Stream the Grammy-Nominated Kid Albums, Read a New Book About Taylor Swift and More Billboard Family Hits of the Week

Mario & Luigi: Brothership, the latest RPG in the Mario franchise, is now available for Nintendo Switch. All ages enjoy Mario in our house, and as a parent, I like that this type of video game usually requires strategic thinking. In the Brothership game, Mario and Luigi go on a nautical adventure as they’re transported from the Mushroom Kingdom to a place called Concordia, tasked with reconnecting its islands that have drifted apart.

Whether you’re looking for something new to play together ASAP or want to hide it away as a gift for the upcoming holidays, you can get the game at Target for $59.99.

Mariah Carey already announced “it’s time,” so it is officially OK to kick off the holiday season with festive songs, old and new. Families all have their holiday favorites, but every year there’s new tunes to consider adding to the mix. Sometimes they’re feel-good, sometimes they’re full of melancholy — there’s a time for both. This week delivered a couple musical stocking stuffers.

Charlie Puth’s “December 25th” — with the chorus “December 25th is the day I always miss you the most, oh/ ‘Cause the music and the lights/ It reminds me of the night/ That you told me you had to go” — is one of those sweet, sad Christmas songs backed by lightly jolly music.

Former Phildelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce got Stevie Nicks in the studio for a cover of Ron Sexsmith’s “Maybe This Christmas,” recorded with The Philly Specials, for the new collection A Philly Special Christmas Party. “Maybe forgiveness will ask us to call/ Someone we love, someone we’ve lost/ For reasons we can’t quite recall/ Maybe this Christmas,” Nicks sings on the tune about reconnecting with loved ones for the holidays.

Grammy nominations were announced Friday (Nov. 8). Five albums are in consideration for the award of best children’s music album, the most family-centric category of the Grammys: releases from Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band, Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats, John Legend, Rock for Children and Divinity Roxx and Divi Roxx Kids. Have you heard them all? Grab the streams below and add them to your family’s playlist to catch up with these celebrated works:

Brillo, Brillo!, Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band

Creciendo, Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats

My Favorite Dream, John Legend

Solid Rock Revival, Rock for Children

World Wide Playdate, Divinity Roxx and Divi Roxx Kids

Rob Sheffield, who’s been reviewing and ranking Taylor Swift’s music for Rolling Stone for many years, writes about her in a way fans understand. He’s a journalist and a Swiftie himself, with extensive knowledge of her discography, her musical references, her strength as a songwriter and storyteller, and the impact her brand has made. He’s got a biography about Swift’s incredible career that’s being released on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Heartbreak Is the National Anthem — a title pulled from one of Swift’s song lyrics — can be purchased on Amazon here. Fascination with Swift’s story crosses generations, and I plan to pick up a copy to read with my 12-year-old.