What if we became adventurers in our own backyard? That's what award-winning children's singer/songwriter Frances England started wondering not so long ago. In an era where so many of us float through the world with our noses in our phones as the colors of our neighborhoods slide past in a blur, England imagined a joyful antidote. This is the curiosity that lights up Explorer of the World. For two years England took walks around San Francisco and, with a handheld microphone, recorded an array of sounds: the bucket drum that kickstarts "Street Life" was played by a street performer on Market Street, then looped throughout the track. The ambient urban sounds of "City Don't Sleep" were recorded on late night walks through North Beach. These noises - along with the beats of a couple of salvaged drum machines - would form the vivacious foundations of the album. Explorer of the World takes its listeners on a shimmering sonic journey through the undiscovered everyday - and a reminder of all the unexpected adventures that can happen, when you keep your head up and let your own curiosity lead the way. "Each song is a little treasure of artistry, creativity and heart." - Los Angeles Times "A Must for Every Collection" School Library Journal "Phenomenal" USA Today "A Truly Original Sound" RealSimple