Books you can sing
October 2, 2023 5:48 PM Subscribe
My preschooler loves books where I can sing the song as we read the book. Can you recommend more?
The big favourites, all of which I love as well, are Every Little Thing, One Love, Canadian classic The Log Driver's Waltz, What a Wonderful World, and Baby Beluga.
Bonus points if the song is poetic / artistic / musical, rather than a rote nursery rhyme. (Nursery rhymes are ok though!)
And huge bonus points if the illustrations show a diverse cast of humans in terms of race, body size, gender performance, and ability.
Thanks!
The big favourites, all of which I love as well, are Every Little Thing, One Love, Canadian classic The Log Driver's Waltz, What a Wonderful World, and Baby Beluga.
Bonus points if the song is poetic / artistic / musical, rather than a rote nursery rhyme. (Nursery rhymes are ok though!)
And huge bonus points if the illustrations show a diverse cast of humans in terms of race, body size, gender performance, and ability.
Thanks!
We got Skinnamarink from the library a few weeks ago. It's got all kinds of people (and a few animals) in it.
posted by phlox at 6:10 PM on October 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by phlox at 6:10 PM on October 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
We got a toddler nibling the picture book “Everything Grows” by Raffi (the lyrics of the song), and it looks like there are other picture books of Raffi songs.
posted by Hypatia at 6:17 PM on October 2, 2023
posted by Hypatia at 6:17 PM on October 2, 2023
Down By the Bay (which seems to be part of a Raffi series, so that's something to look at).
(Jinx)
Sandra Boynton's Snuggle Puppy has an official song.
posted by gideonfrog at 6:19 PM on October 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
(Jinx)
Sandra Boynton's Snuggle Puppy has an official song.
posted by gideonfrog at 6:19 PM on October 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
Philadelphia Chickens has a whole singable album to go with it.
posted by shadygrove at 7:07 PM on October 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by shadygrove at 7:07 PM on October 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
When I was a kid I loved when my dad sang the unicorn song that was a shel Silverstein poem in where the sidewalk ends
posted by bookworm4125 at 7:25 PM on October 2, 2023
posted by bookworm4125 at 7:25 PM on October 2, 2023
recommendation for over in the meadow, which I have seen published by a few different authors and is also a song. also, if you are a library user, try searching for “stories in rhyme” as a subject at your local library (or ask a staffer for help!). here’s an example of over in the meadow at the toronto public library; scroll down to click on “stories in rhyme” and it will link you to other rhyming children’s books. not all are songs, but many are singable :)
posted by tamarack at 8:34 PM on October 2, 2023
posted by tamarack at 8:34 PM on October 2, 2023
Best answer: Sunny Day is a current favorite around here. It’s quite lovely - the Sesame Street theme song with each line represented by a different illustrator. And a diverse array of people depicted too.
(And thanks! I would also like to find more books like this)
posted by moogs at 8:57 PM on October 2, 2023
(And thanks! I would also like to find more books like this)
posted by moogs at 8:57 PM on October 2, 2023
Best answer: I don't know where you and your preschooler stand on 60s-70s rock/pop, but there are quite a few picture book reworkings of oldies/classic rock songs:
Bob Dylan: Forever Young, If Not For You, If Dogs Run Free, Blowin' In the Wind
Lennon and/or McCartney and/or Starr:
Imagine, In My Life, With a Little Help From My Friends, Octopus's Garden, All You Need is Love
Et cetera: Sweet Child o' Mine, Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, Take me Home, Country Roads, This Land is Your Land, Puff the Magic Dragon, Sunshine on my Shoulders, Coat of Many Colors, Respect, and, inexplicably, Where Is My Mind.
posted by Jeanne at 9:01 PM on October 2, 2023
Bob Dylan: Forever Young, If Not For You, If Dogs Run Free, Blowin' In the Wind
Lennon and/or McCartney and/or Starr:
Imagine, In My Life, With a Little Help From My Friends, Octopus's Garden, All You Need is Love
Et cetera: Sweet Child o' Mine, Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, Take me Home, Country Roads, This Land is Your Land, Puff the Magic Dragon, Sunshine on my Shoulders, Coat of Many Colors, Respect, and, inexplicably, Where Is My Mind.
posted by Jeanne at 9:01 PM on October 2, 2023
Chicka chicka boom boom has a song melody to go with the words.
posted by samthemander at 9:31 PM on October 2, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by samthemander at 9:31 PM on October 2, 2023 [4 favorites]
For alphabet books where there’s a letter A and a picture of eg an apple, I often sing the words to the endless loop of Twinkle Twinkle. A is for apple, b is for bed, C is for cat and D is for dog… etc etc
posted by samthemander at 9:32 PM on October 2, 2023
posted by samthemander at 9:32 PM on October 2, 2023
Hush Little Trucker is a cute rewrite of Hush Little Baby for your vehicle-obsessed kid.
posted by carolr at 9:33 PM on October 2, 2023
posted by carolr at 9:33 PM on October 2, 2023
Pete the Cat books often have a jazzy lil song in them.
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 12:37 AM on October 3, 2023
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 12:37 AM on October 3, 2023
Best answer: Everything Possible written by Fred Small and illustrated by Alison Brown - rewritten lyrics are inclusive of gender identity diversity as well as romantic orientation.
Also in "vehicle versions of classics", Push! Dig! Scoop! is a construction-vehicle themed version of Over in The Meadow that was a big hit with my preschool class (doing motions to go with each vehicle adds extra fun :) ).
posted by beryllium at 2:53 AM on October 3, 2023
Also in "vehicle versions of classics", Push! Dig! Scoop! is a construction-vehicle themed version of Over in The Meadow that was a big hit with my preschool class (doing motions to go with each vehicle adds extra fun :) ).
posted by beryllium at 2:53 AM on October 3, 2023
when i was a preschool teacher my classes (1-3 year olds) loved the barefoot singalong books.
posted by emmling at 3:20 AM on October 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by emmling at 3:20 AM on October 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
This made me think of Maurice Sendak's "Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue" which was also sung by Carole King for an animated video version.
(Abusing the edit window to note it's probably a bit dated now and not very diverse).
posted by Cheese Monster at 4:03 AM on October 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
(Abusing the edit window to note it's probably a bit dated now and not very diverse).
posted by Cheese Monster at 4:03 AM on October 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
Really Rosie is diverse in terms of kids personalities and bodies and is put to music by Carole King and written by Sendak.
I really like this version of Cat Goes Fiddle I Fee - sometimes simple is lovely
Peter Spiers illustrated The Erie Canal
This reworking of Hush Little Baby by Sylvia Long is diverse in location as it is in the desert (I feel like most kids books are in New England)
posted by mutt.cyberspace at 4:33 AM on October 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
I really like this version of Cat Goes Fiddle I Fee - sometimes simple is lovely
Peter Spiers illustrated The Erie Canal
This reworking of Hush Little Baby by Sylvia Long is diverse in location as it is in the desert (I feel like most kids books are in New England)
posted by mutt.cyberspace at 4:33 AM on October 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Northwest Passage and The Canadian Railroad Trilogy.
The various provincial and national lullaby books.
Saltwater Joys
In all cases, if you're not familiar with the song you can find it on youtube. The lullaby books have the youtube video addresses in the books.
oh, and fun tip...there's a section of Angela's Birthday that can be sung (and this is surely deliberate -- the similarity is too strong to be accidental) that can be sung to the tune of Kelligrew's Soiree. It's the last paragraph on the page that starts at 4:30 in this video version.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:23 AM on October 3, 2023
The various provincial and national lullaby books.
Saltwater Joys
In all cases, if you're not familiar with the song you can find it on youtube. The lullaby books have the youtube video addresses in the books.
oh, and fun tip...there's a section of Angela's Birthday that can be sung (and this is surely deliberate -- the similarity is too strong to be accidental) that can be sung to the tune of Kelligrew's Soiree. It's the last paragraph on the page that starts at 4:30 in this video version.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:23 AM on October 3, 2023
Oh weird..I notice now the lullaby books only include a few provinces. They definitely originally made one for each province. We have some that are not listed there. And btw, the books have beautiful illustrations.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:31 AM on October 3, 2023
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:31 AM on October 3, 2023
Another version set to hush little baby: Hush Little Hero by Annie Bailey
And +1 to Snuggle Puppy. I made up my own tune and haven't checked if/how close it is to the "proper" version.
posted by paradeofblimps at 6:44 AM on October 3, 2023
And +1 to Snuggle Puppy. I made up my own tune and haven't checked if/how close it is to the "proper" version.
posted by paradeofblimps at 6:44 AM on October 3, 2023
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! I bested the ones I know will be hits in my specific household - and appreciate all the other great suggestions too!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:53 AM on October 3, 2023
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:53 AM on October 3, 2023
Late to the party, but "Big Pumpkin". Also perfect the season.
A trainer in a CE class introduced us to this.
posted by kathrynm at 10:13 AM on October 3, 2023
A trainer in a CE class introduced us to this.
posted by kathrynm at 10:13 AM on October 3, 2023
The Mean Old Mean Hyena has a great rhyme scheme with a really fun recurring song!
posted by taltalim at 11:23 AM on October 3, 2023
posted by taltalim at 11:23 AM on October 3, 2023
I have some nieces/nephews who really liked the Kitchen Disco type books from Clare Foges.
They also come with accompanying Youtube music videos that are pretty cute:
Kitchen Disco
Veg Patch Party
Bathroom Boogie
posted by owls at 1:23 PM on October 3, 2023
They also come with accompanying Youtube music videos that are pretty cute:
Kitchen Disco
Veg Patch Party
Bathroom Boogie
posted by owls at 1:23 PM on October 3, 2023
Cedella Marley, Bob Marley's daughter, has done a bunch of picture books that are riffs on his lyrics.
I am particularly fond of Every Little Thing, which is a riff on "Three Little Birds" and I have sung it for storytimes in the library. The kiddos liked it, and some of the parents sang along.
posted by SaharaRose at 2:28 PM on October 3, 2023
I am particularly fond of Every Little Thing, which is a riff on "Three Little Birds" and I have sung it for storytimes in the library. The kiddos liked it, and some of the parents sang along.
posted by SaharaRose at 2:28 PM on October 3, 2023
Peter Spier -- mentioned above -- also did a great London Bridge is Falling Down book.
And then there's Mama Don't Allow by Thacher Hurd! One of my favorites!
posted by AbelMelveny at 4:47 PM on October 3, 2023
And then there's Mama Don't Allow by Thacher Hurd! One of my favorites!
posted by AbelMelveny at 4:47 PM on October 3, 2023
The one that immediately springs to mind to me is Sandra Boynton's Barnyard Dance. Maybe for younger kids but my preschooler still likes my rendition. I also end up sing-reading a lot of books that aren't ostensibly written to be sung. Many are written in a cadence that just asks for it.
posted by benbenson at 9:34 AM on October 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by benbenson at 9:34 AM on October 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by AbelMelveny at 5:59 PM on October 2, 2023 [1 favorite]