As my son and I sat “criss-cross applesauce,” on the floor of the Maplewood Library, our anticipation and excitement grew as the minutes eked out. Soon, we saw those famed tie-dyed T-shirts and knew, Sister Sing Sister String was about to start playing. We could barely contain ourselves.

Sister Sing Sister String is the latest craze in the toddler world in Maplewood. Sister Sing (Marla) and Sister String (Maplewood resident Erin) have been singing and playing together “since we could walk and talk,” they said. At Erin’s son’s birthday, the sisters decided that they could do as well as the entertainer she had hired.

“We both love to sing and be with kids; it was a perfect idea,” Erin said. 

Marla and her husband thought up the descriptive name; Marla sings while Erin strums the guitar. “Wow, what an obvious name for us, but it’s perfect!”

The women have been a hit locally. Erin said “I love seeing the children sing and looks on their faces when they recognize a song.” While Marla likes “when the parents and children sing together and have their bonding moment with a song.” No matter what their motivation, kids are gobbling it up. 

Their repertoire includes many children’s classics and some newer, less known—but darn catchy—numbers. I caught myself humming their “Jenny Jenkins” number all the way home. Erin reports, “We think a lot a like and have the same taste in music—we are aware of what music goes well with our vocal range and we pick songs that we like to sing and that we think the kids would like!” They have also started to perform with other local talent.

While they have put on shows at local libraries, nursery schools, and private birthday parties, they both agree that their favorite is Maplewood Library because “It's the best crowd! The audience is very enthusiastic.” 

As for the future for Sister Sing Sister String, “We hope one day soon to write our music,” according to Erin. Plus, “We hope to be able to become a household name in NJ and one day record an original CD. We just love to sing to the people of Maplewood.”

If you’d like to see these ladies in person, they will be performing on March 22 at the second Annual Mindful Living Holistic Health and Wellness Fair at the Woman's Club in Maplewood. They are “very excited to be playing at such a large event for a lifestyle that we believe in of health and well being.” And, after that, they will be at the Maplewood library on April 24.

For more information on and scheduling for Sister Sing Sister String, please call Erin Edwards, at 973-378-2212 or email sisterstring@gmail.com. They are online here and on Facebook as well.