Singable Picture Books of Peter Spier
Posted on: June 29, 2012
“The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night ” is, in my experience, one of the most universally loved of Singable Picture Books. It’s almost like they can’t help themselves, that fox casts a spell. We open the book, the tune begins and the children are THERE and especially for Peter Spier’s amazingly detailed pictoral storytelling.
Another universal favorite is “The Star Spangled Banner,” also extravagantly illustrated by Peter Spier, but not just that first verse that we sing as our National Anthem, but the ENTIRE poem penned by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812. It is fantastic.
Peter Spier’s repertoire is long and wide-ranging. Here are his Singable Picture Books:
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And So My Garden Grows (The Mother Goose Library)
Rhymes and Tunes by Various Artists
Illustrated by Peter Spier
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The Erie Canal
Traditional Words and tune
Illustrated by Peter Spier
Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night (An Old Song), 2014 Reissue
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Peter Spier
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Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night (An Old Song)
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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Hurrah, We’re Outward Bound! (The Mother Goose Library)
Traditional Words and Tunes
Illustrated by Peter Spier
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London Bridge is Falling Down (The Mother Goose Library, Peter Spier)
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Peter Spier
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2014 edition with new cover art
Star Spangled Banner
Words by Francis Scott Key
Music by J. Stafford Smith
Illustrated by Peter Spier
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1973 edition
Star Spangled Banner
Words by Francis Scott Key
Music by J. Stafford Smith
Illustrated by Peter Spier
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To Market! To Market! (The Mother Goose Library)
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Peter Spier
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We the People (The Constitution of the United States of America)
Contains Singable Elements from the Untied States Constitution as in THE PREAMBLE song
Text by Peter Spier
Illustrated by Peter Spier
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This link to Scholastic/Weston Woods “Classic Folk Songs” DVD Library package includes “The Erie Canal,” illustrated by Peter Spier:
http://westonwoods.scholastic.com/products/westonwoods/catalog/product.asp?cid=822
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A biography of Peter Spier as a Dutch-American, here:
http://www.nnp.org/nni/Publications/Dutch-American/Peterspier.htm
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A GOOGLE IMAGES search of “Peter Spier” reveals a fantastic assortment of his illustrations that you can see online:
https://www.google.com/search?q=peter+spier&hl=en&prmd=imvnsbo&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=8NzlT4WEBKfN6QGLlanhDg&ved=0CIQBELAE&biw=1440&bih=775
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Peter Spier Author Video for 2014 Reissues of Some of His Work on Random House Publisher’s Website:
http://www.randomhousekids.com/videos/cnr5u7t9f_c-peter-spier-author-video#.VHoORDHF-So
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An excelelnt entry on Peter Spier appears on pgs 428-427 in “The Essential Guide to Children’s Books and Their Creators,” which you can read on Google Books:
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Addendum, 12/6/2017
I went looking online in hopes of finding new re-issues of Peter Spier’s wonderful books, illustrated songs in particular (maybe LONDON BRIDGE or another from his MOTHER GOOSE LIBRARY series). Sadly, though, what I found instead was his obituary from May 2017.
God Bless Peter Spier, and many thanks of deep appreciation for the wonderful picture books children will be able to read and love and learn for generations to come. I will certainly do my part to share Peter Spier’s amazing illustrations by singing the songs to children.
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Peter Spier’s obituary in the New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/05/books/peter-spier-dead-childrens-book-author.html
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Related Posts
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PETER SPIER
The Singable Picture Books of Peter Spier
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/singable-picture-books-of-peter-spier/
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MOTHER GOOSE AND NURSERY RHYME COMPILATIONS
A list containing compilations of Mother Goose and Nursery Rhyme Singable Picture Books, including links and resources for learning, singing, and playing the tunes
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/mother-goose-singable-picture-books-rhymes-and-songs-in-compilations/
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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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MOTHER GOOSE AND NURSERY RHYMES – INDIVIDUALLY ILLUSTRATED
Mother Goose and Nursery Rhymes with Individually Illustrated Singable Picture Books
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/mother-goose-and-nursery-rhymes-with-individually-illustrated-singable-picture-books/
Sing Books with Emily, the Blog 
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