Follow that Leeds: New CD has ‘Back to School’ tune

If your kid is lacking enthusiasm for September’s march back to the classroom, maybe they need some rhythm in that step. The new song, “Back to School” — Joanie Leeds’ enthusiastic country-rock ode to academia from her latest album, “Bandwagon” — will soon have him marching to a happier beat.

The singer-songwriter’s new CD is recommended for kids ages 2-9, but her warm voice — redolent of Sheryl Crow’s vocal charms — and her funny, poignant lyrics will be appreciated by the whole family. “Bandwagon” serves up songs from a variety of musical genres, ranging from “I Love New York,” a rockin’ “list song” (think: Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire”) in which the Brooklyn resident bares her Big Apple pride, to “Use Your Words,” which offers soothing, empowering advice for bullying victims.

Get the kids in a back-to-the-books state of mind at one of the artist’s summer gigs: Joanie Leeds and The Nightlights will perform a free show at the Summer on the Hudson Concert Series on Pier I in Manhattan’s Riverside Park South on Aug. 8 at 10:30 am.

“Bandwagon” CD by Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights, $15, www.joanieleeds.com.

Windward School

A coed, independent day school exclusively for students with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities, The Windward School enrolls students in grades one through nine. 98% of Windward students move on to mainstream schools after completing The Windward School's academic program. The Windward School is nationally recognized for its development of instructional programs designed specifically to help students achieve language proficiency. The School&rsquo;s academic curriculum is research-based and multisensory in nature and is designed to give students the skills they need to succeed in school and return with confidence to mainstream educational settings.

Lefferts Gardens Montessori

Serving our community since 1986 and a member of the American Montessori Society. We offer a hands-on learning environment for Toddlers through Grade 6, with a mission to help each individual child reach his or her potential and to prepare students to be independent thinkers, lifelong learners and responsible citizens in an ever-changing world.

Congregation Beth Elohim Early Childhood Center

A progressive preschool that nurtures childrens&rsquo; natural curiosity, critical thinking and self-esteem through an emergent curriculum developed by direct observation of childrens&rsquo; play and interactions with the world around them.