About “SING BOOKS WITH EMILY” (& Emily, too)

Photo by Matt Howe

Sing Books with Emily,
a singing storytime,
singing illustrated songs.

Sing a song to a child.
The child and the song
are both beautiful.
The child may some day
share that song
with someone else,
bridging the generations and
making something beautiful
that will last.

Sing Books with Emily is a singing storytime with Singable Picture Books.  A Sing Books with Emily gathering is 30-45 minutes of live, educational performing arts joyously delivered by a professional vocalist.  Sing Books with Emily programs fit comfortably in most any setting where children and their caregivers can gather to celebrate the marvelous combination of picture books and song.

To book a gathering, email Emily at either  * emleatha@att.net *  or * singbookswithemily@att.net  *

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ABOUT SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
Singable Picture Books are illustrated songs or poems that have been set to music and can be sung.  To put it another way, Singable Picture Books are illustrated books you can sing.  Or, you could say a Singable Picture Book is a song that has been illustrated.  Lyrics are printed on the page and pictures illustrate the thoughts, story and action.

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“SING BOOKS” IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST SINGING SONGS WITH PICTURE BOOKS.  IT IS EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT
I like to share with the children that the songs we sing together (and every Singable Picture Book in this blog) represent many genres of American song, including The Great American Songbook, Art Song, Country, Folk, Broadway and Bluegrass.  Many of these songs have important cultural relevance and are loaded with educational content like science, geography, poetry, history, music, art, civics, and robust vocabulary.

I am passionately dedicated to the cause of enriching the lives of children (educators, caregivers, and anyone with an open heart) through song and Singable Picture Books.

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Printable Sing Books with Emily Informational Flyer

To view or print this flyer, click here:
sbwe flyer portrait 2012 03

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REGARDING THE MERITS OF MUSIC AND SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
Singable Picture Books preserve and convey our musical heritage.  By singing these songs (using the books as vehicles to convey the words, stories, ideas and images), and sharing the songs with each other (especially children!), we participate in the human history of the songs by giving them life and interpreting their stories and ideas in the present day.  When we sing with children, we gift these songs (and the experience of sharing them) to future generations.

Singing makes people happy and it is good for the brain (the heart and soul, too).  Singing the text of a book to children offers opportunities for sharing magical experiences and helps them learn to read.  When you put singing and reading together, you’ve got yourself a recipe for joy, discovery, and brilliant fun.

Music makes community (creating a positive, beautiful common experience) and brings people together in a way that nothing else can.  Singable Picture books are a wonderful vehicle to share music (using words and pictures) with children.

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Emily’s missive, “Reason to Sing,”
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/reason-to-sing-the-hippopotamus-song/

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Discover the wonderful world of Singable Picture Books in the Singable Bookshelves:

Titles A-E: http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/bookshelf-2-a-m/
Titles F-J: http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/bookshelf-2-f-j/
Titles K-O: http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/bookshelf-2-k-o/
Titles P-S: http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/bookshelf-2-n-z/
Titles T-Z: http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/bookshelf-2-u-z/

Illustrated Songs, organized alphabetically by title, are added daily, so please check it often for more Singable Picture Book fun!

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Discover Articles and Online Resources Expressing the Many Benefits and Virtues of Singable Picture Books:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/resources-for-inspiration-and-information/

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ABOUT SING BOOKS WITH EMILY, THE BLOG
In this blog, I explore the subject of Singable Picture Books and all the elements that go into making them so special, including discussion on the lyrics, music, illustrations, song history, lyricists, composers, illustrators and sing along accompaniment.

SING BOOKS WITH EMILY (the Blog) is intended to be a resource for parents, educators, caregivers and anybody who loves songs, books, children, and the young at heart.  Each post is categorized to make Singable Book Titles, Song History, Lyrics (etc!) easy to find.

The posts and pages in this blog are perpetually UNDER CONSTRUCTION. As the posts about specific Singable Picture Books (or subjects related to them) are intended to be resources, the entries will be edited as information is discovered.

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ABOUT SING BOOKS WITH EMILY, THE PROGRAM IN PERSON
SING BOOKS WITH EMILY is a “Singing Storytime.” Emily SINGS picture books made from your favorite songs (or songs sure to become favorites) in a program of surprising artistic and musical variety from the folksy “Waltzing Matilda” and the funny “Ain’t Gonna Paint No More” to the fanciful “Beautiful Dreamer.” The joyous combination of words, stories, pictures and music delights children and adults of every age.

For a 27 second preview of Sing Books With Emily, this video was made by a wonderful librarian at Arlington County Central Public Library in July 2010:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDKqg4V8iGA

SING BOOKS WITH EMILY can go virtually anywhere.  Please write emleatha@att.net for more information!

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SING BOOKS WITH EMILY, THE MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of SING BOOKS WITH EMILY, which is as educational as it is entertaining, is to share the wonderful world of Singable Picture Books which combine the magical wonders of music, text and illustration.

SING BOOKS WITH EMILY seeks to support the arts and emergent literacy; inspire imagination and love for words, stories and music; cultivate and convey our musical heritage; and provide a medium of quality time and positive interaction between children and their caregivers.

In addition, SING BOOKS WITH EMILY compiles and updates a comprehensive bibliography of illustrated books, poems and stories that can be sung; actively seeks the illustration of suitable songs; and promotes the “musicalization” of appropriate stories and poems.

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GOALS FOR SING BOOKS WITH EMILY

• Have Fun
• Enrich our lives with music using the vehicle of Singable Picture Books
• Inspire a love of the music, words and art
• Inspire and facilitate quality time between children and their caregivers
• Help kids more fully understand the songs we are singing and to explore facets of the song like its vocabulary, composers and history
• Compile a complete catalogue of Singable Picture Books and articles that provide knowledge about the works and facilitate singing and sharing

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ABOUT EMILY, THE PERFORMER
Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus was born in Germany, grew up a Hoosier, became a New Yorker, married a soldier, started a family in DC, and now calls Arlington home. She went to Indiana University and spent most of her time in the Theatre and Drama Department, performing in many plays and musicals. Favorite roles included Robin in “Godspell,” Mrs. Thompson in ”Hunting Cockroaches,” Shy in “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” Emily in “Marriage of Bette and Boo,” Lettie in “Something’s Afoot” and Little Nun in “House of Blue Leaves.” After graduation, Emily enjoyed performing in musicals at Indianapolis Starlight Musicals (Ursula in “Bye Bye Birdie;” Adult Chorus in “Wizard of Oz,” starring Phyllis Diller; Fredrika in “A Little Night Music,” starring Lainie Kazan, Walter Charles, and Dororthy Stanley) and Indiana Repertory Theatre (Della in “Gifts of the Magi” and Lindsay/Mona in “Secret History of the Future”).

Once in NYC, Emily studied at HB Studio, taking vocal performance classes (with the fantastic Michele Grace and the fabulous Noel Katz at the piano) and performing in her first cabaret under the direction of Charles Nelson Reilly and Donna McKechnie (including a comic appearance by Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara).  Emily was also an acting student in Elizabeth Dillon’s master class.

After her move to DC, Emily performed in stage musicals including Jenny in “Three Penny Opera” and as a soloist in a revue of Lerner & Lowe music at the National Institutes of Health.  She soon began to study the fabulous art of Cabaret.  Emily was selected to attend the 2003 Cabaret Conference at Yale University (with an incredible staff of instructors like with an incredible staff of instructors like Amanda McBroom, Tovah Feldshuh, and Julie Wilson) and studied locally with resident and visiting artists that include Wendy Lane Baily, Erv Raible, George Fulginiti-Shakar, Judy Simmons, Rick Jensen, and Lina Koutrakos, Amanda McBroom, Liz Callaway, Michele Brourman, Ann Hampton Callaway, Alex Rybeck, and Beckie Menzie.

Emily has performed in group and solo cabarets in many venues around DC and Arlington, VA, including Signature Theatre, Atlas Performing Arts Center, H Street Playhouse, Art-O-Matic, Warehouse Theatre, Kennedy Center, and Capital Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW), Arts Club of Washington, Maggie’s Cabaret, 1409 Playbill Cafe, and Capital Fringe Festival. Emily’s Capital Fringe Festival credits include: “Naked Cabaret, Emotionally That Is,” “Naked Cabaret, Beyond Bare,” “Psycho Cabaret,” “Run Away With Me, a Contemporary Cabaret”).  Emily’s one woman shows include “Let Me Tell You” (Parts I and II), “Domestic Disturbances,” “It’s a Jungle Out There,” and “Oh, What a Beautiful Day: Sing Books with Emily, the Cabaret.”

Emily conducts a program for children and families called “Sing Books with Emily,” in which she sings picture books made from the texts of songs.  Emily enjoyed singing twice monthly at  Aladdin’s Lamp Children’s Bookstore (now closed) in 2009 and 2010.  She regularly performs “Sing Books with Emily” gatherings at schools in Arlington, VA and Washington, DC as well as many visits to birthday parties, places of worship, play groups, and public libraries all over the area.

Emily was nominated for a 2010 Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) ”Wammie” in the “Cabaret Artist” category.

Emily premiered her new show “Oh, What a Beautiful Day: Sing Books with Emily, the Cabaret” in the June of 2011.  A one woman cabaret show for the whole family, the production of the live performance and CD was supported in part by Arlington County through the Arlington County Commission for Arts and the Cultural Affairs Division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.  To book this show, write Emily at emleatha@att.net.

August 2011, Emily was excited to return to the Kennedy Center to perform in a Staged Reading of the new musical “Kris Kringle, the Musical” as part of the Page to Stage Festival.

March 2012, Emily recorded 3 demo tracks for a new musical, “Welcome to the Hard Luck Cafe” by Arlington songwriter and author Karin Ringheim.

In the school year of 2011-2012, Emily is honored to visit Tuckahoe Elementary School to Sing Books in 5-8 classes per week.

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INTERVIEWS AND ARTICLES

SING BOOKS WITH EMILY IN THE MEDIA

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July 2010, Arlington County Public Library blog post:
http://arlingtonvalib.blogspot.com/2010/07/singing-at-westovers-storytime.html

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July 2010 video by Arlington County Public Library for their ”Get Caught Listening” Summer Program:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDKqg4V8iGA

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September 2010, Michael Miyazaki’s blog: DC Cabaret Update:
http://cabaretdc.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/thank-you-emily/

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June 2011 video interview on Dale City Patch.com for gathering at Dale City Neighborhood Library in Dale City/Woodbridge, VA
http://dalecity.patch.com/articles/video-singalong-at-the-library#video-6822799

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July 2011 article on Woobridge/Occuquan Patch.com for gathering at Lake Ridge Neighborhood Library in Woodbridge, VA
http://dalecity.patch.com/articles/video-singalong-at-the-library#video-6822799

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July 2011, my own article for SongSpeak (the blog of the DC Cabaret Network) about applying for the grant from the Arlington County Commission for the Arts:
http://songspeak.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/sing-books-with-emily-and-the-benefits-of-just-showing-up/

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February 2012, Mr. Pascal (Assistant Principal at Tuckahoe Elementary School) wrote about “Sing Books with Emily” in his blog:
http://mpascaltuckahoe.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/getting-the-knack-for-kindergarten/

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March 2012, Aurora Hills Library blog post about Sing Books with Emily at the Kids Club Event:
http://library.arlingtonva.us/2012/03/23/ms-emilys-visit-to-aurora-hills/

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Sample Song Lists From Past Events

SING BOOKS WITH EMILY for Summer 2010 “Get Caught Listening” drop in story-times at all 7 Arlington County Public Libraries as part of their “Get Caught Reading” program:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/my-heartfelt-thanks-to-the-arlington-county-public-libraries/
(This post includes links to each event’s song list!)

This post is the song list from our last event singing in Ms. Anctil’s Kindergarten class for the 2009-2010 school year:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/23/the-songs-we-sang-6222010-and-two-new-singable-picture-books/

SBWE at Key School in Washington, DC (June 2010):
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/the-songs-we-sang-6142010/

SBWE at a Birthday Party (June 2010):
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/the-songs-we-sang-6272010/

SBWE as Part of a Cabaret (June 2010):
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/a-new-season-songs-for-susan-and-the-songs-we-sang/

SBWE at a Church Service (February 2010):
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/the-songs-we-sang-2202010-joy-on-a-sunday-morning/

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RECORDINGS

For recordings featuring “Sing Books with Emily” and Emily’s cabaret performances, visit:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/recordings/

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VIDEO

For videos featuring “Sing Books with Emily” and Emily’s cabaret performances, visit:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/video-series/

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PHOTO GALLERY

Pictures from Emily’s Cabaret, Theatre and Sing Books performances, here:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/photogallery/

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CABARET

More about Emily’s cabaret performances on “Emily’s Cabaret Page,” here:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/emily-leatha-eversons-cabaret-page/

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Theater, Musicals, and Vocal Performances

More about Emily’s Theatrical Performances, here:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/about/