Children's Literature
Here a few favorite books I use in my music classroom.
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Mary Wore Her Red Dress and Henry Wore His Green Sneakers and
The Balancing Act
both adapted and illustrated by Merle Peek
The Balancing Act
both adapted and illustrated by Merle Peek
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Both of these books are wonderful kindergarten or 1st grade songs/stories to sing.
The songs are very repetitive and I find my students begin singing along by the 3rd or 4th page.
The same cast of characters is featured in both books and students love to discover the small details that give each character personality.
The songs are very repetitive and I find my students begin singing along by the 3rd or 4th page.
The same cast of characters is featured in both books and students love to discover the small details that give each character personality.
The Crabfish Adapted by John M. Feierabend, Illustrated by Vincent Nguyen
ISBN-10: 1579997724
My favorite of John Feierabend's adapted folksong books, The Crabfish is a book to sing to your students, (Or you can put on the CD and have the impeccable Jill Trinka sing it while you turn pages!)
My students are always entranced by the song and humorous story and it's fun for me to alter my singing voice while singing each character.
You can definitely start a class discussion of vocal timbre after reading/singing this book.
My students are always entranced by the song and humorous story and it's fun for me to alter my singing voice while singing each character.
You can definitely start a class discussion of vocal timbre after reading/singing this book.
The Composer Is Dead (Book & CD) by Lemony Snicket
ISBN-10: 0061236276
This is a dry, dark humored tale of an inspector investigating the death of "the composer." (It is Lemony Snicket, expect slightly twisted jokes.)
Each section of the orchestra is questioned as the original score highlights specific instruments.
My 6th graders love the more sophisticated humor and it is a very entertaining review of orchestral instruments.
Each section of the orchestra is questioned as the original score highlights specific instruments.
My 6th graders love the more sophisticated humor and it is a very entertaining review of orchestral instruments.
i live in music poem by Ntozake Shange paintings by Romare Bearden
ISBN: 1-55670-372-4
This book is a poem with rich, colorful illustrations and a great inclusion to studying jazz with older grades. I read this while playing Miles Davis's "All Blues," in the background.
This can also be an effective tie-in with poetry units in their homeroom.
My students particularly like the line,
"i got 15 trumpets where other women got hips"
This can also be an effective tie-in with poetry units in their homeroom.
My students particularly like the line,
"i got 15 trumpets where other women got hips"
Baby Rattlesnake by Lynn Moroney
ISBN-10: 0892391111
A lovely native american tale about a baby rattlesnake who wants a rattle before he is ready for it.
I have students play "ti-ti ta ti-ti ta" on maracas for every
"chh-chh-chhhh" in the book, then we sing and play RATTLESNAKE.
Here is a project for art teachers to tie into this book:
http://creativekidsinmckinley.blogspot.com/2011/03/art-class-collage.html
I have students play "ti-ti ta ti-ti ta" on maracas for every
"chh-chh-chhhh" in the book, then we sing and play RATTLESNAKE.
Here is a project for art teachers to tie into this book:
http://creativekidsinmckinley.blogspot.com/2011/03/art-class-collage.html
a-Tisket, a-Tasket by Ella Fitzgerald illustrations by Orta Eitan
ISBN10: 0399232060
a-Tisket, a-Tasket is a great extension of the song and the game.
I play Ella Fitzgerald's wonderful recording of the song as we read this book. It is important to introduce students to exemplary performances of many different styles and genres.
You can't go wrong with Ella.
(I also recommend her recording of Old MacDonald.)
I play Ella Fitzgerald's wonderful recording of the song as we read this book. It is important to introduce students to exemplary performances of many different styles and genres.
You can't go wrong with Ella.
(I also recommend her recording of Old MacDonald.)
All the Pretty Little Horses illustrations by Linda Saport
ISBN-10: 0395930979
This traditional lullaby is set to dreamy, pastel illustrations.
My toddler loves singing along when we read this book together.
It's simple and enchanting.
My toddler loves singing along when we read this book together.
It's simple and enchanting.
Berlioz the Bear by Jan Brett
ISBN-10: 0395930979
Berlioz the Bear is the story of Berlioz, a bassist and leader of a group who are on there way to play a concert. The mule pulling the wagon gets stuck in a hole and several animals passing by offer to help push the mule out. Jan Brett's illustrations are rich with detail and she always includes a visual secondary plot that's fun for children to discover.
I adapted this story for a 2nd grade mini-musical and inserted folk songs and choreographed classical pieces. The songs they performed included: The Bear(s) Went Over the Mountain, Bell Horses, High Stepping Horses, Let's Put the Rooster in the Stew, and Flight of the Bumblebee. It was a great success and I was happy to use songs that are relevant to my curriculum.
I adapted this story for a 2nd grade mini-musical and inserted folk songs and choreographed classical pieces. The songs they performed included: The Bear(s) Went Over the Mountain, Bell Horses, High Stepping Horses, Let's Put the Rooster in the Stew, and Flight of the Bumblebee. It was a great success and I was happy to use songs that are relevant to my curriculum.
Little Rabbit Foo Foo by Michael Rosen
ISBN-10: 0439373018
You know the story and song: Little Rabbit Foo Foo bops others on the head, ignores warnings from the Good Fairy, and then gets his comeuppance, (he is turned into a goon.) The illustrations are wonderful; all the inhabitants of the forest show their disgust at Rabbit Foo Foo's actions as they try to go about their business. (There is a chorus of birds whose rehearsal is interrupted by the arrival of the Good Fairy.) Reader beware: If you avoid reading books to children that include hitting, you may not want to share this book.
Risseldy, Rosseldy adapted by John Feierabend, Illustrated by Ashley
Poulin
Another wonderfully adapted folk song book to sing from John Feierabend. The illustrations show the dual weddings and newly-wed life of a human couple and their chipmunk counter-parts.
This is a fun read-a-long/sing-a-long!
This is a fun read-a-long/sing-a-long!
Mommy, Buy Me a China Doll by Harve and Margot Zemach
Mama, Buy Me a China Doll is my favorite song for presenting ti tika song. The descending la sol re really hooks children into this simple song. The story of Eliza Lou and her complex plan of trading various household valuables for a china doll is well detailed in the illustrations in this book. I introduce this song with the book and by the time Eliza Lou falls asleep on her Mommy's lap, the students are singing along. Sadly, this book is out of print. I did a quick online search and found used copies available here.
