TWINKLE LITTLE STAR: The Song, The List
Posted on: September 14, 2010
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Twinkle Little Star Song Sheet with Guitar Chords by ELEG for SBWE
Words by Jane Taylor
Traditional Tune
Page Coordinated by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus for SBWE
To view or print this song sheet, click here:
twinkle little star sheet w chords by ELEG for SBWE
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Twinkle Little Star Song Sheet w Chords for SBWE Songbook Series
Words by Jane Taylor
Traditional Tune
Page Coordinated by ELEG for SBWE Songbook Series
To view or print this song sheet, click here:
SBWE SBS twinkle little star w chords
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Twinkle Little Star Song Sheet (no chords) for SBWE Songbook Series
Words by Jane Taylor
Traditional Tune
Page Coordinated by ELEG for SBWE Songbook Series
To view or print this song sheet, click here:
SBWE SBS twinkle little star no chords
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Poem by Jane Taylor
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
(This gorgeously illustrated book gets a gold star for using the mostly unacknowledged FULL text of the poem)
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star SBWE Songsheet w chords Pinkney
Poem by Jane Taylor
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
To view or print this song sheet, click here:
twinkle little star w chords complete pinkney
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star SBWE Songsheet complete no chords
Poem by Jane Taylor
To view or print this poem, click here:
twinkle little star complete (no chords)
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Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
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TWINKLE LITTLE STAR, THE WHOLE POEM
The Star
(Also known as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
Traditional Tune
Poem by Jane Taylor
(Source of these lyrics: The Golden Book of Poetry (1947), the exact wording of the poem varies slightly depending on the source and it is published in many compilations of children’s poetry and song.)
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
How could he see where to go,
If you did not twinkle so?
In the dark blue sky you keep,
Often through my curtains peep
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveler in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
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SOME HISTORICAL INFO ABOUT TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
The tune seems first to have been seen in print in 1770′s France, for singing a poem or nursery rhyme, “Ah vous dirai-je maman,” which translates to “Mom, I have something to tell you.”
TWINKLE ranks with the many wonderful old compositions that we use to suit our needs and musical desires (like the wish to sing a particular poem), among them the tunes we know as Greensleeves and the one used to sing Yankee Doodle.
Mozart famously wrote variations on this (Twinkle Twinkle Star/Twinkle Little Bat/Baa Blacksheep/Ah vous dirai-je maman/ABC/ZYX) tune.
Hear Mozart’s variations on Ah vous dirai-je maman here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeqSy1Av4lA
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Sing Books with Emily: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EplRuCWj1s
Recorded and directed by Judy Simmons
Related Post:
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/the-sing-books-with-emily-youtube-channel-and-video-series-today-lets-sing-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/
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TWINKLE LITTLE STAR INFO ONLINE
The poem and song are thoroughly enchanting and it’s no wonder we see and hear them everywhere.
“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” is a poem by Jane Taylor, written in 1806. It is also attributed to be co-authored, though not as frequently as the authorship is given exclusively to Jane, by Jane’s sister Anne.
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A link to the Poetry Foundation’s online publication of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=171955
(In this printing, authorship is attributed to Jane Taylor)
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A link to the Poetry Foundation’s online publication of “The Star”:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=174583
(Though the poem is exactly the same as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” authorship of this printing is attributed to Anne Taylor…it’s confusing!)
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A link to the Poetry Foundation’s bio of Jane Taylor:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=81234
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A link to the Poetry Foundation’s bio of Anne Taylor:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=81471
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An informative wiki article (be sure to check your facts, though!) with interesting information on the song’s origins, links to audio files, and printed music,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkle_Twinkle_Little_Star
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Interesting facts about this tune, here (including solfege):
http://www.fact-index.com/t/tw/twinkle_twinkle_little_star.html
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TWINKLE LITTLE STAR ILLUSTRATIONS
“Twinkle Little Star” has been recited, sung, illustrated, printed, adapted and arranged in countless volumes.
Here are a few of the Singable Picture Books that print or adapt “Twinkle, Little Star” as a song or poem:
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Twinkle Little Star
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Nicola Slater
Published by Nosy Crow
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Twinkle Little Star
Traditional Tune
From the Poem by Jane Taylor
To view or print this book, click here:
twinkle little star eleg sbwe
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All the World
Words by Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrated by Marla Frazee
Sing to the tune of “Twinkle Little Star”
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Baby’s First Lullabies
Illustrated by Sophie Keen
(Lullabies are illustrated in the book with a CD that has vocal and instrumental tracks: Twinkle Twinkle, Sleep Baby Sleep, Rock-A-Bye-Baby, Golden Slumbers, Go To Sleep My Baby, Brahms Lullaby, All Through The Night, All The Pretty Horses)
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The Big Golden Book of Poetry
Words and Music by Various Artists
Edited by Jane Werner
Illustrated by Gertrude Elliott
Published by Golden Press, 1949
(Includes a printing and illustration for Jane Taylor’s poem “The Star.”)
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The Golden Book of Poetry (A Big Golden Book)
Words and Music by Various Artists
Edited by Jane Werner
Illustrated by Gertrude Elliott
Published by Golden Press, 1947
(Includes a printing and illustration for Jane Taylor’s poem “The Star.”)
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Childcraft, Volume 1, Poems of Early Childhood
Published by Field Enterprises Educational Corporation
Words and Music by Various Artists
Illustrated by Various Artists
“The Star” is printed and illustrated on p. 135
(The pictures above show the binding and title page)
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A Children’s Treasury of Lullabies
Illustrated by Linda Bleck
This compilation includes:
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is printed and illustrated in this book
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Pepi Sings a New Song
Traditional Tune (Sing to the tune of “Twinkle Little Star”)
Word Adapted by Laura Ljungkvist
Book by Laura Ljungkvist
Illustrated by Laura Ljungkvist
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Read, Sing, Play ABC Sing-Along
New words by Teddy Slater
Illustrated by Liisa Chauncy Guida
Letter D
To the tune “Twinkle Little Star”
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/01/14/%e2%80%9cread-sing-play-abc-sing-along%e2%80%9d-a-singable-book-letters-b-c-and-d/
Letter V
To the tune of “Twinkle, Little Star”
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“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat“
Published in: Poetry for Young People: Lewis Carroll
Traditional tune, Same as “ABC Song” and “Baa Blacksheep”
Words by Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Eric Copeland
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Music Map Series: Multicultural Song 1
Published by Koomzaal
Traditional Words and Tune
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (Classic Books with Holes)
Words Adapted from Poem by Jane Taylor
Traditional Tune
Illustrated by Anne Kubler
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Traditional Tune
Poem by Jane Taylor
Illustrated by Lesley Harker
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Traditional tune, Same as “ABC Song” and “Baa Black Sheep”
Words by Jane Taylor
Illustrated by Sylvia Long
(This book contains Jane Taylor’s complete text)
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Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Traditional Tune
Words by Jane Taylor
Illustrated by Trace Moroney
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Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Words Adapted by Kate Toms
Illustrated by Kate Toms
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (A Bedtime Book of Lullabies)
Illustrated by Gail Yerrill
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Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by
“Favorite”Series by ChildsWorld
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Traditional Tune
Words Adapted by Rosemary Wells
Illustrated by Rosemary Wells
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“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
Published in: Usborne First Picture Nursery Rhymes
Traditional tune, Same as “ABC Song” and “Baa Black Sheep”
Words by Jane Taylor
Illustrated by Jo Litchfield
The CD that comes with Usborne First Picture Nursery Rhymes has my favorite sing-along for the first verse of “Twinkle.” It is sweet and simple, but not sappy. The song is played slowly and simply with bell tones for each note in the melody. This treatment is given to each of the nursery rhymes in the book, making int one of my very favorites.
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (and other favorite bedtime rhymes)
Illustrated by Sanja Rescek
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Twinkle, Twinkle, You’re My Star
Traditional Tune
Words Adapted by Sandra Magsamen
Illustrated by Sandra Magsamen
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Poem by Jane Taylor
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Iza Trapani
Illustrated by Iza Trapani
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The Star (Twinkle Little Star) Illustration
Poem by Jane Taylor
Illustration by Kay Chorao
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The Star (Twinkle Little Star) Illustration
Poem by Jane Taylor
Illustration by Eloise Gleichenhaus
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Joanie Bartles has made some wonderful CD’s for children, including “Lullaby Magic,”
Find the album available for download, here:
http://www.amazon.com/Lullaby-Magic/dp/B001N0TU2K/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1284038253&sr=8-1-fkmr0
“Lullaby Magic” includes her lovely, simple vocals and matching instrumental tracks for the songs so you can sing-along yourself. Many of these songs are have been illustrated into Singable Picture Books, including “Twinkle, Twinkle,” on which she sings the entire poem, not just the usual first verse.
Ms. Bartles’ vocals are on Track 7:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001N0TU48/ref=dm_dp_trk7?ie=UTF8&qid=1284038253&sr=8-1-fkmr0
Instrumental for “Twinkle, Twinkle” is on Track 16:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001N0P14G/ref=dm_dp_trk16?ie=UTF8&qid=1284038253&sr=8-1-fkmr0
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TWINKLE LITTLE BAT, A FUNNY VARIATION BY LEWIS CARROLL
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/twinkle-twinkle-little-bat-a-singable-poem-with-pictures-and-a-play-on-a-classic/
If you read carefully, you will find an irreverent take on this poem in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
The Mad Hatter sings “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Bat.”
Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you’re at!
Up above the world you fly,
Like a tea tray in the sky.
This illustration of the Mad Hatter singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat” is from illustrator John Tenniel.
Illustrations of this parody can be found in many versions of the “Alice in Wonderland” book.
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For a full post about TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE BAT:
TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE BAT IN SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/twinkle-twinkle-little-bat-a-singable-poem-with-pictures-and-a-play-on-a-classic/
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A FUNNY, SCINTILLATING, CONFOUNDING OBFUSCATION
It was fun to find this online and decipher the obfuscation. It might be fun to sing, too!
Full post on the SCINTILLATING rhyme (including vocabulary) definitions, here:
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/scintillate-scintillate-globule-vivific-an-illustrated-song-sheet/
SCINTILLATE SCINTILLATE GLOBULE VIVIFIC
Obfuscation of Traditional Words and Tune
Scintillate, scintillate, globule vivific
Fain would I fathom thy nature specific
Loftily poised in the ether capacious
Strongly resembling a gem carbonaceous!
When torrid Phoebus removeth his presence
Ceasing to lamp us with fierce incandescence
Then you illumine the regions supernal
Scintillate, scintillate semper nocturnal.
The traveler on lusterless peregrination
Gratefully hails your minute coruscation
He could not determine his journey’s direction
But for your bright scintillating protection.
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Addendum, 9/8/2017
I love Jerry Pinkney’s beautiful water color rendition of TWINKLE LITTLE STAR.
It’s wonderful that he chose to illustrate the entire poem. In doing this, Pinkney invented a captivating dreamscape, of a chipmunk’s journey through a night, to tell the story.
I decided that it would be nice to accompany myself on guitar to sing this and will request a helper to hold the book and turn the pages. Such a delightful book deserves to get some freshly made music to go with it.
If you would like to sing and play this book, a free, printable PDF of Jane Taylor’s poem and the guitar chords to go with the song, is embedded below.
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Poem by Jane Taylor
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star SBWE Songsheet w chords Pinkney
Poem by Jane Taylor
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
To view or print this song sheet, click here:
twinkle little star w chords complete pinkney
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star SBWE Songsheet complete no chords
Poem by Jane Taylor
To view or print this poem, click here:
twinkle little star complete (no chords)
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David Ellwand’s Version that got it’s own post and song sheet:
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Twinkle Little Star (Ellwand Bears)
Adapted Traditional Words and Tune (with adaptation)
Based on Twinkle Little Star
Illustrated by David Ellwand
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Twinkle Little Star (w Teddys song sheet w chords)
Adapted Traditional Words and Tune
Based on Twinkle Little Star as adapted by David Ellwand
Chords Arranged by ELEG for SBWE
To view or print this pate, click here:
twinkle little star w chords SBWE ellwand
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A delightful rendition of
TWINKLE LITTLE STAR, an Illustrated Song
I love this version of Twinkle Little Star as published by Nosy Crow. Most of the time I cannot stand the electronic music players that come with some books. But this one is excellent. The accompaniment for each page plays a different, realistic sounding, instrument. At the end, all the instruments play together in a repeat of the song.
The pictures have an appealing color palette and the characters are animals, to whom every child can relate.
I never tire of this sweet melody and words which look to the magic of the night sky. But some books for the song are better than others. This is a very good one.
To find more info and materials for
Sing Books with Emily, visit my blog:
http://SingBooksWithEmily.wordpress.com
Like or Follow Sing Books with Emily on
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Come Sing Books with Emily
#SingBooksWithEmily
#IllustratedSong
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#EducationalEnrichment
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#FunWithMusic
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A sing along poster for
TWINKLE LITTLE STAR, an Illustrated Song
My daughter Eloise is a teenager now, but she drew this star when she was little. It gives me joy to see it on this Sing Along Poster.
To find more info and materials for
Sing Books with Emily, visit my blog:
http://SingBooksWithEmily.wordpress.com
Like or Follow Sing Books with Emily on
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, WordPress, and YouTube
Come Sing Books with Emily
#SingBooksWithEmily
#IllustratedSong
#SingToKids
#SingToChildren
#ChildrensMusic
#PictureBookSong
#Music
#Sing
#ShareCulturalHeritage
#EducationalEnrichment
#CulturalEnrichment
#MusicConnectsUs
#EarlyLiteracy
#FunWithMusic
#kidlitart
#1000booksbeforekindergarten
#TwinkleLittleStar #lullaby
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Related Posts
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TWINKLE LITTLE STAR in Illustrated Song
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Illustrated Songs in the Sing Along With Me! Series, and Others, Published by Nosy Crow
Illustrated Songs in the Sing Along With Me! Series, and Others, Published by Nosy Crow
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A song sheet with guitar chords to go with Jerry Pinkney’s illustration of TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2017/09/08/a-song-sheet-with-guitar-chords-to-go-with-jerry-pinkneys-illustration-of-twinkle-little-star/
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ALICE IN WONDERLAND
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/26/alices-adventures-in-wonderland-and-through-the-looking-glass-singable/
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SING-ALONG RESOURCES AND PRINTABLE MATERIALS
This is the place to find Print Materials Created by Emily, Service Providers, Vendors, Audio and Video to help you SING-ALONG!
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/sing-along-resources-2/
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TWINKLE LITTLE STAR ADDENDA 8/8/2014
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2014/08/08/twinkle-little-star-addenda-882014/
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MANY SONGS, ONE TWINKLY TUNE
Twinkle, ABC, Baa are only 3 of the many songs that use the same familiar tune
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/abc-twinkle-star-baa-blacksheep-singable-books-and-all-the-fix-ins-and-a-youre-adorable-too/
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USEFUL TUNES IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/useful-tunes-in-the-public-domain/
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SONG/BOOK SETS
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/songbook-sets/
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SING BOOKS WITH EMILY VIDEO SERIES
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/video-series/
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LULLABIES IN SINGLE SONG SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/illustrated-lullabies-in-single-singable-picture-books/
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LULLABIES: ILLUSTRATED LULLABIES IN COMPILATIONS
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/illustrated-lullabies-in-compilations/
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5 Songs, 1 Tune: a Set of Illustrated Songs
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/sbwe-singable-picture-book-set-5-songs-1-tune/
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ABCs, an Illustrated Song
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2014/08/11/abcs-an-illustrated-song/
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Ah vous dirai-je Maman, an Illustrated Song Sheet by ELEG for SBWE for the Cute French Nursery Song, from which Came the Tune for Twinkle Little Star
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2014/08/11/ah-vous-dirais-je-maman-an-illustrated-song-sheet-by-eleg-for-sbwe-for-the-cute-french-nursery-song-from-which-came-the-tune-for-twinkle-little-star/
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Baa Baa Blacksheep, an Illustrated Song
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2014/08/11/baa-baa-blacksheep-an-illustrated-song/
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Oh Mother Dear Please Listen Up, a Singable English Translation/Adaptation of French Nursery Song, Illustrated Song Sheet avec Guitar Chords by ELEG for SBWE
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2014/08/08/ah-vous-dirais-je-maman-a-singable-translation-and-song-sheet-with-guitar-chords-by-eleg-for-sbwe/
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Scintillate Globule Vivific, an Illustrated Song
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/scintillate-scintillate-globule-vivific-an-illustrated-song-sheet/
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TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE BAT, an Illustrated Song
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/twinkle-twinkle-little-bat-a-singable-poem-with-pictures-and-a-play-on-a-classic/
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TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR, an Illustrated Song
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/twinkle-little-star-the-song-the-list/
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ZYXs, an Illustrated Song
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2014/08/11/zyxs-an-illustrated-song/
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IZA TRAPANI
The Singable Picture Books of Iza Trapani
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/the-singable-picture-books-of-iza-trapani/
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ROSEMARY WELLS
The Singable Picture Books of Illustrator Rosemary Wells
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/the-singable-picture-books-of-illustrator-rosemary-wells/
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CHILDCRAFT
The singable poems in Childcraft, Volume 1, The Poems of Early Childhood (1954)
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/childcraft-poems-of-early-childhood-a-singable-collection-of-poetry/
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JERRY PINKNEY
The Singable Picture Books of Jerry Pinkney
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/the-singable-picture-books-of-jerry-pinkney/
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A Song Sheet with Guitar Chords for Twinkle Little Star
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/a-song-sheet-with-guitar-chords-for-twinkle-little-star/
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STARS
Stars, a List of Illustrated Songs that Celebrate Stars
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2015/02/06/stars-a-list-of-illustrated-songs-that-celebrate-stars/
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Using TWINKLE LITTLE STAR to Earn Girl Scout Performer Badge
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/using-twinkle-little-star-to-earn-girl-scout-performer-badge/
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MUSIC MAP
Music Map series of illustrated songs from around the world
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/musicmap-series-from-korea/
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Two Twinklers for The Star
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2016/05/27/two-twinklers-for-the-star/
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