Old Mikamba had a Farm

Old Mikamba Had a Farm by Rachel Isadora is a cute version of the classic Old Macdonald song.  Instead of the classic animals it's filled with animals from Africa.  My students loved the mixed media that was used to make the pictures and enjoyed this version of the classic song that they've grown up with.

On Top of Spaghetti

 

This version of On Top of Spaghetti by Amanda L Jenkins is a hilarious version of the song that sings well provided you can get past the huge fart joke that ends the story.  It's a book that'll make you laugh and shake your head.  I recommend it for readers 5-7.

The Twelve Days of a Muppet Christmas

The Twelve Days of a Muppet Christmas is a super fun version of the Twelve Days of Christmas done Muppet Style with all your Muppet Friends.  My students thought it was hysterical and laughed and sang along.

I recommend this book for kids 4-8

Over in the Hollow

Over in the Hollow by Rebecca Dickenson and illustrated by S. Britt is a fun Halloween version of the classic children's song Over in the Meadow.  The owls and ghosts and other creatures all make their own sounds, it's got all the scary creatures with their parents making them super cute. 

My students love this version and demand it even after Halloween is over.  It's terrifically fun to sing.

I recommend this book for kids 3-8, it's a perfect sing a long.

10 Turkeys in the Road

10 Turkeys In The Road by Brenda Reeves Sturgis and Illustrated by David Slonim is a fantastic Thanksgiving book that kids love.  The counting book begins with a farmer unable to get by because there are turkeys in the road.  The delightful illustrations continue with each number until they finally steal his truck and he ends up at the turkey circus.

My students loved this book and I was able to put it to a familiar tune and sing the entire thing.  They giggled at the illustrations that get sillier with each page that's turned.

I recommend this book to kids 4-8 and it's a must have addition to holiday picture book libraries. 

Dem Bones

Dem Bones by Bob Barner is a terrific book that weaves the song Dem Bones along with information on the bones in the body.

My students adore this book.  While it doesn't read aloud very well (too much information on each page) they still think it's fantastic and want to hear it.  It's a perfect addition to any home or classroom library. 

I recommend this book for kids 4-8.

Ten Timid Ghosts

Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O'Connell is a fantastic counting book with a great rhythmic text that can be sung.  My students loved the story line which consists of a witch moving into a haunted house and then scaring the ghosts one at a time so they'll leave.  At the end the ghosts scare the witch and then hand out candy to the trick or treaters. 

I recommend this book for kids from 3-8

Oh No!

Oh No! by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann tells the story of a group of animals that fall into a large hole one at a time. 

The repetitive text makes this book a fantastic read aloud (I have my students say Oh No with high low tones each time it comes up).  The kids love this story and ask to hear it over and over.

I recommend this book to kids 3-8 and it's a great one for classroom libraries (and music teacher collections).

A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea

A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea by Jessica Law and Illustrated by Jill MacDonald is a fantastic singing book that my students love.  The pictures are fun and the kids love singing a long.  If you're not familiar with the song (or don't want to learn it from the sheet music) there's a video on youtube that you can follow a long with.

I recommend this book for kids from 4-8

Let There Be Peace On Earth

Let There be Peace on Earth is a beautiful picture book version of the popular folk song by the same name.  The song is beautiful as are the pictures.  It's a great book to read on World Peace Day.  I recommend it for kids 5-9

Jo MacDonald Had a Garden

Jo MacDonald Had a Garden is a fantastic rewrite of the Old Macdonald song except with the different steps to grow a garden instead of animals on a farm.  My students adored this book and loved singing along.  I recommend it for kids 3-8

Grateful

Greatful A Song of Giving Thanks by John Bucchino and illustrated by Anna-Liisa Hakkarainen is a sweet book with a sweet song.  It was pretty but just didn't resonate with the kids and it's not one that they request to hear again.

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary Had a Little Lamb by Sarah Josephina Hale and Illustrated by Laura Hulliska-Beith is a fantastic extended version of Mary Had a Little Lamb.  My students adored listening to the new verses that I sang after the first traditional version.  While they liked the book I don't think it's one that they're going to be asking for again and again like some of my other folk song books.

I recommend this book for kids 4-8

Old Macdonald Had a Woodshop

Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop is a fun version of the Old Macdonald had a Farm book, except instead of animal sounds the reader gets to make all the sounds of the different tools.  My students adored this book and loved making all the different sounds, singing along from the first page.

I recommend this book for kids 3-8

A Frog in the Bog

A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson and Joan Rankin is a delightful rhythmic children's book by the author that brought us The Bear Snores On.  My students loved this book and were able to keep the beat throughout the story (provided I could keep up) and the twist at the end makes them giggle.  This is a book that my students ask for over and over again.

I recommend this book for kids 3-8

Dinosaur Pet

Dinosaur Pet by Marc Sedaka and Tim Bowers is a rewrite of Neil Sedaka's classic song Calendar Girl.  Each month of the year as is related to a growing dinosaur pet.

This is a fun book that my students love to hear again and again and sing along with from the start.  The music is peppy and fun.

I recommend this book for kids 3-8

The Farmer in the Dell

The Farmer in the Dell illustrated by John O'Brien is a terrific illustrated version of the classic children's song The Farmer in the Dell.  The book is nicely illustrated and easy to sing along to.

I recommend this book for kids from 3-7

The Marvelous Toy

The Marvelous Toy by Tom Paxton and Illustrated by Steve Cox is a picture book that illustrates the fantastic old folk song to a new young audience.  My students loved this book and were able to sing a long with the chorus on the first read through.

I recommend this book for kids 4-8

Up Up Up

Up, Up, Up by Susan Reed and Rachel Oldfield is a fantastic singalong about flying in a balloon.  It's got a chorus that is fun to sing and my students love it.  If you need a copy of the music it can be found on youtube.  The kids featured in the pictures are multicultural which my multicultural students adore.


I recommend this book to kids 3-8

Port Side Pirates

Port Side Pirates is a fantastic picture/song book by Oscar Seaworthy and Debbie Harter.  The song is terrific and the kids love singing it.  I always pull it out on Talk Like a Pirate Day.  It even has some information on different pirate ships at the end.  If your copy doesn't include a CD there is a version available on youtube by the publisher here . 

My favorite thing about the book however is the pictures.  The books produced by this publisher are always sure to have multicultural casts of characters and all of my students (who are from all over the world) can see kids like themselves in the pictures. 

I recommend this book for kids 3-8