‘Pop-Up’ to it

This is a must-have.

The Brooklyn-based Pop-Ups, fronted by the smiley Jacob Stein and Jason Rabinowitz, have gained buzz recently for their new album, “Outside Voices,” which tells musical tales of whimsy and childhood adventure in a range of influences, from ’80s synth-pop and reggae dancehall to indie-pop and classic soul. It’s a journey through New York’s synth-beat subway trains, a balloon ride over Prospect Park, a big wheel rally down your childhood block.

It’s not just fun to listen to, but educational, in a silly way, as it teaches how to draw an ape with shapes, the names of over 40 different pastas, and the difference between indoor and outdoor voices.

If these kinds of things are important to you, the album was recently recognized with a National Association of Parenting Publications Award for best music, and is on the Top Ten of 2010 lists of Time Out New York Kids, The Fids and Kamily Awards, Out with The Kids, and one of the Top Ten Kids Debut Albums by Zooglobble.

For info, visit www.thepopups.com.