Favorite Holiday Musical Children’s Books
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Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love everything about it and creating magic for my kids and making beautiful memories. I’ve curated some of my favorite musical books that really make this time of year special. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I succeeded in compiling a really unique curation of books highlighting beautiful music, stunning illustrations and the best of the holiday season. I have broken down my books into different sections and have shared my thoughts on each book.
There are so many memories wrapped up in our own Christmas books, and every year when I take them out of the storage container, my kids get so, so excited! Snuggling on blustery winter day with a cup of hot chocolate and a great book cannot be beat! I hope some of these books will become some of your most treasured memories too! Wishing you the most beautiful December and may it be filled with joy, music and love!
Important (Please Read):
I’ve linked many of the book covers and titles below through Bookshop.org, which is a wonderful platform that supports independent bookstores! You can buy directly from local bookstores through their website, and 80% of their profit goes back to bookstores! I always aim to use my online presence to uplift businesses (especially small businesses) doing positive things. However, many of these books are hard to find on Bookshop.org so I linked through Amazon in those cases. And keep in mind, some of these books are hard to find, or out of print, so perusing second hand book websites may be a better option for the best price. I have included Amazon links at the bottom of the post. And finally, this is a BIG list of books- try your local library and see if you can check some of them out first. <3
The Nutcracker Collection
Nothing is more synonymous with the holiday season than “The Nutcracker!” The masterful and sumptuous ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky takes place on Christmas Eve and has inspired families for generations. There are so many incredible children’s books on The Nutcracker that I had to narrow it down to my favorites. I highly recommend playing the music during the month of December and letting children get familiar with the story and the music. This story and music is just pure magic in every way! Maybe you can even catch a performance this season!
The Nutcracker This version is a wonderful telling of the story for children based on the traditional ballet. It tells the story simply and is a perfect introduction to understanding what the story is about. Susan Jeffers illustrations are simply beautiful and lush! A truly magical world she creates with her illustrations and children will absolutely love looking at this book.
The Nutcracker in Harlem I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this book! It is such an incredibly special book. Set in Harlem during the Jazz renaissance, it is a re-telling of The Nutcracker story. The storyline is spectacular, the illustrations are magnificent and the moral of the story is most special of all. My favorite line from the book is spoken by Miss Addie to Marie, “Music lives inside everyone. You just have to let it out.” It’s a book with a tremendous amount of heart and one of my favorites!
Jan Brett’s The Nutcracker So I have just ordered this book as a new addition to our collection, but I wanted to add it here because I already know it’s going to be spectacular! Imagine Jan Brett’s magical, detailed magnificent illustrations with The Nutcracker and I can only imagine how beautiful it will be. I will update here once I receive it. :)
Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite I absolutely love Duke Ellington’s music and his Nutcracker Suite is spectacular! I wanted to include this book as a pair for the wonderful music. Children can listen to Duke Ellington and then have you read this to them. This book has a lot of detailed history on the behind story of the music and is really wonderful. It is better suited for older children as it is very lengthy with a lot of details, but if you want to read it to younger children, then abridge it a little and have them look at the pictures. Don’t overburden them with too many facts when they’re little, or they will start to tune out. :) I love having kids listen to the original and then the jazz version and comparing - makes for great conversation!
The Story Orchestra, The Nutcracker I don't usually add The Story Orchestra books to my book lists, not because I don’t like them, but because I usually avoid battery books. I just dislike the hassle of them when the battery dies. I’d rather play the music from a speaker, than from a book. But I made an exception for this book, because I think this one is really fun for young kids! It’s beautifully done and kids will really start to associate the music themes with the different scenes and easily identify the music.
Christmas Musical Books
The Little Drummer Boy If I was to recommend only one book for Christmas it would be this one! Ezra Jack Keats illustrations are absolutely perfect in every way - this book glows!! I love the song “The Little Drummer Boy” and the lyrics are the story in this gem of a book, with the rhythmic pa-rum pum pum pum. The lessons in this book/song are so profound and make it a must have book in my opinion!
The Twelve Days of Christmas Jan Brett’s exquisite and detailed illustrations bring to life the traditional Christmas carol. This is truly a great song to sing with children! It builds memory and counting skills, rich language and symbolism all within this well known tune. I particularly like this carol because it emphasizes the 12 days of Christmas that leads to Epiphany/Little Christmas and puts so much rich meaning into the season.
The Friendly Beasts This Christmas carol is absolutely beautiful! I don’t know why it’s not more popular in the USA. It’s more traditionally sung in the UK, but it comes from the point of view of the animals in Bethlehem. The donkey speaks of carrying His mother and the cow giving up his manger for the baby, and it’s so simple and lovely and truly a children’s carol in every way. The iconic illustrations by Tomie dePaola make this a truly special book!
Silent Night: The Song and It’s Story This is a hard to find book and you may need to peruse the used book sites. But it’s another exquisite book! It goes into the story behind the world famous “Silent Night” carol and how it became part of history in many unexpected ways! A Christmas song that has touched the hearts of people all over the world with it’s profound and simple melody. This book is lengthy and the rich prose, in the tradition of Margaret Hodges (IYKYK), makes it a classic!
The Huron Carol There’s no other way to describe this book other than luminous! The beautiful carol was originally written in the Huron language by Father Jean de Brébeuf. Known for his sensitivity and appreciation of the Huron culture and language, this carol describes Jesus being born using beautiful imagery within stunning lyrics. The song is still sung by generations of Hurons and is known as the first Canadian Carol.
Feliz Navidad A celebration of Puerto Rican culture and the spirit of Christmas where coming together in song and delicious food and being together is what it’s all about! I’ve always loved this Christmas song, and this book is so unique and lovely with the wonderful illustrations celebrating Caribbean Christmas! There’s a wonderful intro in this book where it describes different traditions celebrated in Puerto Rico - I personally love learning about other traditions and I think this book is a true celebration of Puerto Rican pride, that everyone will enjoy. Highly recommend this book!
Jingle Bells (Golden Book Series) This is an adorable and fun little book that weaves the lyrics of Jingle Bells into a charming little story. It’s fun to read to the book and have the kids join in when it’s time to sing the lyrics! Perfectly suited for young toddlers and the vintage style Christmas illustrations bring all the nostalgia.
The First Christmas My love of beautiful art and illustrations are always a huge factor in the books I select and this book is case in point. Illustrated by Will Moses, the great-grandson of renowned artist Grandma Moses, his folk art style is truly beautiful. The book follows the lyrics of the gorgeous carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” another one of my favorites!
Jingle Bells What an absolutely incredible book this is! Iza Trapani expounds on the original lyrics of the song and takes a travel around the world to see how other cultures celebrate Christmas. Stopping in Mexico, Sweden, Italy, Kenya and the Philippines this book is truly special and celebrates the beauty of other cultures during this special season.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas This book is a little bit of an oddball in this curation, because it’s not technically a book that is sung. Of course, the rhythmic literary style of Seuss is indeed musical, but I selected this more because of the iconic music that sprung from it in the 1966 animated TV special. The composer Albert Hague actually worked with Dr. Seuss on the soundtrack of it and I think that once you know the music, this becomes a quintessential musical book! A funny side story is that my oldest was reciting this book during labor of my third child, to impress the midwife I think, and I will forever love this book and think of that day! “You’re a mean one Mr. Grinch!” :)
Musical Hanukkah Books
I Have a Little Dreidel Of all the books in this section, this one is my favorite, and a little bit harder to come by! I absolutely love the gorgeous illustrations and the family scenes of playing with the dreidel, playing the piano and making music. It highlights such wholesome family fun and connection and all in such a beautiful way. The lyrics are the traditional song “I Have a Little Dreidel,” and the easy melody makes it so that children learn this very quickly. I stamp this an instant classic!
The Hanukkah Hop I asked some friends about their favorite musical Hanukkah books and a few came back recommending this one! After I checked out the book I have to agree that this is a special little book and my friends did not lead me astray. The illustrations are almost 50’s in style and it’s written in this jazzy rhyming style, “biddy-biddy bim-bom bop,” while Rachel’s family prepares for their Hanukkah celebration. It’s a truly joyous book and I love that it also features a piano in the home!
Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah In my determination to find special and unique books, I came across this book and it caught my attention right away! It uses the words from the traditional song, “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah,” and depicts a family of mice celebrating the 8 days of Hanukkah. What is truly special is Susan Roth’s mixed-media collage illustrations. This book is a little understated gem and I hope you are able to score a copy, as it seems to be hard to find. What a perfect book to sing with your young children!
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Dreidel This is a spin off of the traditional song “I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,” and like the original, this version is hilarious. I wager your young children will absolutely love the sillieness and be singing along in no time. The rhyming is off the meters good! My kids actually laughed out loud at the end of this one, so I can assure you it has a happy ending! This book is not only hilarious but incredibly clever! The illustrations are hilarious parodies of famous works of arts, so in true Magical Music Method fashion, this book ticks all the boxes: music, art, humor, and wholesome silliness.
Winter Themed Musical Books
Ten on the Sled This is one of my absolute favorite books to sing! All of my kids love the song “10 on the Bed", which is a song/book I highlighted in Part 1 of my musical book series. It’s a wonderful song that is easy to sing and teaches counting to young children within a story. This version has clever rhyming and the animals are falling off the sled. So much fun to sing!
Walking in a Winter Wonderland This is such a holiday standard and so fun to sing. The illustrations are really modern and colorful by Tim Hopgood and I have come to really love his unique and bold style of illustration. I have quite a few of his songbooks and really like them all! Children will enjoy singing the song while flipping through the pages.
Carol Song Books
A Treasury of Christmas Carols I have had this book as long as I can remember! It is the most comprehensive carol book that I know of. There are carols from all over the world, and some I have never heard sung live before. It’s an Easton Press leather bound carol book of dreams and if you dream of having a carol party with friends and family, this book will have it all.
Book of Christmas Carols This is a Tomie dePaola illustrated carol book and it is has quite a few popular carols with gorgeous illustrations. I love this book because my boys like to look at the pictures next to me while I play carols on the piano. Highly recommend it if you love singing carols!
Holiday Musical Gift Guide for Young Children
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There was a time when Christmas gifts sounded like tin whistles, little drums, and the joyful racket of children making real music in the living room. Wether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or the Yuletide, collectively we know that the holiday season has a way of encouraging over consumption and the gifting of low quality toys that often break before New Year’s. Companies deliberately make everything sub-par now, and even more-so for kids. This idea that children aren’t careful enough and are not deserving enough of quality and beauty is a malicious one that fills the landfill, creates waste and makes it so that nothing will ever be passed down again. I do not stand behind this ethos and I hope that if you are of a similar mind, you will enjoy this gift guide. Because young children do deserve quality and beauty.
I wanted to create a musical holiday gift guide that isn’t a pile of plastic clutter destined for the landfill, but instead a collection of well-made, great-sounding, long-lasting instruments suited for young children (baby- ages 7+). So many musical toys marketed toward children are, put bluntly, pure garbage. They often don’t produce accurate pitches, don’t sound pleasant, and do little to nurture a child’s developing ear. In my humble opinion, it’s far better to invest in one quality instrument than a heap of cheap ones.
This guide leans into the charm of vintage Christmas gift-giving; the kind of presents children once unwrapped with wonder: tin whistles, little drums, simple instruments that invite real play, creativity, and family music-making.
Most of the items I recommend are ones I personally own, love, and have used for years… and many can be enjoyed from babyhood all the way through adulthood! :)
Gifts that Support Small Business
There is nothing more impactful than spending our dollars with small businesses, so I hope you will consider purchasing as much as possible from small businesses this holiday season. The items curated below in this section are from The Nestling Co, a small mom owned shop in Maine. Make sure to use my promo codes at checkout for the discount! :)
Music Bells (RE-STOCKED!)
For an heirloom show stopper gift, these music bells fit the bill! I have owned these music bells since my eldest was a baby and we use them nearly every day! The quality and sound is superb and I love how accessible this instrument is for children big and small.
Use Promo Code: magicalmusicmethod (receive $5.00 off + free shipping in USA)
I honestly cannot think of a better stocking stuffer than these solid cherry rhythm sticks. They feel wonderful in the hand and provide endless opportunities for rhythm play and exploration. You use them with very young children to learn to “feel the beat” when listening to music by tapping along, all the way up to complex rhythm call and response games. And if you follow me on social media, you know how much I talk about the skill of keeping a steady beat, is a key pre-literacy skill!
Use Promo Code: MAGICAL10 (receive 10% off)
Guiro rhythm instruments provide a wonderful opportunity to experience the scraping sound so often heard in Latin American music. Children really love experiencing the scraping sound and this instrument provides a lot of open ended musical play possibilities! This is crafted from beautiful maple wood with a cherry wood mallet.
Use Promo Code: MAGICAL10 (receive 10% off)
Amazon Gift Curation
Buying from small businesses will always be the best choice, but I know that Amazon has many options that are hard to find elsewhere and also that many small businesses do sell on Amazon, so I have selected a few items that I truly love and think would make for wonderful holiday gifts!
This glockenspiel is made in Sweden of brass and wood and the sound is really stellar! The pentatonic scale is very pleasing for children to play with because they create so many melodies that naturally sound good. This is a high quality instrument and would be a perfect gift for your creative budding young musician!
The same brand of glockenspiel as the one above, but with the whole major scale! This creates a world of musical possibilities and to be able to play many songs!
I think drums are truly one of the funnest instruments for little kids and I think the quality of these drums are really fantastic! They have such a good sound and we have a few of these at our co-op that have been used vigorously and they are still standing! And what is more vintage nostalgic Christmas vibes, than a drum under the tree on Christmas morning?
So I do not have these drums (yet), but they are on my Christmas purchase list! I love Remo drums - they are high quality, almost professional grade drums, with a wonderful sound! And Bongo drums are just plain old super fun! I probably watched too much “I Love Lucy” as a teen and want my children to play some ‘Babalú’ on the bongos! :D
This drum has a good sound for it’s great price! It’s not as quite as resonant and rich sounding as the Remo drums, but for the price point it’s a very solid drum and will be a hit under the Christmas tree! Ba-dum-ch (music pun LOL)!
Keeping with the vintage Christmas vibes, a tin whistle tucked into a stocking is just as wholesome as it gets. I am biased because of my Irish background, so I love the tin whistle. I have really vivid memories of picking up my first tin whistle during a summer in Ireland as a young girl and playing the feadóg (as we call it in Irish) on all the long car rides through the countryside. Some younger kids may not have the finger dexterity to cover the holes properly so it is best suited for 5+ or younger if the finger control is there. 10/10 for fun!
There was this viral reel on IG where the caption read, instead of handing your kid an iPad, give them a harmonica. Because the truth is, if our kids are not constantly distracted and their attention hijacked, they will truly start to noodle and get curious. Harmonicas are a noodlers dream! The sound is fun, the sensory input on the mouth is fun and kids find it satisfying to play. This harmonica is such a great little starter one for kids and it’s just another perfect stocking stuffer! More vintage Christmas vibes!
Okay there really is no way to understand how fun and satisfying this little instrument is from the picture, but trust me when I tell you that this is always one of the most coveted musical toys during instrument play at our co-op’s music class. I love the sound of this and hugely recommend as a great baby music toy that will still be used into toddlerhood and beyond. I even love playing it! I really like the other music instruments this company makes too - they’re durable, sustainable and high quality!
You might not have thought of play silks as musical, but I actually love using them for musical activities. Play silks give children a wonderful way to express music they are hearing through movement and dance. It’s often the simplest things that are sometimes the most brilliant.
I featured this lovely little book recently on my IG post about Jazz music. It would make a lovely gift for your budding Jazz listener!
For more musical books recommendations check out my musical book series below:
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Musical Books for a Magical Childhood: Part 2
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!
A couple of weeks ago myself and my husband brought our three young children to the MET in NYC on a random Saturday afternoon. We didn’t have any set plan or expectations, but rather just thought it would be a nice way to spend an afternoon. Funnily enough, it’s not a very common sight to see families with young children walking around the MET. I suppose to some people it seems like a strange idea to bring young kids somewhere they “won’t really understand” or “truly appreciate.”
But in my view- that’s the whole point. If we don’t bring our children to see masterpieces of art or listen to beautiful works of music, how will they learn to appreciate and love beauty? We have severely underestimated how deeply intelligent children are, and how much they absorb. For some reason, we assume that if a child can’t verbally articulate what they’re see or hearing, then it isn’t worth doing. I vehemently disagree.
This mindset is one of the reasons we see less participation in, and love for, classical and jazz music. We are not exposing children early enough to music that is truly rich, complex and intellectually nourishing. And in doing so, we’re missing a key window in time when their minds and tastes are being formed.
When I was in college, my piano professor would tell me stories of growing up in his Italian household. His parents would cook pasta and simmer sauce from scratch while drinking wine and blasting opera in the kitchen - some of his most beloved memories from his childhood.
The way he relayed these stories to me always captured my imagination. I felt I could smell the sauce cooking and the warmth, love and joy in the air from his stories. But now, in the year 2025, I often wonder: how many children will grow up with memories like that? How many will remember listening to opera, or discovering truly wondrous works of music? Will these pieces of music cease to be woven into the fabric of childhood?
I truly hope not. When my first child was born I would play “The Carnival of the Animals,” every day for him. To this day when we play this piece of music, he can identify each section by its animal.
I’ve chosen to focus on classical and jazz music for this part of my musical books series, not because I think pop or contemporary music is less than - quite the opposite - but because classical and jazz are quietly slipping out of family life. They’re no longer built into the memories formed in our homes, and that’s when musical traditions begin to die. If we don’t associate nostalgia, warmth, and affection with these genres because we heard them when we were young, it becomes much harder to cultivate true appreciation later in life.
We all have music from our childhood that we love instantly. I think again of my piano professor, whose love of opera was inseparable from the laughter and cooking of his childhood home. Those formative moments shaped him and shaped his musicianship.
So why are classical and jazz music so important? Why should we nurture a love for these forms in our children?
The best way I can explain it is through a good simile (music teachers are notorious for loving a good simile or metaphor). Music is very much like nutrition in that it feeds the mind. If we feed the body wholesome food, we feel good, healthy and strong. If we feed the mind beautiful music, our inner world becomes inspired, uplifted, joyful and creative! Classical and jazz music represent some of the highest expressions of human ingenuity, creativity, and brilliance. They are works of art! Listening to a Mozart symphony is rather similar to looking at Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel - they both make us marvel at the beauty and creative force within us!
In Part 2 of this musical book series, I wanted to curate books that inspire a love of classical and jazz music, musical instruments, and musical traditions we may not encounter every day. When children grow up hearing beautiful music, they learn to love and understand it. These books are meant to spark curiosity and awareness in a child friendly way.
I hope these books help cultivate a lifelong love of classical and jazz music for your little ones - so we can build a future where adults feel inspired, uplifted, creative and joyful.
"Children need art and stories and poems and music as much as they need love and food and fresh air and play." -Phillip Pullman
Important (Please Read):
I’ve linked many of the book covers and titles below through Bookshop.org, which is a wonderful platform that supports independent bookstores! You can buy directly from local bookstores through their website, and 80% of their profit goes back to bookstores! I always aim to use my online presence to uplift businesses (especially small businesses) doing positive things. However, many of these books are hard to find on Bookshop.org so I linked through Amazon in those cases. And keep in mind, some of these books are hard to find, or out of print, so perusing second hand book websites may be a better option for the best price. I have included Amazon links at the bottom of the post. And finally, this is a BIG list of books- try your local library and see if you can check some of them out first. <3
If you enjoyed reading this blog post and appreciate my work, I would be honored if you would consider donating to Hurricane Melissa Relief for Jamaica. There are so many families right now without food and homes and they are relying on the generosity of every day folks like ourselves to help them. If you can spare any amount please consider donating! Let’s show the people of Jamaica they are not forgotten.
For the Love of Music Books: Classical & Jazz
Carnival of the Animals is probably my favorite classical piece of music for children. And when I say classical, technically it is a Late Romantic piece of music, but as society generalizes most music with instruments, that has stood the test of time as classical music, I will use that term for ease. Carnival of the Animals was composed by Camille Saint-Saens and is an absolute genius masterpiece, despite him writing it as joke! When you listen to each movement you can hear the animals depicted by the instruments and music. This particular book has very rich verses written that accompany each orchestral character piece and it’s brilliant! “Welcome to our carnival, where birds and beasts and such behave a lot like people do, at time a bit too much.” And the illustrations are imaginative, unique and spellbinding. This book has been loved so much in our home that pages have been taped together carefully after one too many page turns.
Carnival of the Animals #2 I love Carnival of the Animals so much that I couldn’t narrow down to just one book and also had to include this version. This book is particularly helpful for parents new to this piece of music because it explains the instruments that you are hearing and how the instruments represent the animal. It tells you what to listen for and the illustrations are very dreamy. This book is a true guide and really shows you the way when listening to this work.
Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin is a quirky delight of a book with it’s wonderful illustrations and rhythmic prose. The rhyming is spectacular in this book and children not only learn how to count and how they make up different instrumentations (solo, duo, trio, quartet….), they learn about instruments and the phrasing of the verses seem to emulate the sounds of the instruments. You need to read this book with a swing and make the words their own little musical sentences. After a few reads your child will probably even begin to recite it themselves.
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue Everything about the backstory behind this masterpiece of music is hilarious and the book truly writes itself! I bet you didn’t know that the iconic Rhapsody in Blue was written in only 5 weeks! George Gershwin read in a newspaper he was already scheduled to premiere a new piece he hadn’t even started! Talk about thriving under tight deadlines. There are so many marvelous tidbits about the story behind this iconic piece of music and this little gem of a book depicts 1920’s NYC in all it’s art deco splendor and just makes you want to time travel back in time. It tells the story with humor and lovely illustrations and young children will never forget this story and will forever recognize Rhapsody in Blue from the very first clarinet sliding swoop glissando. It also is a perfect example of the blend of classical and jazz music and the creation of a new and very bold American sound.
The Magic Flute Many operas can often have difficult storylines, and what I love about this slightly hard to find book is that it breaks down the plot line so that it’s simple enough for children to understand. Mozart’s wonderful opera is beautifully and simply retold with gorgeous illustrations. I have found that this book even appeals to adults wanting to understand the opera more deeply. If the book is overpriced at the links try looking on second hand book websites and you may score a used copy at a great price.
Peter and the Wolf This is without a doubt another favorite and loved piece of music in our household. This book beautifully tells the story with rich and beautiful illustrations and my children have loved this version the most because of the gorgeous pictures. I would be remiss if I also didn’t mention the spectacular recording of Peter and the Wolf with Boris Karloff. We have listened to it more times that we can count and my children have enjoyed flipping through the book while listening to the music and story. This piece of music is particularly special because Prokofiev used particular instruments to represent the characters of the story and this is where children begin to realize the storytelling ability of music and the magic that can be woven in our imagination through the power of music. I always wish that more composers had created more pieces of music like this that directly speak to children and tell a story!
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra This gem of a book tells the story of the Jazz legend Duke Ellington. It really weaves in a lot of history and his story growing up. On a personal note Duke Ellington is one of my favorites and I absolutely love his music (who could not love listening to “In a Sentimental Mood?”). I love that this book has incredible illustrations and tells so many parts of his life. It is more well suited for kids 5/6+ I would say, as the story is involved and includes lots of facts. If reading to a younger child I would shorten the story and let them enjoy the pictures while listening to some of Ellington’s music.
Charlie Parker Played Be Bop On the theme of Jazz giants, this is another book about the great Charlie Parker who went by the nickname “Bird,” in case you ever find yourself on Jeopardy. ;) If you want a book that introduces jazz music in a very child friendly way, then this is the book! The way the words are even written is jazzy! You won’t know what I mean until you see this book in person, but this book needs to swing. You need to read it like you are playing trumpet or sax. Your words will be the music! When you see the way this book is written and illustrated you will know exactly what I mean and even better, young kids will get it right away, too!
Meet the Orchestra If we want children to learn about instruments and the orchestra, we should start from the very beginning in a fun way. I love this book because it goes over the instruments of the orchestra and depicts a different animal playing each instrument. Picture an alligator in a tux playing the timpani - how fun is that? Each description of the instruments is not only child friendly, but describes the instruments so perfectly and even humorously in a way that makes it memorable to kids and adults alike!
A Tisket, A Tasket Ella Fitzgerald shot to fame after releasing her recording “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” in 1938. This special song was inspired by the nursery rhyme and childhood game by the same name. This book is hard to find and the price may be inflated at some of my links - just keep an eye out again on the used book sites. If you are not new to my book recommendations you will know my love of wonderful illustrators; the charming cut-paper illustrations in this book do not disappoint! If you love clapping games and a-tisket, a-tasket, I made a mini-lesson on this iconic song.
Sing Me a Story Imagine a Grimm’s style story book, but about the famous opera stories, and you have the Metropolitan Opera’s Book of Opera Stories for Children in a nutshell. This is a big book that tells the stories of 15 of some of the best opera stories: Aida, La Boheme, The Magic Flute, Porgy and Bess and Carmen among others. The language is rich, like Grimm’s fairytales, and there are a few beautiful illustrations, but I should emphasize this is not a picture book, but rather a story book. Adults may even love this book if they are unfamiliar with the stories.
Animal Orchestra Okay, I know this is my second book on this list about the orchestra and with animals, but I LOVE this book! It’s well suited for the littlest of kids - it’s never too early to talk about the orchestra and even a 2 year old can identify a french horn if shown. This book is definitely hard to find, but if you have a baby or little toddler keep it on a watchlist - it is brilliantly simple with few words and goes over counting from numbers 1- 10, and little children have fun counting the animals on each page playing the instruments. The pictures are so, so delightful and wonderful and I just think it’s such a special book. If I was giving a book as a baby shower gift, this would be a top contender!
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello Remember back to Part 1 of this musical book series where I spoke about There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly? This book is based off of that song. The rhyming is off the meters good and it can be sung like There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Bonus points if you add silly voices and sound effects when reading/singing this book. I think this book is such a favorite among children because the silliness is the best! It is pure fun and a must have book in my opinion!
Berlioz the Bear This charming book tells the story of Berlioz who plays the bass and who’s instrument has developed an alarming buzz. I think any person who plays a stringed instrument will immediately relate with Berlioz and the alarm (IYKYK). It’s even understandable when he steers the bandwagon he is on with his fellow musicians into a hole where they all get stuck! Jan Brett’s illustrations are pure magic as always and bring this story to life. I recently read this story book to a group of 4-5 year olds and they LOVED it. They were so engaged with the story and were really rooting for Berlioz to get to his gig. I think these types of stories are really important for young children and help develop their knowledge of music, musicians and the whole world of music! I also recommend listening to “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Rimski-Korsakov at the end of the book. You will have to read the book to find out why! :)
Opera Cat Along the same lines of reading stories to young children about music and musicians, this heartwarming and hilarious story brings to life the story of an opera singer’s cat. The storyline is great and the illustrations are wonderful and I know your children will enjoy this story immensely!
Moonlight on the Magic Flute (Magic Treehouse) This chapter book is a bit of an oddity compared to my other selections, but if you have a 4-7+ year old who loves Magic Treehouse, then this story is a must! Annie and Jack have to travel back in time to Austria and help a musician by the name of Mozart. What I love about the Magic Treehouse series is that the books have a way of mixing fact and fiction and always, always succeed in developing a curiosity in children. This book is a perfect window for children to enter the world of Mozart’s music in an approachable and relatable way. I’m just hoping that Yoto will soon record more Magic Treehouse cards and include this one!
I hope you enjoyed this long post about some of my favorite books that are all inspired for the love of music! Appreciation of music and art and excellence should start from the beginning. Help me spread the word that the love of music begins in early childhood and that nothing is as formative as those years of birth - age 6/7. Bring your children to the museums, blast opera and imitate the singing, show them that you are excited listening to that opening clarinet solo in Rhapsody in Blue and guess what - they will be excited too! Happy memory making!
Stay tuned for my Holiday Musical Books Roundup later this month. Some of these books coming up are so special and I am already so excited to start reading and singing them to my children very soon! Bring on the snow, the twinkling lights and the nostalgic tunes. Thank you for being here!
Musical Books for a Magical Childhood: Part 1
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This musical books list is going to be a little different from your typical “Top 10 Books for Children” posts that you see floating around. Instead of just giving you a list of titles, I wanted to share the why behind these selections - some history, some insights, and yes, a few random thoughts. I mean anyone can type out a list of musical books. Heck, I’m pretty sure there are already countless lists of musical books online already, but I wanted to not just suggest titles, but delve a little into the why, which to me, is far more interesting than just a list of books. I am blessed to have a child who asks “why?” to basically every single thing, and I have to admit he probably got that innate curiosity from me. LOL. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree is so very true in this case. So if, like us, you are curious and like to know the random thoughts behind book selections, make sure to grab a nice cup of coffee or tea and settle into a chair when you have a few mins of quiet. By the end of this post you’ll see exactly why I believe musical books are essential for a magical childhood!
Everyone talks about reading books to your children. There are even challenges to read 1,000 books with your child before kindergarten, but hardly anyone talks about singing books to your child. And that astonishes me. Singing, rhyming, and rhythm are core pillars of pre-literacy and brain development. They build memory, language pathways, beat competency and future reading skills, yet so many parents are missing out on this simple, powerful tool.
So, for Part 1 of this musical book series, I’m starting with the sing-a-loud books - the ones you don’t just read, but sing out loud (many of which you’ll already know by heart, I bet). And one that may even be considered controversial!
When we sing a book with our little ones, we are weaving that memory into their childhood forever. Research even shows that oxytocin (the bonding hormone) levels double in young children when hearing their parent sing, compared to regular speech. That means that they feel more bonded, safe and loved. So those books that you sing with your children…those will be ones that they will remember forever!
Important (Please Read):
I’ve linked most of the book covers and titles below through Bookshop.org, which is a wonderful platform that supports independent bookstores! You can buy directly from local bookstores through their website, and 80% of their profit goes back to bookstores! I always aim to use my online presence to uplift businesses (especially small businesses) doing positive things. With that said, I also know that Amazon has become a way of life for many people, and that authors do rely on Amazon rankings as well, so I have included Amazon links at the bottom of the post. And finally, this is a BIG list of books- try your local library and see if you can check some of them out first. <3
Sing-a-Loud Books
Hand, Hand Fingers Thumb is one of the top three favorite musical books in our household. I did a musical read aloud of this iconic little book on social media. Click reel to view on IG. My children know this book backwards and forwards and frequently I will hear them chanting the rhythms from this delightful little book! Or when they are asked to create a rhythm on an instrument, without fail, they will break out with a little rendition of “dum ditty, dum ditty, dum, dum, dum.” :)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? is another top three contender in our house. This book can be sung from day 1 when your baby first arrives. You can sing the melody of the book to “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Magical Music Method members have a video lesson on the singing of this book in the musical books section, with a slight variation on the Twinkle, Twinkle melody. There are also many different melodies that can be sung with this lovely book. Children seem to latch onto this melody quickly and love the colors and simplicity. My youngest child will often be found singing randomly, “red bird, red bird what do you see?” I can assure you that there is nothing cuter in the entire world than to walk into a room finding your child singing to themself.
The Wheels on the Bus is maybe the most popular toddler song in the Western World?? I don’t know one single kid who doesn’t love to bust out singing this song. This book is so, so special with it’s movable parts and colorful illustrations. I only urge you to store it up high so that the book is used when an adult is present, otherwise, the movable parts may get ripped off. It’s my favorite book to use with this song and it has been cherished for yearsss!
Cat Goes Fiddle-i-fee is based on the children’s nursery rhyme/children’s folk tune that is believed to have originated in England, though there is some uncertainty in the history, as the tune appears in a lot of early Americana music under slight name variations. All that to say, this song has stood the test of time with it’s clever rhymes and is a favorite of children. A perfect book to sing with your littles one to build strong pre-literacy skills!
Down by the Bay is a very old song that some say have Greek origins and was made popular by Raffi in his 1976 album ‘Singable Songs for the Very Young.’ If you’re not familiar with this song I highly encourage you to listen to Raffi’s recording, and I bet you will not be able to help yourself, but sing a-long in no time at all. But then, most importantly, learn the melody so you can be the main star when singing it to your little one. They will absolutely love this super fun, rhyming song!
Every Little Thing is a sweet book that brings alive the magical words of the Bob Marley song. “Rise up this morning, smile with the rising sun, three little birds….” It’s an uplifting and positive song that is easy for children to learn and sing, and gives them a truly uplifting message to sing and carry in their minds. I often like to remind parents that music imprints on the mind in the early years. “Don’t worry, about a thing, because every little thing, is going to be alright.” -Bob Marley
Ten in the Bed is another delightful and favorite book in our household. The song originates from a counting nursery rhyme and the song that developed with it, dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. I speak a lot about how music is the most effective tool for teaching practically everything; well this book and song is a perfect example of how a song can teach a child to count and subtract. When you start singing this to your baby, they will just love the sound of your voice and the pictures of the cute animal toys falling out of bed, but as they get older, they will begin to participate by keeping track of the animals that fell out, and what number comes next.
All the Pretty Little Horses: A Traditional Lullaby I included this book on my list even though it is a little bit harder to find. If the book is sold out at my provided links or is too pricy, keep an eye out on used book websites. This book is such a dreamy and magical little book. The illustrations are exquisite and really lend itself well to dreamland. For music readers, the back page has the sheet music of this lullaby. This lullaby is believed to have originated during slavery, and like many folk tunes, there are many different versions. It’s a beautiful lullaby to rock your baby to sleep while looking at the stunning images before sleepy time. So keep an eye out for a copy online, or in your local used book stores!
Don’t Worry, Be Happy This is another slightly hard to find book! If the price is inflated at any links, just peruse the used books websites, and you may score a cheap copy elsewhere. You may have noticed a slight trend in my love of musical books that accompany beautiful and interesting art and imagery. This book uses the artwork of Alexander Calder to the words of Bobby McFerrin’s song. It’s another feel good song with an uplifting message of joy that I find particularly necessary for childhood. Cultivating the beautiful and the positive in early childhood makes children feel secure and confident. You can explore the artwork of Calder while singing the song, and invite older children to create their own artwork and interpretations!
Inch by Inch: The Garden Song is an iconic and much beloved song made famous by so many wonderful folk singers, like Pete Seeger and John Denver. It’s a beautiful and simple song and this book is really sweetly illustrated. Children love to sing about what they see happening in nature and this is definitely one to use when sowing seeds wether in the Fall or Spring!
Miss Mary Mack I think mostly everyone who follows me on social media knows my deep love for Miss Mary Mack! :) There is no way I could not include a book to pair with the lady we all know and love! It’s another fun little book and a great way to introduce the song to small ones who are too little to start learning the clapping game and for big ones to engage with the song in a new way.
My Favorite Things is based on the famous song from the musical, “The Sound of Music.” This song is maybe the best song from that movie, though to be honest it’s so hard to choose, as all the music is INCREDIBLE. Even John Coltrane found this song inspiring as he made his own Jazz version that became a pivotal moment in his career. I highly recommend listening to the Rodgers & Hammerstein version and then John Coltrane, and then learning the song yourself to croon to your own little family! The melody and beauty of the lyrics make this a truly special song to sing with children. The illustrations are gorgeous in this book and really make the words come alive!
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly This song/children’s song is sometimes a controversial choice among parents because of the lyrics, “There was an old lady who swallowed a fly, I don’t know why she swallowed a fly. Perhaps she’ll die…” It’s clearly a silly and nonsensical song and children are smarter than we give them credit for, and know this! We don’t shy away from talking about death in our house, so naturally these types of books and songs are not controversial over here. And because children usually like these quirky non-sensical songs that rhyme, this one is a favorite and has seemed to stood the test of time! The book has cutouts that morph into bigger and bigger cutouts as the old lady swallows larger and larger animals!
Simple Gifts is originally a Shaker folk tune with beautiful lyrics and a gorgeous melody. It was relatively unknown until Aaron Copland used the melody in the score of Martha Graham’s ballet Appalachian Spring in 1944. This book is illustrated by Chris Raschka an author, illustrator and violist who wrote another famous little book that I will feature in another part of this musical book series! This book provides an opportunity for older children to create their own artwork and explore the meaning behind the lyrics, while exploring the evolution of the song from its simple Shaker roots to Copland’s sweeping version. Bringing together music and art, and how both creative expressions serve and enhance each other.
Dinosaur Dance was one of the first books my eldest child fell in love with as a young toddler. He would request it over and over. Sandra Boynton books are so innately musical and rhythmic that it is hard not to sing these books. I have my own little version of this book, but I highly encourage parents to interpret the book as you wish and have fun “sing songing” this book - there’s no wrong way to do it. This book is pure fun!
Over in the Meadow is one of my favorite songs to sing at home. This beautiful book has the loveliest illustrations and introduces counting. Before you know it, your little one will be anticipating the next number coming in the song and learning so much through the magic of musical books.
I hope you enjoyed peeking into my thought process behind these selections and that you’re feeling inspired by just how powerful singing books can be for our little ones. Help me spread the word: childhood shouldn’t be just read…it should be sung too. Singing books is a joyful, integral part of a magical childhood, and every child deserves to experience it!
Stay tuned for Part 2 of my Musical Books Series, where I’ll share even more titles, insights, history and the meaningful whys behind the next set of musical books selections.
Amazon LinksMiss Mary MackDon’t Worry Be HappyAll the Pretty Little Horses My Favorite ThingsInch by InchThere Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a FlySimple GiftsTen in the BedCat Goes Fiddle-i-feeDown by the Bay The Wheels on the BusOver in the MeadowHand, Hand, Fingers ThumbBrown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?Dinosaur DanceEvery Little Thing
Screens and Early Childhood
Millennial parents are known for being the last generation to experience a childhood free of the effects of constant technology. We played outside, got bored, and had to remember to rewind our VHS tapes before we returned them to Blockbuster. I remember when dial up internet first “came to our house.” We had to unplug our landline telephone and plug in the cable for the computer into the jack. And then the sound it made. I can still hear that sound…What we didn’t realize at the time, was that technology was going to have sweeping consequences for how our own children would grow up.
Many of us now are seeing a childhood that looks so different from our own. Children are not playing outside as much. So many games that we played as kids are rarely seen. Now I know that trends ebb and flow, but what is replacing a lot of the play we used to see, is screen time. The average American child (age 0-8) is spending about 2.5 hours on screens every day and barely any time outside.
I think we can all agree that these trends are deeply troubling and are going to have lasting consequences.
If you have been following me on social media, you know that I speak to how a lot of what is being offered to our children is on purpose. We live in a world where products are not offered based on what is developmentally best for children, but what will create the most profit, even if it’s harmful. Morals have been thrown to the wayside. We know that many apps are harmful for children. Many children’s tv shows are intended to be addictive. It’s to create a consumer at an early age.
So when you reject these societal norms and prioritize bringing your children outside, and reading books and singing songs you are doing something so powerful and meaningful!
I’m going to tell you a little bit about how I came to my own philosophy of parenting: Being a private lessons music teacher my entire life I had the privilege of teaching many, many students. Some of them I taught their entire lives! I saw them grow up, graduate, go to college and take on careers. The experience has been beautiful, but it also opened my eyes in a lot ways. I saw many things that concerned me. I saw the ways in which screens were hijacking children’s attention. I actually witnessed first hand the personality changes that would happen after a child had gotten their first phone. I had seen it so many times, that I couldn’t merely chalk it up to coincidence.
By the time I became pregnant with my first child I really had come full circle on how I wanted to raise my child(ren). I knew that I did not want them to lose their chance to be brilliantly creative, musical, curious, connected and in tune with themselves. All the things I was witnessing being diminished.
The misuse of screens is truly doing a disservice to our young children. It is literally re-wiring their brains. I understand that some parents find themselves in less than stellar circumstances, where their only saving grace is having their child use a screen. Perhaps this single parent works from home and needs to have a quiet household to maintain their job and keep a roof over themselves. To these parents, this message is not for you. You are doing the best you can with the circumstances you are given.
But to the parents who have the option to replace screen time, I wanted to give some helpful ways to start eliminating high screen usage, so that way children have ample time to be bored and to find the urge to get creative.
Create certain days/times where screen time is allowed. A perfect example is a once a week movie night with the family. Pick a schedule and stick to it, even when it’s tempting to throw a show on for peace of mind.
Introduce audio stories as a replacement for screen time.
Eliminate interactive app games for young children as these are the most harmful in the development of the brain.
Read books, as many as you can!
Play clapping games and sing songs!
Encourage dancing + playing music, drawing/painting, playing outside.
Encourage the boredom feeling. Boredom is not something bad - it’s the period right before the magic happens.
Use moments of waiting times, such as at restaurants and waiting on line as an opportunity to connect. Play a clapping game or draw a picture. When children are constantly pacified and never learn to wait, what are we truly teaching them?
Know that children will adjust to lowering screen time. It will take a few weeks of consistency and they will adjust and it won’t be such a battle.
All of these suggestions are merely that - I know everyone has their own battles and struggles and what works for some, might not work for all. I truly believe in parents’ love and that it will be what changes the next generation. I think we are going to see a huge shift in the coming years. So many parents are doing beautiful things and rejecting the status quo! Keep it up! We need our children to grow up and have brains that are wired for creativity, focus and not addicted to dopamine. And a musical childhood is the best start, because of how music wires the brain! Make music and let them play!