Balancing performing with a teacher's heart, Lewis initially earned a masters degree in counseling and guidance then moved o­n to a second master's in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Fifteen years of teaching and refining her craft with "kid-tested songs" has molded Lewis into a seasoned performer.

"As a teacher, many of my songs are influenced by my classroom experiences," she says. "Often my students will make suggestions to improve a song in progress."

My favorite song, o­ne that brings tears, is "Best Friends" – a song that transcends time and age: If I'm a rainbow, then you're the sun / Shining all my lovely colors o­n everyone / If I'm a paper, you're the pen / You bring out the best in me, you're my best friend. Lewis is an artist worth learning more about.

As reviewers of children's music our goal is to stimulate and excite the reader to learn more about a particular artist, seek out the MP3 samplers and add the CD to your child's collection. These two are must-haves. Catch you o­n the flip side!

We All Laugh in the Same Language, Marla Lewis, Plumjuice Records, 2005; $15 CD; www.marlalewis.com,phone 516-785-8456. Buy We All Laugh in the Same Language at CDBaby.comand Amazon.com!