Archive for July 2011
Crafting Yourself an Artist
Posted on: July 31, 2011
I believe that each person is an ARTIST and that each person’s LIFE is his or her own WORK OF ART. My fellow-Hoosier friend Lauren Weedman planted the seed of that notion at some point when we both took community theatre classes together as kids or sometime later in high school and Indiana University.
Lauren was one of those kids who seemed effortlessly talented. She was hilarious without even trying and then could cut to the heart of something in the next second and make you cry. And she is still at it having wonderful success as a writer, parts in TV and movies, and critically acclaimed one-woman shows in which she writes and stars.
She said,
“No matter what you are doing, always be an artist.”
I don’t remember when she said that, but I’ve never forgotten it and hope to pass it along.
It’s important to acknowledge that “being” an artist requires, not just talent but, craft. In striving to master a Craft, anyone is able to create an artist of him or herself. In this, committment to quality of effort, committment to the subject, and love for the result are the sorts of things that produce ART and qualify someone to say “I am an artist.”
CRAFT is something to develop, nurture and strive for. Looking to craft “Sing Books” performances (and performances of individual songs) led me to write this blog. I didn’t ever want to just get up and sing a song just for the sake of it. I want to sing songs because the act of doing so is important. When we sing to others, we convey our musical heritage and what we think is of value in life and the quality and knowledge with which we present the songs colors how that heritage and those values are received. We should know all we can about the songs (and the illustrated books that house them). Knowing and understanding the material and where and why it came to be elevates our endeavors to an artform of great importance.
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Lauren Weedman’s Official Website: http://laurenweedman.net/
Lauren will appear at Washington, DC’s Studio Theatre, November 30, 2011-December 18, 2011, performing her one-woman show, “BUST.”
More info here: http://www.studiotheatre.org/plays/2011-2012season.aspx
I’m real proud to say she even gives me a mention in her hilarious book “A Woman Trapped in a Woman’s Body (Tales from a life of Cringe).“ Check out p. 164. I introduced her to Franz, the guy from Holland.
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Richard Sennett delves deeply into the notion of CRAFT in his book,”The Craftsman.” Defining craft as “the basic human impulse to do a job well for its own sake.”
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The Craftsman
By Richard Sennett
An excellent blog about Richard Sennett’s book “The Craftsman,”
http://time4time.blogspot.com/2008/03/craftsman-by-richard-sennett.html
includes links to an interview on the Diane Rehm radio show and audio and PDF transcript of a lecture he gave about the book.
The act of becoming a true craftsman takes a lot of time and effort. But I hope that won’t stop anybody from trying! Even if it one never reaches the goal, the pursuit will improve one’s artistry along the way. Richard Sennett (in “The Craftsman”) and Malcom Gladwell (in his book “Outliers“) both cite the seemingly magic 10,000 hour phenomenon. It seem to take 10,000 hours of focused effort for someone to become a true craftsman in an art.
I think it was in the documentary “The History of the Joke,” hosted by Lewis Black, in which Penn and Teller (whichever one does the talking) also spoke to this point, referring to “flight hours.” He was discussing how comedians can become good at what they do (or any artist for that matter) in the same way that pilots become good at flying by logging flight hours. The more time you spend in focused effort, talent aside, you can’t help yourself but to become proficient.
Talent sure doesn’t hurt, but to become REALLY proficient (a craftsman) it seems that 10,000 hours of focused effort are required.
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Related Articles
The Art and Craft of Singing a Song: Tell Me a Story! Sing Me a Song!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/the-art-and-craft-of-singing-a-song-tell-me-a-story-sing-me-a-song/
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Nursery Rhyme Book (Remember the Rhymes of Yesterday)
Traditional Words and Tunes
Compiled by Helen Cumberbatch
Illustrated by Anne Anderson and Lisa Jackson
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Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies
Traditional Words and Tunes
Compiled, Adapted and Arranged by Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp
Illustrated by Nancy Spence Klein
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If You’re Angry and You Know It
Traditional Words and Tune
Adapted by Cecily Kaiser
Illustrated by Cary Pillo
Another joyous case of Serendipity. I can’t remember what I was trolling around to find, but came across this wonderful (printable and free) resource:
http://www.district196.org/ec/ParentingIdeas/Songbook.pdf
This PDF booklet contains lyrics and movements, gestures or finger plays for approximately 90 songs. Some of the songs you will know and some are set to the tune of familiar songs.
I have found that anything that can be done to include the children into the performance of a song increases their engagement and enjoyment and this book offers many ideas.
Since each song is accompanied by an illustration, it’s a sweet Singable Picture Book all on its own.
In addition, the book’s introduction speaks eloquently for the value of music in the classroom and any educational setting.
A real treasure and my heartfelt thanks go out to those who put it together.
Thanks to serendipity, I get to move a book OFF of the list of books that need songs and onto the list of a bona fide Singable Picture Books!
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Spider and the Fly
Words by Mary Howitt
Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
I’ve been searching for YEARS to find music to accompany “The Spider and the Fly,” a wonderful poem written in 1829 by Mary Howitt and fabulously illustrated like a film noir by Tony DiTerlizzi. Not only that, it’s a cautionary tale that all kids would benefit from learning the moral: Don’t talk to strangers, especially those who would weaken your will with florid foolishness!
I’d need two hands to count the musicians I’ve hit up for musical settings and even started trying to write out one myself. Then, all in one day, I found two musical settings for the poem in books that have been just sitting in my collections unnoticed.
Now to hear them played will be a great joy:
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Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes Set to Music
Words by M. L. Eleiott and Various Artists
Music by J. W. Elliott and Various Artists
Illustrated with Engravings by the Dalziel Brothers and Various Artists
The text written for the song in this version does not exactly match Mary Howitt’s poem, so that will be part of my consideration for if it will work for the book.
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Every Child’s Book of Nursery Songs
(Published in England under the title:
Faber Book of Nursery Songs)
Selected by Donald Mitchell
Arranged by Carey Blyton
Illustrated by Alan Howard
The music in “Every Child’s Book fo Nursery Songs” seems to exactly fit the text of the original poem. I am most hopeful about this one.
A note with the printed music point out that “The words of Lewis Carroll’s ‘The Lobster Quadrille’ (From ‘Alice in Wonderland’) may be sung to this tune.” I remember reading that Lewis Carroll had used the meter of “The Spider and the Fly” as inspiration for “The Lobster Quadrille.” Making a study of both will be quite fun!
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It’s possible that if music written for “The Spider and the Fly” works for “Lobster Quadrille” that music written for “Lobster Quadrille” might work for “The Spider in the Fly.” Working that angle, music in the following book might also provide a good alternative:
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Songs from Alice (Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass)
Poems by Lewis Carroll
Music by Don Harper
Illustrated by Charles Folkard
(This book, ISBN 0-8234-0358-0, includes Carroll’s poem texts, printed music composed by Don Harper and Folkard’s Illustrations)
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The most important considreation in the music will be if the music exactly fits the text of the DiTerlizzi book since that is the one I will use to sing the poem to kids. OOOOOO I’m so excited to be on the trail of something really terrific and fun.
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THE SPIDER AND THE FLY
Poem by Mary Howitt (1799-1888)
First publication date: 1829
Will you walk into my parlor?” said the Spider to the Fly,
‘Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I’ve a many curious things to show when you are there.”
Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.”
“I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?” said the Spider to the Fly.
“There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I’ll snugly tuck you in!”
Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “for I’ve often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!”
Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, ” Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I ‘ve always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that’s nice;
I’m sure you’re very welcome — will you please to take a slice?”
“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “kind Sir, that cannot be,
I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!”
“Sweet creature!” said the Spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I’ve a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf,
If you’ll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.”
“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you ‘re pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I’ll call another day.”
The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
“Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple — there’s a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!”
Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue –
Thinking only of her crested head — poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlor — but she ne’er came out again!
And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed:
Unto an evil counselor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.
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YouTube of Mr. DiTerlizzi and the creation of the illustrations:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEKEaoNDSU8
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Related Articles
SINGABLE PICTURE BOOK WISHES 1 (PICTURE BOOKS THAT NEED SONGS)
Like Pinocchio wished to become a real boy, I imagine that these books wish to become Singable.
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/singable-picture-book-wishes-books-that-wish-to-become-singable-and-songs-that-wish-to-be-illustrated/
SINGABLE POETRY, A LIST OF POEMS THAT CAN BE SUNG FROM ILLUSTRATED COMPILATIONS OF POETRY AND SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/singable-poetry-a-list-of-poems-that-can-be-sung-from-illustrated-compilations-of-poetry-and-singable-picture-books/
THE LOBSTER QUADRILLE (AND OTHER POEMS FOR CHILDREN), A SINGABLE PICTURE BOOK AND CD
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/the-lobster-quadrille-and-other-poems-for-children-a-singable-picture-book-and-cd/
ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND AND THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, SINGABLE!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/26/alices-adventures-in-wonderland-and-through-the-looking-glass-singable/
As a cabaret singer, my artistic sensibility mostly steers me towards comedy and long wordy story songs (I really do LOVE to tell stories). Singable Picture Books have introduced and given me the opportunity and inspiration to sing songs that I would otherwise not have considered for myself.
“I Whistle a Happy Tune” is one of those.
I found it in ”Getting to Know You” a terrific Singable Picture Book Illustrated by Rosemary Wells (you might be familiar with her artwork from the show “Max and Ruby”). This book contains all or segments of 16 Rodgers and Hammerstein songs, and it includes a songbook with their melodies.
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I Whistle a Happy Tune from
Getting to Know You
Words by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Richard Rodgers
Illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Published by HarperCollinsPublishers, New York, 2002
ISBN 0-06-626845-5
The only irksome aspect of the book are the song segments, offering only partial lyrics for some of the songs. This makes sense with a song like “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top” (though I would hardily argue that point since “Surrey” is a song which is so loaded with wonderful words that I would never cast a vote to shorten it) but the publishers, in my humble opinion, unnecessarily truncated “I Whistle a Happy Tune” by removing just one verse…and it is such a wonderful verse.
Thanks to “Getting to Know You ,” however, I relish every opportunity to sing “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” and have created a poster card that is illustrated with artwork by some of the wonderful kids I get to sing with at Tuckahoe Elementary School in Arlington, VA.
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I Whistle a Happy Tune (second verse poster card)
Words by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Richard Rodgers
From the Musical THE KING AND I
Illustarted with Artwork by Students at Tuckahoe Elementary
To view or print this card, click this link:
whistle second verse card
For my copy of this card, I printed a page for each, set the backs of the pages together and laminated them to create a two-sided laminated card. You can use it when singing along with the book.
Just another little hint for the song:
When I get to the whistling part, I use a kazoo. My whistling skills stink, but I can kazoo with the best of ‘em. Plus, kids thing the kazoo is funny!
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Related Articles
I WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE, A SONG IN A SINGABLE PICTURE BOOK
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/i-whistle-a-happy-tune-a-song-in-a-singable-picture-book/
OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY: SING BOOKS WITH EMILY, THE CABARET
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/sing-books-with-emily-the-cabaret/
GETTING TO KNOW YOU, A SINGABLE PICTURE BOOK WITH 16 RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN SONGS
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/getting-to-know-you-a-singable-picture-book-with-16-songs-by-rodgers-and-hammerstein/
Picture Books (Not Necessarily Singable) Which Embrace MUSIC as an Important and Enriching Component of Our Lives
Posted on: July 24, 2011
Music is an incredibly important and enriching part of our lives. Music transcends many of the boundaries which separate people and it speaks, in its way, to everyone. Here are some books, though not necessarily singable, which capture the magical powers of music. For my own purposes in this blog, I believe that any musical enrichment for children is going to enhance the enjoyment of singing with Singable Picture Books.
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Ah, Music!
Written and Illustrated by Aliki Brandenberg
This book isn’t for singing, but it is all about MUSIC. This book and wonderful illustrations teach about the components, music as art, the history of music, musical instruments, and much more. Knowing more about music can only increase one’s enjoyment and awe for its magic.
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The Bat Boy & His Violin
Story by Gavin Curtis
Illustrated by E. B. Lewis
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Behold the Bold Unbrellaphant (and other poems)
Poems by Jack Prelutsky
Underscore Music by Lucas Richman
Illustrated by Carin Berger
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Behold the Bold Umbreallaphant (Poems by Jack Prelutsky, Music by Lucas Richman)
Carnival of the Animals (Poems by Jack Prelutsky, Music by Camille Saint-Saens)
Performed by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Click here to preview the tracks:
http://www.amazon.com/Behold-Bold-Umbrellaphant-Jack-Prelutsky/dp/B005ZOGCHG/ref=sr_1_1_digr?ie=UTF8&qid=1347301466&sr=8-1
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Blues Journey
Poems by Walter Dean Myers
Music by
Illustrated by Christopher Myers
I hightly suggest the wonderful Audio Book created to go with this picture book, which musically brings the often singable text to life!
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Carnival of the Animals
Music by Camille Saint-Saens
Poems by John Lithgow
Illustrated by Boris Kulikov
More info here:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/the-singable-picture-books-of-john-lithgow/
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The Carnival of the Animals
Poems by Jack Prelutsky
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Illustrated by Mary GrandPre
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The Carnival of the Animals
Poems by Ogden Nash
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Illustrated by Mary GrandPre
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Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa
Book by Veronica Chambers
Illustrated by Julie Maren
This book comes packaged with a CD.
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The Composer is Dead
Text by Lemony Snicket
Music by Nathaniel Stookey
Illustrated by Carson Ellis
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Days to Celebrate (A Full Year of Poetry, People, Holidays, History, Fascinating Facts, and More)
Poems Collected and Text Written by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Poems and Music by Various Artists
Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn
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The Django
Written and Illustrated by Levi Pinfold
(This book is not necessarily singable, but has the importance and love of music at its heart, inspired by the great banjo virtuoso Jean “Django” Reinhardt)
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Do Re Mi (If You Can Rad Music, Thank Guido d’Arezzo)
Book by Susan L. Roth (in association with Angelo Malfucci)
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Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite
Book by Anna Harwell Celenza
Illustrated by Don Tate
This book comes packaged with a CD
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The Extraordinary Music of Mr. Ives (The True Story of a Famous American Composer)
Written by Joanne Stanbridge
Illustrated by Joanne Stanbridge
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Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags (The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols)
Words and Music by Various Artsits
Book by James Cross Giblin
Illustrated by Ursula Arndt
This book features a chapter (including lyrics, song history, and illustrations) called “Patriotic Music and Songs.”
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Frederick
Story and Pictures by Leo Lionni
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Grasshopper’s Song (an Aesop’s Fable Revisited)
Written by Nikki Giovanni
Illustrated by Chris Raschka
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I See a Song
Text by Eric Carl
Illustrated by Eric Carl
In this book, the violinist says,
“Ladies & Gentlemen! I see a song. I paint music. I hear color. I touch the rainbow, and the deep spring in the ground. My music talks. My colors dance. Come, listen, and let your imagination see your own song.”
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Jazz
Poems by Walter Dean Myers
Music by Rob Mathes Music
Illustrated by Christopher Myers
CD Performed by James “D-Train” Williams and Vaneese Thomas and Various Artists
ISBN-13: 978-0823421732
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Jazz ABZ (an A-Z Collection of Jazz Portraits)
Written by Wynton Marsalis
Illustrated by Paul Rogers
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Jazz on a Saturday Night
Words by Leo & Diane Dillon
Music by Ira Ingber
Illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon
What a wonderful book this is! So much information in it, packed with facts, jazz greats, terrific art, and evocative music. Don’t let anyone tell you that one can’t great great things from picture books! The CD has 2 tracks, one a spoken essay about jazz and the second music for singing the rhyming text of the book! Rich and Fabulous!!
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Lean to Speak Music (a Guide to Creating, Performing, & Promoting Your Songs)
Book by John Crossingham
Design & Illustration by Jeff Kulak
Lentil
Written and Illustrated by Robert McCloskey
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Light the Candles! Beat the Drums! (a book of holidays)
Text by Jane Sarnoff
Illustrated by Reynold Ruffins
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Listen to Learn (Using American music to understand language arts and social studies, grades 5-8)
By Terri Tibbett
Words and Music by Various Artists
Includes:
“Lincoln Portrait” (by Aaron Copland)
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Marvin Makes Music
Written by Marvin Hamlisch
Illustrated by Jim Madsen
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Miss Rumphius
Story and Pictures by Barbara Cooney
“Do something to make the world more beautiful…” Miss Rumphius finds a wonderful way to do this…Emily thinks that when you sing to a child, you make the world more beautiful.
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Muiscophilia
By Oliver Sacks
Website dedicated to this book:
http://www.oliversacks.com/books/musicophilia/
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Passing the Music Down
Written by Sarah Sullivan
Illustrated by Bary Root
When you sing to or with a child, YOU are participating in this same process of Passing the Music Down.
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Ruby Sings the Blues
Story and Pictures by Niki Daly
This book is in the “Not Necessarily Singable,” but embodies within it the importance of music in our every day lives.
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Sing (Sing-A-Song Storybook)
Words and Music by Joe Raposo
Illustrated by Kenn Backhaus
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Singing Away the Dark
Written by Caroline Woodward
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
This story, in verse (that seems to cry out to be set to music) reminds me of the Henry Mancini song, “Whistling Away the Dark,”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEK4hsD_bNs
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Spirit Seeker (John Coltrane’s Musical Journey)
Written by Gary Golio
Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
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Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! (a sonic adventure)
Written by Wynton Marsalis
Illustrated by Paul Rogers
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Sweethearts of Rhythm
Text by Marilyn Nelson
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
This book is in the “Not Necessarily Singable” category, but this book is saturated with the power of music.
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Tabby McTat (The Musical Cat)
Written by Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
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Tambourine Moon
Text by Joy Jones
Illustrated by Terry Widener
This book, though not necessarily singable, is filled with musical inspiration.
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This is Music for Kindergarten and Nursery School
Text by Adeline McCall
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Published by Allyn & Bacon (1965)
I could find very little about this book…but music is in the title, so if I can’t get my hands on the real thing, I’ll keep looking for more info about its contents.
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Three Ladies Beside the Sea
Words by Rhoda Levine
Illustrated by Edward Gorey
This whimsical and enchanting book, written in verse, tells the story of three ladies for whom music is important…but for one of them, the memory of the song a passing bird, keeps her up a tree hoping to hear it again…
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The Trumpet of the Swan
Lyrics and Tunes by Various Artists
Book by E. B. White
Illustrated by Edward Frascino
ISBN: 0-439-83103-2
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What Charlie Heard
Written by Mordicai Gerstein
Illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein
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When Bob Met Woody (the Story of the Young Bob Dylan)
Writen by Gary Golio
Illustrated by Marc Burckhardt
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When Marian Sang
Words and Music by Various Artists
Text by Pam Munoz Ryan
Illustrated by Brian Selznick
This book is peppered throughout with songs that Marian Anderson sang throughout her wonderful life.
Songs include:
My Country ‘Tis of Thee
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Willie Was Different (A Children’s Story)
Written and Illustrated by Norman Rockwell
Hear the song of a wood thrush here: http://www.songbird.org/birds/woodthrush.htm
or here: http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=32&osCsid=17k5flg24plve0td1rohdpij52
Although this is not a Singable Picture Book, it is about a wood thrush who sings and it is the only picture book Norman Rockwell created for especially for children. And, it is a real charmer about the JOY singing one’s own song can be to oneself and to others (and that is what I hope everyone will do with Singable Picture Books!).
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Words to My Life’s Song
Written by Ashley Bryan
Illustrated by Ashley Bryan
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Important Musical Works for Children Not all of Which are Illustrated
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Leonard Bernstein’s narration of “Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra”
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Leonard Bernstein’s narration of “Prokofiev’s Peter & The Wolf”
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Leonard Berstein’s Narration of ”Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals”
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Noye’s Fludde
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Langston Hughes’ narration of “The Story of Jazz”
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Note 3/9/2013
Since my start assembling this list, I discovered and began pinning to boards on Pinterest/SINGBOOKSWITHEMILY
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Visit here for a much more complete listing of:
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PINTEREST
NOT NECESSARILY SINGABLE, BUT MUSIC RELATED ON SING BOOKS WITH EMILY’S PINTEREST
Because of the ease of “Pinning” my PINTEREST list for Not Necessarily Singable but Music Inspired and Music Education Picture Books has overtime become more comprehensive than the list on my blog (please not, however that, though some have appeared in my blog, most are books I’ve discovered online)
http://pinterest.com/singbooksemily/music-inspired-and-music-education-picture-books/
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A terrific list of music education related picture books, here:
http://childrenspicturebooks.info/articles/introducing_music_education.htm
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Another terrific list here:
http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?go=1&searchbox_level=0.04&keyword_type1=subject&boolean=AND&keywords1=music
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Related Posts
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BASEBALL SONGS
The Singable Picture Books of Baseball
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/the-singable-picture-books-of-baseball/
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Music Related Picture Books from New York Times Book Review Special Children’s Book Section on 11/11/2012
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/music-related-picture-books-from-new-york-times-book-review-special-childrens-book-section-on-11112012/
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Books Take Flight in Imagination and Song
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/books-take-flight-in-imagination-and-song/
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NOT NECESSARILY SINGABLE, BUT MUSIC RELATED ON SING BOOKS WITH EMILY, THE BLOG
This is a list of Picture Books that are not necessarily singable, but which have appeared in my blog as books which embrace music as an important and enriching part of our lives. For a more comprehensive list (including books which have not yet made their way into the Sing Books blog) please see the Pinterest link just below this one:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/picture-books-not-necessarily-singable-which-embrase-music-as-an-important-and-enriching-component-of-our-lives/
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NOT NECESSARILY SINGABLE, BUT MUSIC RELATED ON SING BOOKS WITH EMILY’S PINTEREST
Because of the ease of “Pinning” my PINTEREST list for Not Necessarily Singable but Music Inspired and Music Education Picture Books has overtime become more comprehensive than the list on my blog (please not, however that, though some have appeared in my blog, most are books I’ve discovered online)
http://pinterest.com/singbooksemily/music-inspired-and-music-education-picture-books/
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Sing a Whale Song
Story and Songs by Tom Chapin and John Forster
Illustrated by Jerry Smath
“Sing a Whale Song” starts with a story in prose, beautifully illustrated in watercolor paintings, followed by lyrics to 4 songs printed and illustrated at the end. The story is about a boy who is granted his wish of becoming a whale and in the end learns a song from the whale which requests responsible stewardship of the earth for all its creatures.
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Mo’s Book Review:
I read the book to my son Mo and asked him to give his opinion. Mo said, “I just naturally like it. It’s a good book. I like the adventures of the kid being a whale. I also like the song lyrics at the end. I like how Timothy sang the whale song wherever he went. I think Jerry Smath did a very good job with the illustrations and how he put a GO SLOWLY sign on the dock.”
Mo rates “Sing a Whale Song” 6.5 
s out of 10
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Links to YouTubes and sound clips of the songs at the back of the book:
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Tom Chapin’s recording of “Sing a Whale Song” from the album MOONBOAT:
http://www.amazon.com/Sing-A-Whale-Song/dp/B0032LM796/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1311016531&sr=8-3
“Sing a Whale Song” on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOzxSTK3rd4
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Tom Chapin’s recording of “Good Garbage” from the album MOTHER EARTH:
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Garbage/dp/B004A21NF0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1311016652&sr=1-2
“Good Garbage” on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhf5Rb9Jn48
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Tom Chapin’s recording “Someone’s Gonna Use It” from the album FAMILY TREE
http://www.amazon.com/Someones-Gonna-Use-It/dp/B004A1Y3RQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311107572&sr=8-2
“Someone’s Gonna Use It” on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2BczRSGv_A
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Tom Chapin’s recording of “This Pretty Planet” from the album FAMILY TREE (cover image above)
http://www.amazon.com/This-Pretty-Planet/dp/B004A1U672/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1311107688&sr=1-1
“This Pretty Planet” on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeqDHppFwHE
“This Pretty Planet” is a particularly beautiful song and, as you will hear in the YouTube, can be sung in a gorgeous round.
I had the great pleasure of singing with a small group of pre-schoolers today. WOW were they good! I can’t believe how beautifully all these “5 and unders” lasted through this huge stack of books, 22 songs! They attended, sang along, contributed, and danced. We had a wonderful time. Heres the stack, listed in no particular order:
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Home on the Range
Words by Dr. Brewster Higley
Music by Dan Kelley
Illustrations by Brian Ajhar
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Do Your Ears Hang Low (Sing and Read Storybook)
Traditional Words and Music
Words Adapted by Rachel Lisberg
Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic
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Yankee Doodle (A Song from the American Revolution)
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Todd Ouren
(This book features printed music, a page of song history, and activity ideas)
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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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Yellow Submarine (Sing-A-Song Storybook)
Words and Music by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Illustrated by Cathy Holly
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We Sang these three songs:
Oh, What a Beautiful Morning
I Whistle a Happy Tune
Dites-Moi
from
Getting to Know You
Words by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Richard Rodgers
Illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Published by HarperCollinsPublishers, New York, 2002
ISBN 0-06-626845-5
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Dites-Moi
Words (in English) by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Richard Rodgers
Illustrated with Artwork by Student of Tuckahoe Elementary School
Book Assembled by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
To view or print this booklet, click here:
dites-moi SPB eng SBWE ELEG 07 2011
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I Love You a Bushel and a Peck
Words and Music by Frank Loesser
Illustrated by Rosemary Wells
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Inch by Inch (The Garden Song)
Words and Music by David Mallett
Illustrated by Ora Eitan
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Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Words by Jack Norworth
Music by Albert Von Tilzer
Illustrated by Amiko Hirao
Performed by Carly Simon
This edition gets a GOLD STAR for including the FULL song (both verses and chorus) and a fabulous recording of Carly Simon and her deligthful arrangement she made for Ken Burn’s documentary Baseball.
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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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Puff the Magic Dragon
Words and Music by Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton
Illustrated by Eric Puybaret
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Skidamarink: The “I Love You” Song (Sing and Read Storybook)
Traditional Words and Tune Unattributed
Original Words by Felix F. Feist
Original Music by Al Piantadosi
Illustrated by Jacqueline East
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All God’s Critters
Words and Music by Bill Staines
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York, 2009
ISBN 987-0-689-86959-4
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ABCs
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
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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
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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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Baa! Baa! Black Sheep
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
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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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Sing a Whale Song
Story and Songs by Tom Chapin and John Forster
Illustrated by Jerry Smath
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All in the Woodland Early (And ABC Book)
Words and Music by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Jane Breskin Zalben
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Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
Words by Lewis Carroll
Poems Set to Music by Various Artists
Illustrated by Brigitte Bryan, Cover by Don Irwin
