Ms. Rachel’s Journey into Children’s Entertainment

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If you have a small child, you might be familiar with Ms. Rachel. Known for her pink headband and high-pitched, singsong voice, Rachel Accurso has become a prominent figure in children’s entertainment. Her interactive and repetitive songs and lessons have captivated toddlers and their families worldwide.

Since launching her YouTube channel “Songs for Littles” in 2019, Ms. Rachel, alongside her husband Aron Accurso, has amassed over 17.2 billion views. Aron, a Broadway composer and songwriter, shared with NPR’s Leila Fadel that they never envisioned such success when they first started making videos in a basement. He noted their early makeshift setup, using stacked books as a tripod and a pop-up green screen.

The couple began the channel to find suitable resources for their son, who had a speech delay. What started as home videos has grown into a multimillion-dollar entertainment and educational enterprise. Ms. Rachel’s influence expands to books, Netflix, toy stores, and soon, an album. Her debut record, “I’m So Happy,” is slated for release on Sept. 25. It features 23 original and classic children’s songs and nursery rhymes, reflecting her YouTube success.

Ms. Rachel shared her belief in the need for high-quality, thought-out music for children with NPR, highlighting the inclusion of real instruments. She hopes children at home will be inspired by sounds like the cello. As her audience expanded, Ms. Rachel embraced a more public role, advocating for children impacted by war and crises in places like Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. She sees this advocacy as a responsibility tied to her influence among millions of families.

Despite facing accusations of antisemitism in 2025—found to be baseless—Ms. Rachel remains committed to her advocacy and her calls to support children. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring all children have access to safe homes and necessary resources.

This article was written by Ashley Westerman, edited by Majd Al-Waheidi. The radio version was produced by Ava Pukatch.