The Songs We Sang, 3/19/2011, “Reading: A Family Affair” Event Organized by the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia

Posted by: Sing Books with Emily on: March 23, 2011

• In: Cabaret | Case for Singable Books | Heartfelt Musings | Poetry | SBWE in Person | Sing Books with Emily - the Cabaret | Sing Books with Emily Sing-Along Materials | Singable Book Title | Singable Poem | Singable Poetry | Songs We Sang
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The Literary Council of Northern Virginia did a fabulous job with their event “Reading: A Family Affair.”  As a former event planner, I was impressed with the organization and flow of the event and activities.  And the facility and stations were wonderfully staffed by friendly and helpful volunteers. 

I got to sing for two gatherings in the theatre, sitting on the edge of the stage to terrific audiences full of children and their parents.  Before the first gathering, we were visited by Clifford the Big Red Dog.  I even got to shake his hand!

Here is an alphabetical list of the songs we sang through the two gatherings:

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All God’s Critters
Words and Music by Bill Staines
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

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A-You’re Adorable
Words and Music by Buddy Kaye, Fred Wise and Sidney Lippman
Illustrated by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus

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Baa!  Baa!  Black Sheep
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus

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The Big Bell and the Little Bell
Words and Music by Martin Kalmanoff
Illustrated by Alastair Graham
(This book is packaged with a CD with two recordings of the song!)

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Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Peter Spier
Published by Dell Dragonfly Books, New York, 1961
ISBN 0-440-40829-6

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I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Words and Music by John Rox
Illustrations by Bruce Whatley

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The Marvelous Toy
Words and Music by Tom Paxton
Illustrated by Steve Cox
(This book is a far and away favorite with the Kindergarten set. It comes with a wonderful CD that has Tom Paxton singing on one track with a separate instrumental track, including a clearly played melody line, so you can sing solo…a wonderful edition!)

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New York State of Mind
Words and Music by Billy Joel
Illustrated by IZAK

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Over the Rainbow
Words and Music by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg
Illustrated by Eric Puybaret

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Sunshine on My Shoulders
Words by John Denver
Music by John Denver, Mike Taylor & Dick Kniss
Illustrated by Christopher Canyon

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The Surrey with the Fringe on the Top
Words by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Richard Rodgers
Illustrated by James Warhola

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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat
Published in: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Traditional Tune, Same as “ABC Song” and “Baa Blacksheep“
Words by Lewis Carroll
Book Assembled by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
Click here to view or print the book:
twinkle bat book
Sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat” along with me, here:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/twinkle-little-bat-eleg-2010

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Twinkle Little Star
Traditional Tune
From the Poem by Ann and Jane Taylor
Illustrated by Lesley Harker
To view or print this book, click here:
twinkle little star eleg sbwe

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You’re a Grand Old Flag
Words and music by George M. Cohan
Illustrated by Warren Kimble

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 ZYXs, a Singable Picture Book
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
Sing the ZYX’s along with me!  Just click here:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/zyxs-eleg-2010

(We also sang the ZYX’s backwards!)

My heartfelt thanks go the Stacy Nall, who invited me to participate in the event and provided me with everything I needed to just arrive and perform, Executive Director Patricia Donnelly for her leadership, and all the volunteers who were so fabulously friendly and helpful.  I want to thank Alina Gawlik (who ran the Arlington landmark, Aladdin’s Lamp Children’s Bookstore, for over 20 years) who came with a friend to see me.  I got my start at Aladdin’s Lamp and I will always be grateful to Alina for the chance she gave me to give my program a go in public!  Many of the books in my collection came from her shop.  And to Aiden!  Thank you to my friend Aiden to brought his parents to sing-along with me. 
“A-You’re Adorable ” is always dedicated Aiden.

Tags: Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, Singable Picture Book