For all their problems, though, Leeds’ songs succeed more often than not, simply by virtue of the fact that she’s a really smart songwriter with a beautiful voice — and that’s the case once again with her new album, What a Zoo!, which takes listeners on a 14-track rundown of various members of the animal kingdom. Some of her subjects are unsurprising (whales, hummingbirds, butterflies), but it’s a sign of Leeds’ cleverness that she works in songs about animals who don’t get a lot of musical love — which is impressive, given just how many kindie songs are about animals. Clams? Manatees? Possums? For goodness’ sake, tofurkey? They’re all part of Joanie Leeds’ zoo. She even makes room for a pair of covers: A fresh rearrangement of “Froggy Went A-Courtin’” (featuring a rap from Secret Agent 23 Skidoo) and an album-closing round of “Wimoweh.”

If Leeds’ lyrical outlook benefits from her unique perspective, the album’s main musical asset is her strong grasp of pop songwriting fundamentals. These are simply catchy songs, and no matter how many times I found myself wishing she’d dial back the production, I never found them anything less than enjoyable. And again, Leeds can sing – even if she gilds her vocals with a little too much sugar for my taste, they have enough strength and substance to prove she doesn’t have to.

Though it’s probably too cute for kids in the post-kindergarten age group, What a Zoo! offers catchy, well-performed fun for young children and their families.

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As you’d expect from an album credited to Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights, I’m a Rock Star will get the most mileage from younger listeners, but what sets Leeds apart from the pack is her way with a killer pop hook — songs like “Put a Smile on Your Face” are great for kids, but more importantly, they’re just plain catchy — as well as the sense of humor that makes silly cuts like “I Was an Elf” worth repeat listens. And then there’s “Give Me a Hug,” which is a bona fide pop jewel. Like a lot of kindie performers, Leeds tried her hand at adult pop before migrating youthward, but unlike many of her peers, she never comes across as condescending; you get the sense she’s just a songwriter who loves kids, and that — along with her relative restraint when it comes to sugar-frosting her uptempo numbers with unnecessary silliness — makes Rock Star worth a spin for the whole family.