Archive for May 2012
I enjoyed reading JUDITH SHULEVITZ’s article for the New Your Times Book Review, “Let’s Go Reading in the Car,” Published on Sunday,May 18, 2012, which extols the joys and best practices of listening to audio books in the car with your children.
These two pararaphs struck me in particular:
How did we human beings become the hypersocial creatures we are today?
The biologist E. O. Wilson credits fire, among other causes. In a recent history of human evolution, Wilson offers the following explanation: Fire was precious because it flushed animals out of the brush, then made it possible for people to cook them. Campfires had to be guarded, which made them like “nests” and made us feel safe enough to be “eusocial” or altruistic. Sounds plausible to me.
But I like to imagine that Wilson missed a step in his account of our early socialization: the moment someone first got up in front of the fire and told a story that showed the others — especially the children — the magnificence of the universe around them, and made them want to be bigger-souled than they’d been so far.
I love someone to read to me. I get a lot of pleasure laying on my 8 year old daughter’s rug, one of her fuzzy animals shoved under my head for a little comfort, listening to her read a story out loud. My grandmother (Grace Evangelyn Morgan Everson, we called her “Penny,” who was a 2nd grade teacher at John Strange Elementary School in Indianapolis for 30 years) spent hours of her life reading to my sister and I. Those stories (“Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Charlotte’s Web,” all of Shel Silverstein’s poems and so, so many more) still spin magically in my head with images I made myself, the pure joy of being in her company, and comforting smell of her home. I also love listening to audio books.
Ms. Shulevitz talks about the wonderful voices who read the books (some better suited to the material than others or just better in general), but my take is that all the voices are terrific (some might be “better” than others), but all play second fiddle to my grandmother’s voice. As all would play second fiddle to the voice of a loved one who spends time with a child reading (or singing) stories.
And, to tie the goodness of audio-books into magic of Singable Picture Books, a lot applies. It applies, too, to the simple singing of songs together in a car or a loving adult singing a lullaby to a child at the bedside. No prize winning performance of any kind can beat that! As Ms. Shulevitz says, it all works to shed light upon the, “magnificence of the universe” around us (out in the wide-open world or the world we create in our cars) and makes us bigger-souled.
The Gift of a Book and a Song…
Posted on: May 30, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZP_PObKMR0
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Related Posts
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JOHN LITHGOW
The Singable Picture Books of John Lithgow
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/the-singable-picture-books-of-john-lithgow/
A great week for Singable Picture Books. My heart is beginning to pang knowing the school year is drawing to a close and these classes of children, ripe for the summer, will move along into to world. As my husband sometimes says to a gathering, “I’ve enjoyed our time together, albeit brief…”
I enjoyed the company of the children this week in the classes of Ms. Allen, Ms. Morgan, Ms. Howard, Ms. Anctil, and Mr. Mitchell! In each of the classes, we sang a selection of songs from this grand list:
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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
This item is for classroom, home, or library use only.
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Amoeba Hop
Words and Music by Christine Lavin
Illustrated by Betsy Franco Feeney
This book features a study of amoeba life, printed music and a live recording of “Amoeba Hop” by the amazingly hilarious and talented singer/songwriter Christine Lavin.
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The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Iza Trapani
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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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Both Sides Now
Words and Music by Joni Mitchell
Illustrated by Alan Baker
ISBN 0-590-45668-7
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A Fairy Went A-Marketing
Poem by Rose Fyleman
Illustrated by Jamichael Henterly
Musical Setting can be found by Ginger Sands on her collection “The Gift of Make Believe“
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Fifty Nifty States
Words and Music by Ray Charles
Book Assembled by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
This item is for classroom, home, or library use only.
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Grandma’s Feather Bed (John Denver’s)
Words and Music by Jim Connor
Adapted and Illustrated by Christopher Canyon
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The Hippopotamus Song
Words by Michael Flanders
Music by Donald Swann and Michael Flanders
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
ISBN: 0-316-28557-9
This book features printed sheet music
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Inch by Inch (The Garden Song)
Words and Music by David Mallett
Illustrated by Ora Eitan
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I’m a Manatee
Words by John Lithgow
Music by Bill Elliott
Illustrated by Ard Hoyt
(This book includes a vocal and instrumental track on a sing-along CD as well as a printed music…TERRIFIC!!)
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“Oh, Ever in the Greening Spring,” from
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
“Oh, Ever in the Greening Spring,” played with the melody line:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/oh-ever-in-the-greening-melody
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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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Rhode Island is Famous for You
Words by Howard Dietz
Music by Arthur Schwartz
Book Assembled by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
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“Song of the Boat,” from
Water Sings Blue
Poems by Kate Coombs
Illustrated by Meilo So
ISBN-13: 978-0811872843
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Star Spangled Banner
Words by Francis Scott Key
Music by J. Stafford Smith
Illustrated by Todd Ouren
(This book features printed music and historical information)
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Summertime (from Porgy and Bess)
Words by DuBose Heyward
Music by George Gershwin
Illustrated by Mike Wimmer
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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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Waltzing Matilda
Traditional Folk Tune Arranged by Christina Macpherson
Poem by A.B. “Banjo” Paterson
Illustrated by Desmond Digby
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Waltzing Matilda (Refrain Poster Card)
Traditional Folk Tune Arranged by Christina Macpherson
Poem by A.B. “Banjo” Paterson
Card by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
To print or view the above poster featuring the “Waltzing Matilda“ refrain lyrics, click here:
waltzing matilda refrain for book 7X7
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Yankee Doodle
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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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
Singable Picture Books of Mary Ann Hoberman and Nadine Bernard Westcott’s Sing-Along Stories
Posted on: May 28, 2012
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The Eensy-Weensy Spider (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Additional Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Mary Had a Little Lamb (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Tune
Original Rhyme by Sarah Josepha Hale
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Miss Mary Mack (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
ISBN 978-0-316-07614-2
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Lady with the Alligator Purse (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Music
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Skip to My Lou (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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There Was a Man Named Michael Finnegan (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Tune (Sing to an adaptation of the same tune as “One Little, Two Little, Three Little…”)
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Wheels on the Bus (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Yankee Doodle
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Related Posts
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SING-ALONG STORIES SERIES BY MARY ANN HOBERMAN & NADINE BERNARD WESTCOTT
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/singable-picture-books-of-mary-ann-hoberman-and-nadine-bernard-westcotts-sing-along-stories/
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THE SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS OF MARY ANN HOBERMAN
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/singable-picture-books-of-mary-ann-hoberman/
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THE SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS OF NADINE BERNARD WESTCOTT
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/singable-picture-books-of-nadine-bernard-westcott/
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Nadine Bernard Westcott’s Website
I was unable to locate a website devoted to her children’s book illustration, however, this is Nadine Bernard Westcott’s website for her wonderful fabric designs:
http://nadinewestcott.com/about.html
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Bedtime Sing to Me
Traditional Music
Original Compositions and Lyric Adaptations by Diane C. Ohanesian
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Down by the Bay (Raffi Songs to Read)
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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The Eensy-Weensy Spider (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Additional Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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The Hippopotamus Song
Words by Michael Flanders
Music by Donald Swann and Michael Flanders
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
ISBN: 0-316-28557-9
This book features printed sheet music
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House that Jack Built
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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I’ve Been Working on the Railroad (an American Classic)
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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The Lady with the Alligator Purse
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Lady with the Alligator Purse (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Music
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Mary Had a Little Lamb (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Tune
Original Rhyme by Sarah Josepha Hale
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Miss Mary Mack (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
ISBN 978-0-316-07614-2
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Peanut Butter and Jelly (A Play Rhyme)
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
The back page of “Peanut Butter and Jelly” suggests movements to make this book even more fun with ACTION!
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Raffi Christmas Treasury (Fourteen Illustrated Songs and Musical Arrangements)
Words and Music by Various Artists
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
ISBN 978-0517568064
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A Real Nice Clambake
Words by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Richard Rodgers
From the Musical CAROUSEL
Illustrations by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Skip to My Lou (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Thanksgiving Stories and Poems
Words and Music by Various Artists
Edited by Caroline Feller Bauer
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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There’s a Hole in the Bucket
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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There Was a Man Named Michael Finnegan (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Tune (Sing to an adaptation of the same tune as “Ten Little Indians”)
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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We’re Going on a Book Hunt
Tune Based on “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt“
Words Adapted by Pat Miller
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Wheels on the Bus (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Yankee Doodle
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Related Posts
*
SING-ALONG STORIES SERIES BY MARY ANN HOBERMAN & NADINE BERNARD WESTCOTT
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/singable-picture-books-of-mary-ann-hoberman-and-nadine-bernard-westcotts-sing-along-stories/
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THE SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS OF MARY ANN HOBERMAN
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/singable-picture-books-of-mary-ann-hoberman/
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THE SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS OF NADINE BERNARD WESTCOTT
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/singable-picture-books-of-nadine-bernard-westcott/
A tune for “Song of the Boat” from the new book of poetry “Water Sings Blue”
Posted on: May 26, 2012
- In: Art of Singing a Song | Book Review by ELEG | Case for Singable Books | Expert Info - First Hand | Heartfelt Musings | Lyrics | Out of the Mouths of Babes | Poetry | Power of Music | Quotes of Note | SBWE in Person | Sing Along Tracks | Sing Books with Emily Sing-Along Materials | Singable Book Title | Singable Picture Book Video | Singable Poem | Singable Poetry | Song History | Songs We Sang | Vocal Tracks | Written by ELEG
- Leave a Comment
I was in the bookstore the other day (May 2012) and found,
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Water Sings Blue
Poems by Kate Coombs
Illustrated by Meilo So
ISBN-13: 978-0811872843
The book caught my eye for three reasons. First the word “SING” in the title got me all excited that maybe this book was created to be sung (alas, it was not). Second, it is filled with THE MOST BEAUTIFUL watercolor-painting illustrations by Meilo So. I would buy this book of poetry for the pictures alone. The poems are quite wonderful, too, as anything that would inspire such splendid visual art would indeed have to be wonderful!
The third thing which made me pick up the book and give it a hardly look was thinking again about a little boy Tyler in Mrs. Morgan’s class. Tyler had once asked me to write him a song about fish, so I came up with a singable limerick “A Fishy Named Stan.” The other day, however, Tyler said, “Mrs. G, why don’t you write a song about water next.” Oh, what a delight this little fella is that I’d hate to leave that challenge like that un-met. I opened the book reading the first poem, “Song of the Boat,” a tune for it magically flowed through me head.
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Author Kate Coomb’s webpage for “Song of the Boat,”
http://katecoombs.com/water.html
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SONG OF THE BOAT
Poem by Kate Coombs
Illustrated by Meilo So
Push away from the stillness of the nut-brown land,
from the road that leads to the shore.
Push away from the town with its tight tree roots,
from its closed brown shutters and doors.
Push away—heave ho—from the heavy brown pier,
from its pilings huddled and dull.
For the water sings blue and the sky does, too,
and the sea lets you fly like a gull.
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I rumamged through my big-momma shoulder bag for my digital recorder to capture the tune before it flung itself back into the ether of my distrcted mind to find that the recorder was out of battery. But I had my digital camera! So I turned it on and sang the tune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpdCuLzUNiU
It may not be perfect but, to me, it’s a miracle! The art of song-writing has always (and will always) mystify me. So to be given a little tune, regardless of how humble, is joy to me. A tune just when I needed it!
This has happened only a couple other times and I did get to record one so far, The Last Song.
So this is the beginnings of a little song. I hope Kate Coombs, should she run across it, will not mind. I’ve sung it a few times for kids at Tuckahoe and shared the beautiful book, “Water Sings Blue” with them and everyone seemed to enjoy it so far.
Next step is send to the amazing Paul Raiman at MyRehearsalPianist.com to write out/notate the tune, make a piano part for it and a sing-along (he is so good at his job!). I can’t wait for the next steps in this delightful little creative journey.
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Addendum June 2012
I sent the tune video to Paul Raiman at MyRehearsalPianist.com and he created a beautiful arrangement and accompaniment track for the tune. I’m just so over the moon about it. Something about this one really touches me and I just love it. Plus, Paul’s wonderful skill in taking the scattered pieces of things I sent him and putting them together to create something wonderful, makes my every encounter with him like opening a gift on Christmas morning.
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You can hear the SONG OF THE BOAT tune with melody line included, here:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/song-of-the-boat-with-melody
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You can hear (and sing-along with) the SONG OF THE BOAT accompaniment, here:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/song-of-the-boat-accompaniment
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SONG OF THE BOAT, from WATER SINGS BLUE
“Song of the Boat” from WATER SINGS BLUE
Poems by Kate Coombs
Illustrated by Meilo So
Melody by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
Arrangement by Paul Raiman of www.MyRehearsalPianist.com
Track Prepared by Paul Raiman of www.MyRehearsalPianist.com
You can hear the tune with melody line included, here:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/song-of-the-boat-with-melody
You can hear (and sing-along with) the accompaniment, here:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/song-of-the-boat-accompaniment
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Addendum September 27, 2012
It’s a long story how this happened, but I stumbled upon a blog post written by Kate Coombs in which SHE writes about stumbling across the little tune for “Song of the Boat” that magically came to me while I was standing in a bookstore after stumbling across her beautiful book of her poems called Water Sings Blue. Here’s a link to that post:
http://bookaunt.blogspot.com/2012/06/meet-audiovideo-club.html
Makes me feel great! I very much appreciate the positivity.
Even better someone left a comment that they love the song.
I’m all a-twitter.
WATER SINGS BLUE really is such a beautiful book and it was a little bit of magic for the tune to come to me when it did. Nice that it was found by the author. It sure would be fun to record the song sometime soon.
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Related Posts
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POETRY SINGABLE POETRY IN COMPILATIONS
An list of singable poems from compilations of poetry for children
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/
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SINGALONG RESOURCES AND PRINTABLE MATERIALS
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/sing-along-resources-2/
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SONGS BY EMILY:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/songs-by-emily/
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“Song of the Boat” Found by the Author Kate Coombs
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/09/27/song-of-the-boat-found-by-the-author-kate-coombs/
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Mary Ann Hoberman’s Website:
http://www.maryannhoberman.com/
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The Eensy-Weensy Spider (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Additional Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Forget-Me-Nots Poems to Learn by Heart
Words and Tunes by Various Artists
Poems Selected by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Michael Emberley
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I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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A House is a House for Me
Words by Mary Ann Hoberman
Music by Fred Penner
Illustrated by Betty Fraser
Preview Fred Penner’s musical setting and recording here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000US343W/ref=dm_dp_trk7?ie=UTF8&qid=1290454196&sr=1-1
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Lady with the Alligator Purse (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Music
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Mary Had a Little Lamb (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Tune
Original Rhyme by Sarah Josepha Hale
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Miss Mary Mack (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
ISBN 978-0-316-07614-2
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My Song is Beautiful (Poems and Pictures in Many Voices)
Poems and Music by Various Artists
Illustrated by Various Artists
Edited by Mary Ann Hoberman
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Skip to My Lou (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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There Was a Man Named Michael Finnegan (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Tune (Sing to an adaptation of the same tune as “Ten Little Indians”)
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Wheels on the Bus (Sing-Along Stories)
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Yankee Doodle
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
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Related Posts
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SING-ALONG STORIES SERIES BY MARY ANN HOBERMAN & NADINE BERNARD WESTCOTT
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/singable-picture-books-of-mary-ann-hoberman-and-nadine-bernard-westcotts-sing-along-stories/
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THE SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS OF MARY ANN HOBERMAN
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/singable-picture-books-of-mary-ann-hoberman/
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THE SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS OF NADINE BERNARD WESTCOTT
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/singable-picture-books-of-nadine-bernard-westcott/
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Steven Kellogg’s website:
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A-Hunting We Will Go!
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Steven Kellogg
This book features fabulously colored, detailed illustrations and printed music.
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A My Name is ALICE
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Jane Bayer
Illustrated by Steven Kellogg
Hear the tune, here:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/lucy_alligator_purse_alice
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Engelbert the Elephant
Words and Music by Tom Paxton
Illustrated by Steven Kellogg
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Give the Dog a Bone
Additional words by Steven Kellogg
Illustrations by Steven Kellogg
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I Was Born About 10,000 Years Ago
Traditional Words and Tune (same tune as ”She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain“)
Words Adapted by Steven Kellogg
Illustrated by Steven Kellogg
ISBN 0-688-13412-2
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Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Word and Music by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie
Illustrated by Steven Kellogg
May I Suggest: Sing About Santa:http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/may-i-suggest-sing-about-santa/
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There Was an Old Woman
Traditional Words and Tune
Words Adapted by Steven Kellogg
Illustrated by Steven Kellogg
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Yankee Doodle (Steven Kellogg’s)
Traditional Tune
Words by Edward Bangs
Illustrated by Steven Kellogg
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An interview with Steven Kellogg on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtKZHYAHmbc
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Related Posts
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STEVEN KELLOG ON THE ART OF THE PICTURE BOOK
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/steven-kellogg-authorillustrator-on-the-art-of-the-picture-book/
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CHRISTMAS
A Collection of Singable Picture Books that celebrate CHRISTMAS!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/11/28/singable-picture-books-for-christmas/
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SANTA SONGS
For a post dedicated to Singable Picture Books about Santa (with sing-along track suggestions and YouTubes), click here:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/may-i-suggest-sing-about-santa/
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FOURTH OF JULY AND OTHER HOLIDAYS CELEBRATING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND HER CITIZENS AND HISTORY
A list of Singable Picture Books celebrating the Fourth of July
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/a-patriotic-list-of-singable-books-for-july-4th/
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy,” says Hamlet by William Shakespeare. One must never be fooled into thinking one has seen it all or knows even half of it! This is true also for Singable Picture Books. Sometimes I lament being disappointed by trips to the bookstore hoping to find an undiscovered Singable Gem. And I have uncovered quite a few. But if I look hard enough, patiently enough, Singables present themselves. On my last trip to the local Westover Public Library, some vigorous looking (with help from a helpful librarian) revealed:
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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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Man Gave Names to All the Animals
Words and Music by Bob Dylan
Illustrated by Scott Menchin
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A-Hunting We Will Go!
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Steven Kellogg
This book features fabulously colored, detailed illustrations and printed music.
My friend Ron Squeri’s birthday is today…so here goes, a happy birthday limerick for Ron:
Ron is a real nice fella
His singing is dolce-sweet-bella
He works on computers
His hair color is pewter
For dear husband Michael, Ron’s a fabulous suitor
His skate championship picture couldn’t be cuter
Happy birthday, friend, Ronald Squer-ella.
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Sing this limerick for Ron with me, here:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/happy-bday-2012-to-rs
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Ron is a performer!
Here’s his website:
http://www.ronsqueri.com/
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Related Posts
SONGS BY EMILY (LOTS MORE LIMERICKS):
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/songs-by-emily/
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Making up Limericks for Friends
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/making-up-limericks-for-friends/
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SONGS FOR MICHAEL AND RON (AND THE MUSIC OF BECKIE MENZIE)
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/songs-for-michael-and-ron-and-the-music-of-beckie-menzie/
