Favorite Books
I have organized these books into four categories:
- Books that actually are songs: my favorite versions.
- Books that have wonderfully rhythmic texts and lend themselves to becoming songs! I use these in music classes for pre-schoolers through Grade 3. For most of these, I have created my own melodies.
- Books that I use for rhythm exercises with drums and xylophones.
- Books about making music, us as musicians and artists, or to accompany instrumental pieces.
1. Books that are actually songs:
ALL IN THE WOODLAND EARLY, by Jane Yolen
ALL GOD’S CRITTERS, by Bill Staines
ANIMAL BOOGIE, by Debbie Harter
THE ANIMAL LULLABY, by Tom Paxton
THE ANTS GO MARCHING, by Richard Bernall
DE COLORES, by David Diaz
DOWN BY THE STATION, by Will Hillenbrand
EARTH DAY BIRTHDAY, by Pattie Schnetzler
EARTHSONG, by Sally Rogers
ENGLEBERT THE ELEPHANT, by Tom Paxton
THE FARMER IN THE DELL, by K. Parkinson
FIDDLE-I-FEE, by Melissa Sweet *
FOLLOW THE DRINKING GOURD, by Jeanette Winter
FROGGIE WENT A-COURTIN’, by John Langstaff
GOIN’ TO BOSTON, by H. Ellen Margolin
GOIN’ TO THE ZOO, by Tom Paxton
HEY LITTLE ANT, by Phil and Hannah Hoose
HOWDY-DOO-DI, by Woody Guthrie
A-HUNTING WE WILL GO, by John Langstaff
I AIN’T GONNA PAINT NO MORE, by Karen Beaumont
THE MARVELOUS TOY, by Tom Paxton
ON TOP OF SPAGHETTI, by Paul Brett Johnson
OVER IN THE GARDEN, by Jennifer Ward
OVER IN THE MEADOW, by John Langstaff
OWL MOON, by Jane Yolen
PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON, by Peter Yarrow
THE RAINFOREST GREW ALL AROUND, by Susan K. Mitchell
RIVER SONG, by Steve Van Zandt
SKIP TO MY LOU, Nadine Bernard Westcott
SUMMERTIME, by Dubose Howard
THE TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC, by Jimmy Kennedy
THE TREE IN THE WOOD, by Christopher Manson
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A TROUT, by Teri Sloat
TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, by Leo and Diane Dillon
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD, by Ashley Bryan
WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THIS LAND, by Oscar Brand
WHOOSH AROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH, by Jan Ormerod
2. Books that I have created melodies for, (and you can too!):
BARN DANCE, by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
BEAR’S NEW FRIEND, by Karma Wilson
BEAR SNORES ON, by Karma Wilson
BIG PUMPKIN, by Erica Silverman
THE BIG WIDE-MOUTHED FROG, by Ana Martin Larranaga
FIREFLIES, FIREFLIES LIGHT MY WAY, by Jonathan London*
GOING TO SLEEP ON THE FARM, by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
GOODBYE GEESE, by Nancy White Carlstrom
HAND HAND FINGER THUMB, by Al Perkins
IN THE TALL TALL GRASS, by Denise Fleming
“I CAN’T” SAID THE ANT, by Polly Cameron
JUMP, FROG, JUMP!, by Robert Kalan
LALA SALAMA, by Hannah Heritage Bozylinsky
MILLIONS OF SNOWFLAKES, by Mary McKenna Siddals
NORTH COUNTRY SPRING, by Reeve Lindbergh
QUIET NIGHT, by Marilyn Singer*
RIGHT OUTSIDE MY WINDOW, by Mary Ann Hoberman
SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP, by Nancy Van Laan
STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING, by Robert Frost
A SUMMERY, SATURDAY MORNING, by Margaret Mahy
TANKA TANKA SKUNK, by Steve Webb
THANKS FOR THANKSGIVING, by Julie Markes
A WEED IS A SEED, by Ferida Wolff
WHEN WINTER COMES, Nancy Van Laan
WHILE THE WORLD IS SLEEPING, by Pamela Duncan Edwards
3. Books to add percussion instruments to!:
BARN DANCE, by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
BRINGING THE RAIN TO KAPITI PLAIN, by Verna Aardema*
BOOM CHICKA BOOM, by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archembault
CAROLINDA CLATTER, by Mordechai Gerstein
CATERPILLAR SPRING, by Susan Hood
CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM, by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
DANCING FEET, by Marc Brown
DO YOU SEE A MOUSE? By Bernard Waber
FARMER JOE AND THE MUSIC SHOW, by Tony Mitton
THE FIRST MUSIC, by Dylan Pritchett *
HAND HAND FINGER THUMB, by Al Perkins
HAPPY HEDGEHOG BAND, by Martin Waddell
HICCUPS FOR ELEPHANT, by James Preller
HONEY, HONEY, LION! By Jan Brett
GIRAFFES CAN’T DANCE, by Giles Andraea
“I CAN’T” SAID THE ANT, by Polly Cameron
JUMP, FROG, JUMP!, by Robert Kalan
JUNGLE DRUMS, by Graeme Base
JUNGLE DRUMS, by Deanna Wundrow
LISTEN, LISTEN, by Phillis Gershater
THE LISTENING WALK, by Paul Showers
MARSH MUSIC, by Marianne Berkes
MARSH MORNING, by Marianne Berkes
MAX FOUND TWO STICKS, by J. Brian Pinkney
THE NAPPING HOUSE, by Audrey Wood *
OFF WE GO, by Jane Yolen*
QUICK AS A CRICKET, by Audrey Wood
TANKA TANKA SKUNK, by Steve Webb
THUMP THUMP RAT-A-TAT-TAT, by Gene Baer
TIGER CAN’T SLEEP, by S.J. Fore
TIME TO SLEEP, by Denise Fleming *
TO BE A DRUM, by Evelyn Coleman
TOO MUCH NOISE, by Ann McGovern
TRAIN SONG, by Diane Siebert
THE WAY TO MY BEST FRIEND’S HOUSE, by Nancy White Carlstrom
WE’RE GOING ON A NATURE HUNT, by Steve Metzger
WHO HOPS, by Katie Davis
WHY MOSQUITOES BUZZ IN PEOPLE’S EARS, by Verna Aardema*
4. Books about the musical experience, or to accompany musical pieces!:
APPELMANDO’S DREAMS, by Patricia Polacco
THE BUTTERFLY ALPHABET, by Kjell B. Sandved
THE COLOR OF THINGS, by Vivienne Shalom
COWS CAN’T FLY, by David Milgram
THE EARTH IS GOOD, by Michael DeMunn
FIDDLIN’ SAM, by Marianna Dengler
HENRY’S SONG, by K. Cave
IN THE FIDDLE IS A SONG, by Durga Bernhard
THE KINGDOM OF SINGING BIRDS, by Miriam Aroner
THE LION AND THE LITTLE RED BIRD, Elisa Kleven
LISTEN, LISTEN, by Phillis Gershater
THE MAGIC HAT, by Mem Fox
THE MAGIC HOUSE, by Robyn Harbert Eversole
MARSH MUSIC, by Marianne Berkes
MOLE MUSIC, by David McPhail
MY FAMILY PLAYS MUSIC, by Judy Cox
NATHAN’S FISHING TRIP, by Lulu Delacre
NICKOMMOH, by Jackie Koller
OFF WE GO, by Jane Yolen
THE OLD MUSICIAN, by Rita Tornqvist
ON THE WINGS OF ANGELS, by Jefferey Schrier
QUICK AS A CRICKET, by Audrey Wood
SLOWLY, SLOWLY SAID THE SLOTH, by Eric Carle
THE SNOWMAN, by Raymond Briggs
STAND BACK SAID THE ELEPHANT, I’M GOING TO SNEEZE, by Patricia Thomas
WHEN THE LEAF BLEW IN, by Steve Metzger
WHO HOPS, by Katie Davis
YESTERDAY I HAD THE BLUES, by Jeron Ashford Frame