and whimsical wordplay are particularly well-suited for "Snacktime," the group's first excursion into kiddie pop. Highlights include upbeat, harmony-drenched numbers like the reggae-inflected "Pollywog in a Bog" and the cheery acoustic ditty "Raisins."

Even within the parameters of standard children's-music topics - food, animals, and the alphabet, essentially - the band manages to slip in right-field references to Gordie Howe and Ouija boards and deliver lyrics with tongue held firmly in cheek ("Raisins come from grapes/ Humans come from apes/ I come from Canada"). "Crazy ABCs" features misleading spellings like "P is for pneumonic" and will likely confuse any poor soul possessing less than a third-grade reading level.

Similarly, slower numbers like the melancholy piano ballad "Here Come the Geese," as well-crafted as they are, might not connect with the coveted but famously restless early-elementary demographic. (Other tunes are more justifiably skippable: the snooze-worthy "Things" and "I Don't Like," for instance, are two especially unlikeable things).

Generally, though, BNL keeps the mood sunny, churning out pleasant, hummable melodies that will satisfy the tykes and might even burrow their way into the consciousness of unsuspecting parents.