Sing-along books are often the best choices for kids who really struggle with story time. As a father of 5-year-old twins with autism, I have developed a large collection of books in this category. My son Luke, who has a lot of challenges with joint attention and distraction, benefits from many multi-sensory approaches to books, but responds particularly to sing-along books (once they become familiar with them).
Some of the picture books on this list are based on songs your child already knows from YouTube videos or from school. others you will have to teach. I encourage parents to give kids who are particularly difficult to engage access to a video or audio clip of the song first. if they love the video or music track first, it will help them access the book later.
You are reading: Children books with songs
1) what a wonderful world
song by bob thiele and george david, illustrations by tim hopgood
Henry Holt and Co. (2014); hardcover, $17.99
It is impossible not to feel the purest joy that radiates from this book. The illustrations, which beautifully and literally interpret the well-known lyrics in a fun, retro style, set a lighthearted tone. all it takes to complete the spell is an adult doing their best impression.
If you think about it, What a Wonderful World has always been a song about colors and light. there are “trees of green, “roses of red“, “skies of blue“, “clouds of white ” , and rainbows there is also a “blessed bright day” and a “sacred dark night” my son luke was excited to point out these items color and label them.Children with autism usually learn to label colors in their early teaching programs, so color language becomes a great reinforcer.
luke also easily caught the repetition of the line “what a wonderful world” and especially enjoyed the page full of hearts for the lyrics “i love you”.
2) octopus garden
by ringo starr, illustrations by ben cort
Aladdin (2014); hardcover/CD edition, $17.99
I really wanted my kids to fall in love with the netflix show, beat the bugs, because I’m a huge beatles fan, but sadly it didn’t hook them. Fortunately, I’ve been making do with Ringo Starr’s picture book based on Garden of the Octopus.
ben cort has created a beautiful jewel-toned oceanscape that five diverse children delightfully explore. some pages are portrait and some are landscape, so you have to turn the book as you go, which adds to the multi-sensory experience (and I suspect is meant to give you a sense of bewilderment in the depths of the ocean). my kids like this item, but others will find it too annoying.
I didn’t think I’d use the cd that came with the book, but it was a hit! there are 3 clues:
- ringo starr reading the lyrics with a piano key tone indicating when to turn the page.
- ringo starr singing the song.
- an instrumental version of the song for the child you can try to sing alone.
this formulation worked magically for luke, but naturally it became a kind of rigid routine. Now, when we read this book we must first “say it”, then I sing it and then he sings it. Sounds good to me, that’s three full reads!
3) next to the station
by will hillenbrand
HMH Books for Young Readers (2002); paperback, $7.99
i think luke, who is obsessed with trains, has seen a dozen versions of this song on various youtube kids channels. so when I saw this book in the library, I quickly grabbed it.
hillenbrand’s interpretation is a children’s zoo train. the engineer makes stops on the way to the zoo and picks up the baby animals from his parents. as each baby animal rises, the new animal’s sound is added to the cumulative “puff, puff/toot, toot!” to refrain. Luke loves taking part in this part, tapping his finger on each line as he makes the sounds. For children with expressive language delays, this is ready to engage; animal sounds are easier to approximate.
I love how the lyrics use the proper name of each animal’s offspring. (i.e. not a baby seal, but a pup). there’s also a built-in opportunity to practice responding to “what happens next?” as there is a clue about the next animal on your previous page. Finally, the children will enjoy an exciting moment represented in the illustrations in which two of the baby animals must be rescued from a circle of hungry alligators.
4) there was a tree
by rachel isadora
Penguin Young Readers Group (2012); out of print
rachel isadora places the traditional song, “green grass grew everywhere,” in africa. At dawn, a young mother and her two young children see a hole in the ground. as we turn the pages, an umbrella wattle grows out of the hole. As the sun continues to rise, as if it were the same day, we see the tree grow and develop branches. a nest appears, then an egg, and soon a baby starling. in the end, the young bird is ready to leave the nest as the sun sets and the two (now older) children watch.
cumulative songs have a strong, predictable structure that’s great for our kids. i really like how isadora combines this with the use of rebus (image) icons within the text. this gives children who are more visual than auditory another way to follow and participate.
(It’s sad that this book is out of print, but I was able to easily borrow it from my local library. It’s also available as an e-book.)
5) spider on the ground (raffi songs to read)
6) by the bay (raffi songs to read)
7) baby beluga (raffi songs to read)
8) five little ducks (raffi songs to read)
by raffi
raffi is pure nostalgia and his songs have endured. Some of her hits have been made into picture books as part of the Raffi Songs to Read series. she would definitely recommend giving your children the opportunity to listen to a raffi album and then read these books.
spider on the ground, illustrated by true kelley dragonfly books (1996); rustic, $7.99
spider on the floor is a simple song with a verse that rhymes and repeats. a spider (starting on the ground) climbs up the singer (it is written in the first person). there is a verse where the spider is on his leg, then on his stomach, neck, face and head. finally, the spider falls back to the ground and we repeat the first verse.
Along with the pictures, this book is ideal for a child learning to identify body parts. If you have a sensory-seeking kid, throwing a spider-tickling party is the obvious thing to do!
down by the bay, illustrated by nadine bernard westcot crown books for young readers (1999); board book, $6.99
This book does a wonderful job of realizing the silliness of the traditional campfire song. In Nadine Bernard’s performance, two children play outside and seem to be trying to one-up each other with increasingly outrageous and fun rhymes.
This is great for our kids because the lyrics of the song are repeated except for the filler rhyme. When kids are ready, they can try to speed up each verse, like Raffi does, and make up their own lyrics to practice rhyming. parents can model this.
It is also traditional for someone to sing the words while another repeats them. if your child has echolalia, put that skill to a very functional social use!
baby beluga, illustrated by ashley wolff knopf books for young readers (1997); board book, $6.99
I recently had the magical experience of singing “baby beluga” in the ocean with my son harry. I will absolutely never forget it, and I have the baby beluga to thank for making such magic possible.
This is one of those books that kids who love animals can’t stop looking at. There are lots of beautifully drawn sea animals to look at and label, and the song is easy to learn, rhyming, cooing, and happy. a perfect bedtime closer.
Five Little Ducks, Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey Knopf Books for Young Readers (1999); board book, $6.99
this is another traditional song that my son luke has become familiar with through the modern miracle of youtube kids. so it was a piece of cake getting him interested in this book.
“5 Little Ducks” by denise fleming is another one I like and have reviewed before, and it incorporates the days of the week. my son harry loves it. but the raffi/aruego/dewey version is uncomplicated and my son luke much prefers that it follows the original song’s lyrics and simpler illustrations.
9) has the whole world in his hands
illustrated by kadir nelson
Dial Books (2005); hardcover, $17.99
“he has the whole world in his hands” is one of the most popular African-American spirituals. Kadir Nelson’s illustrations are perfect, with a soothing color palette and realistic illustrations of a black boy and his family.
The book begins and ends at full magnification, looking down on Earth from space. we meet the boy as he shows the reader a picture of his family (“he holds my brothers and sisters in his hands”). art suggests a unity with our world. characters stand with arms outstretched in pouring rain, gaze at the full moon at night, fish in rivers against mountains, have a picnic in a park, swim in the ocean, and piece together a puzzle shaped like the earth.
The repetition of the lyrics is enough structure on its own to hold my kids’ attention, but the solid rhythm of this particular tune is also great for practicing rhythm playing skills.
10) all god’s creatures have a place in the choir
by billstaines, illustrated by kadir nelson
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (2009); hardcover, $19.99
I wasn’t familiar with this popular song when I met all the god bugs at the library, but I was already a fan of the book’s illustrator, kadir nelson. His work here takes his usual illustrated realism and adds the necessary glossy varnish to anthropomorphize and display all the singing and dancing creatures.
The popular song, “All God’s Creatures” was made popular by the band Peter, Paul & Maria in the 70’s. It’s a fast moving song, but quite catchy, it has a great rhythm and it’s easy to learn.
heard many different versions on youtube but ended up preferring this one by an irish band, damian mcginty and celtic thunder.
singing in the night, singing in the day, the duckling quacks, then goes on its way. the opossum doesn’t have much to say and the porcupine talks to himself. All the god bugs have a place in the choir, some sing low, some sing louder, some sing loud on the phone wire, and some just clap their hands, or kick their feet, or whatever they’ve got. now…
11) pete the cat: the wheels of the bus
12) pete the cat: old macdonald had a farm
13) pete the cat: twinkle, twinkle, little star
by james dean
These sing-along books in the pete the cat series don’t rock the boat too much with new twists. But that is the point. are designed to introduce traditional nursery rhymes.
wheels on the bus harperfestival (2013); hardcover, $9.99
wheels on the bus has some extra verses where the cats on the bus yell “let’s rock!” and “pete the cat!” other than that, it’s exactly what you remember (but with a certain cool driver).
old macdonald had a farm harperfestival (2014); hardcover, $9.99
old macdonald had a farm may have too many verses for some kids (and parents), but the 14 animal verses are a great way to get lots of practice labeling common farm and domestic animals and making animal sounds.
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sparkle, shine, little star harperfestival (2014); hardcover, $9.99
twinkle twinkle little star (my personal favorite of the bunch) includes the full lyrics of the original 19th century poem, not the abridged one. The illustrations show Pete coming home from school and going through her nightly routine with her family. It’s a perfect bedtime book that ends with a fantastic, dreamy moment where Pete takes off in a rocket while he falls asleep.
If your child is already a fan of Pete the Cat and doesn’t know these songs yet, this is a no-brainer. Knowing traditional children’s songs is essential to learn and participate in our culture.
14) wheels on the tuk tuk
by kabir sehgal & surishtha sehgal, illustrated by jess golden
Beach Lane Books (2016); hardcover, $17.99
I have reviewed this book before in a book summary to introduce race and ethnicity. wheels on the tuk tuk is an Indian twist on the traditional song, “the wheels on the bus”.
While our children tend to need simple, direct versions of classic songs and stories to learn at first, once they know a song like “wheels on the bus,” variations can open doors for learning.
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The book explores a small town in India, instantly communicating with “the tuk tuk’s wheels go round and round” that the tuk tuk (a 3-wheeled ricksaw) is equivalent to a city bus. this basis of comparison continues with lines like “rupees on the bus van ching ching ching”.
In addition to this wonderful introduction to a different culture, this book is also fun. a cow sits in front of the tuk tuk (“tuk tuk stops to moo-moo-cow”) and an elephant soaks it (“the elephant’s trunk goes spray-spray-spray”).
15) take me to the ball game
performer: carly simon, lyricist: jack norworth, illustrated by: amiko hirao
Charlesbridge (2016); board book and CD, $7.95
“Take me to the ball game” is an American standard, but until I read this book I had no idea that the original lyrics describe a young woman in love with baseball. Katie Casey “She watched all the games, she knew all the players by her first name.”
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in amiko hirao’s illustrations, katie casey is a cat and ‘sluggers stadium’ players and their fans are a colorful cast of animals.
Learning about baseball and the culture that surrounds it is an important part of everyday American life. You might find this book particularly useful for a child whose family likes to attend ball games or if a child is about to start a recreational baseball program.
16) the clock struck one: a story to tell the time (mathematics is fun!)
by trudy harris, illustrated by carrie hartman
Millbrook Press (2009); hardcover, $19.99
I’m a fan of trudy harris math, it’s fun! Serie. In this adaptation of the nursery rhyme “Hickory Dickory Dock,” she plays with time.
hickory dickory doo, the grandfather clock struck two. he woke up the cat, who jumped off his mat, hungry for mouse-tail stew.
For 12 hours, the cat chases the mouse around the farm and the house. A variety of clocks, from vintage (analog) grandfather clocks to modern digital clocks, show us the time as we go.
time is also reflected through the passage of the day. the sky darkens, the shadows lengthen and the characters tire. this is a fabulous book: fun to sing along to, exciting, repetitive and structured, and with tons of time-related learning opportunities.
17) knick knack paddy whack (a barefoot chant)
18) space song rocket ride (a barefoot song)
19) animal boogie (a barefoot sing)
barefoot books are quite a notable children’s press for many reasons related to sustainability and manufacturing standards. they also have a strong commitment to inclusive books that showcase human diversity (including visible forms of disability). the barefoot singing series is particularly special.
barefoot books have created an animated version of each book in this series (they come on the cd, but are also online and linked below). your child may see them first if that kind of conditioning helps your children to be more interested in books (as it is for me).
knick knack paddy whack, sung by stevesongs, illustrated by christiane engel barefoot books (2009); paperback with cd, $9.99
This traditional countdown song is even better when it’s reimagined as a street parade of children from different cultures playing all kinds of instruments. Many children will be familiar with the traditional song, while others may think of it as Barney’s theme.
The origins of “knick knack paddy whack” are obscure and no one really knows what “play one” or “play two” means to the old man (at least that’s what I was able to discover). this book addresses the possible confusion over the counting element by having each new supporting character over the next number. is a decent solution.
I love this book because it introduces a variety of musical instruments. Although the instruments are not named in the lyrics, this is something you can do with your child. On the recording, each new instrument gets a solo for its verse, so your child can hear what they sound like!
space song rocket ride, by sunny scribens, sung by mark collins, illustrated by david sim barefoot books (2014); paperback with cd, $9.99
The book begins with a countdown from 10 to a rocket launch. a diverse group of children is launched into space.
the book is an adaptation of “green grass grows everywhere”, the traditional cumulative song. cumulative songs are great for autistic kids, they add an element with each verse, combining repetition and predictable structure.
in space song rocket ride we start with the wide view (the universe) and zoom in, seeing the galaxy, the milky way, the solar system, the sun, the earth, the moon, and finally the sky before we the rocket lands again.
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This is a great book, a must for any child interested in space.
animal boogie, by debbie harter, played by fred penner barefoot books (2005); paperback with cd, $9.99
This bright and colorful adaptation, set in the jungles of India, is based on the children’s song “down in the jungle” (sometimes called “jungle boogie”). is the publisher’s best-selling title, and it’s easy to see why. kids love it.
animal boogie features a simple, repetitive song with a great beat. each verse there is a new jungle animal spied on by a different child. that animal is performing an action, which the reader must copy. this is great for working on what aba and occupational therapists call “gross motor imitation.” the book shows these actions: shake (bear), swing (monkey), stomp (elephant), flap (bird), jump (leopard), slide (snake), and swing (people).
20) I met a bear the other day (first steps in music)
by john m. feierabend, illustrations by julia love miller
GIA Publications (2014); hardcover, $16.95
In this playful adaptation of “The Other Day I Met a Bear,” a traditional American camp song, the point of view character is a fox. It’s not clear if the fox and bear are having a friendly game of chase or if the bear is hungry for the fox, but the chase is a lot of fun.
“I met a bear the other day” is an echo song. echo songs challenge children to sing independently, imitating rhythm and pitch. exactly the same line is sung by the boy. for example:
The other day (the other day!) I met a bear. (I met a bear!) in the woods, (in the woods!) out there. (out there!)
my son harry loves this book. he appeals to his echolalia and loves chasing animals. he loves how the format of the echo song promotes interaction between us. there’s also something extremely pleasing about simple black and white line art. my son luke isn’t up for it, but he enjoys watching the action on the pages.
21) song to sing
by joann early macken, illustrations by leuyen pham
Viking Juvenile (2004); hardcover, out of print
I love this upbeat and rhythmic book of rhymes. we follow a happy child through his day. the child finds music in everything: the robin singing in the morning, the bees buzzing, the squirrels chirping, the cat, the dog, his father, his mother, and his little sister in his crib. after each verse, our ever-delighted narrator always says, “I started singing! I just have to sing!”
The predictive nature of this book is perfect for autistic children, who quickly pick up solid formatting. but unlike the other books I’ve recommended on this list, the sing-along song requires singing but doesn’t provide a melody. the challenge is to “hear” the music for yourself and create your own melody to sing.
This demand for play and creativity is a real challenge. it may be too much for some kids and just right for others. parents can provide some structure by modeling how to make up a tune. Ultimately, bouncing rhythm, onomatopoeia, and familiarity with common sounds will be the best guide.
While sadly out of print, this is a widely available library and used book search.
22) if you’re a monster and you know it
by rebecca emberley and ed emberley
Orchard Books (2011); hardcover, $17.99
“if you’re happy and you know it” is a popular and repetitive nursery rhyme that is well known to most Americans. it is often used in special education settings because it incorporates gross motor actions. sometimes it’s also a cumulative song, which means with each verse we collect an action for a list. doing all the actions in order becomes a memory challenge.
if you’re a monster and you know it’s a monster twist on the classic song. Instead of clapping their hands or yelling “hooray!”, the little monster kids slam their claws together and roar.
The art is distinctively Emberley-ed, but unlike Big Green Monster Goes Away, there are plenty of her signature bright colors in play at once. it will be too much for children who are sensitive to visual noise. my son luke was not a fan. but his harry twin, who loves that kind of input (and loves monsters) loved it. hmm.
23) the little spider
by rebecca emberley and ed emberley
Two Little Birds (2013); hardcover, $12.95
Another winning father-daughter creation from Emberley, the Itsy Bitsy Spider takes the familiar nursery rhyme and makes it a little spooky with a beautiful, realistic and highly colorful spider. you can’t help but slow down the singing, partly to create a scary atmosphere, but also because the text has been carefully set up to highlight the lyrics with beautiful panels showing every moment of the action.
Kids who are easily scared might not like this version of the “itsy bitsy spider” song, but my kids loved the art and found my “spooky” singing amusing.
24) in the meadow
by olive a. wadsworth, illustrated by ezra jack keats
Puffin Books (1995); paperback, $5.99
There are many versions of this traditional song in the picture book genre, but I’ll always be loyal to ezra jack keats’ beautiful adaptation.
“over in the meadow” is a great counting song for kids who like animals. each page features a different animal mother (sorry, dads) and some of her descendants (starting with one and going up to ten). the mother tells them to do something (snorkel, sunbathe, sing, etc.) and the little ones obey. the verses are easy, rhyme and have an identical structure. it’s easy for kids to figure it out.
If you don’t know the melody, you can easily find it on youtube. is one of those songs that is a real pleasure to sing. calm my kids always seem calm when we read this book (and often sleepy by the end). they enjoy the melody, the variety of animals and actions, and counting the babies.
25) there was an old lady who swallowed a fly
by lucille colandro, illustrated by jared d. lee
Cartwheel Books (2014); paperback, $6.99
The classic nonsense stacked rhyme, “there was an old lady who swallowed a fly” is the inspiration for a whole series of “old lady” books by Lucille Colandro, many of which are themed around the seasons and holidays. some of them are great, some of them are meh. this (the original) is the best.
I’m a big fan of colander’s art. the action panels are a bit busy for some kids (she uses a lot of lines), but the cumulative list of animals on the old lady’s belly is helped visually by a solid black background. animal expressions are always funny.
some may recall that each verse traditionally ends with “I don’t know why he swallowed that fly. maybe he’ll die!” the colandro version is much less dark, ending each line with “she won’t say why!” instead. the song ends with her coughing up all the animals (“her new friends of hers”) after ingesting the cow. the horse from the traditional rhyme (which usually kills her) is absent.
26) spiders slurping through a straw: campfire songs for monsters
by kelly dipucchio, illustrations by gray grimly
Scholastic Press (2008); hardcover, $15.99
The suggested age range for this book is 8-12 years old, which I honestly think means our society has gotten a bit squeamish and soft. Sure, it’s creepy, gross, scary, and occasionally violent, but it’s also silly, clever, and edgy black humor! but this is definitely a polarizing book. my wife and son luke hate it. But for me and my son Harry, it’s a not-so-guilty pleasure: it’s best served under a blanket with a flashlight.
kelly dipucchio takes well-known american campfire songs and cleverly rewrites them to be about monsters. Gray grimly pulls no punches with some truly gruesome artwork to go along with it. I must admit that he violates my generally inviolable rule about showing the original before the clever remake. We’ll see how that works when Harry insists to someone that it’s not “99 bottles of beer on the wall” but “99 bottles of blood on the wall”…
Harry’s favorite songs are “I’ve been running over the toads on the road” (sung with “I’ve been working on the railway”), “slither & stink” (sung with “skidamarink”) and the title ” drinking spiders through a straw” (sung to “sipping cider through a straw”). i love “zombie midge” (sung about “london bridge is falling down”).
27) ghosts are roaming around
by helen kettleman, illustrated by adam record
Albert Whitman Company (2014); hardcover, $16.99
I’ve mostly avoided holiday books for this more general list, but ghosts lurk, even though it mentions halloween, it’s so cute and funny I can’t help it.
In this adaptation of the popular storytelling song “the ants are marching”, all kinds of creatures haunt the bush. graves primary school the verses count from one, just like the original, but each verse gives us a new supernatural creature (ghost, witches, goblins, bats, etc.), and instead of the traditional “boom! boom! boom! boom !” we get a new creature-specific sound.
each verse also gives us someone new who gets scared. Parents with shy children will be happy to know that the children photographed at Mt. graves are never afraid, their faces always smile or laugh. it’s the dumb adults (the principal, the teachers, the bus driver, the school nurse, the coach, etc.) who get scared. the book ends with a halloween party where everyone has fun.
The repetition, rhythm, and rhyme of this tune, which many children will already be familiar with, is perfect for children with autism. Subject-wise, it’s an obvious match for any kid who’s really into monsters, but I also love it as a way to teach or generalize about community helpers/professionals in the school setting. Finally, it has a great ethnic diversity.
28) the haunted mansion (gifts from disney parks)
by buddy baker and xavier atencio, illustrations by james gilleard
Disney Press (2016); hardcover with CD, $17.99
if you’ve ever been to disneyland or disney world and ridden the haunted mansion attraction, you’ve probably also been surprised by the extremely catchy song, “grim grinning ghosts”.
My wife is a Disney buff, so I’ve been to the parks more than the average, and the Haunted Mansion is hands down my favorite attraction. It’s impossible for me to be truly objective about this book, but I must tell you that I love it.
the book comes with a cd so you can learn the song (and listen to the amazing music) if you don’t already know it.
The picture book itself is a journey through the journey. Scene by scene, the book takes you through most of the rooms you encounter in the mansion, from the stretching room and its iconic paintings, to the hall of doors with the famous purple wallpaper, to the séance circle, the birthday banquet in the great hall, and so on. I didn’t test this, but I strongly suspect that the haunted mansion could serve as a pseudo-social story for a family traveling to a disney park. (My kids don’t have bike anxiety, so I didn’t have to prepare them.)
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disney parks has also published books based on the pirates of the caribbean and jungle cruise rides, also with cd, with the “yo-ho!” pirates of the caribbean song and pun-filled narration for the jungle cruise.
29) do re mi (broadway baby)
30) my favorite things (broadway baby)
broadway’s baby series is clearly designed for the toddler market. I discovered them a bit late for my kids but I’m sure a few years ago they would have been perfect and someone reading this blog post will love them.
I should point out that these board books are ridiculously expensive. But they’ll still be a must-have for Broadway moms and dads. I’m hoping this is the start of an expansive series.
do re mi by richard rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II Illustrated by Miriam Bos Walter Foster Jr. (2017), board book, $16.95
This beloved sound of music song works perfectly in the board book format. the illustrator cleverly took the approach of showing us the meaning of the song rather than trying to depict the von trapp family or somehow contextualize this scene as part of a larger story. graphic art is cheerful, bright and uncomplicated. a multicultural group of children and a guitar teacher gather outside in a meadow, some playing musical instruments, others singing.
I love the typographical emphasis on the note names (“do-re-mi”, etc.). They’re not particularly useful sight words and sounding them out doesn’t work well, but they’re easy to learn and can help some kids practice the general skill of picking up sight words and following a book.
my favorite things about richard rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II Illustrated by Daniel Roode Walter Foster Jr. (2017), board book, $16.95
the sound of music “my favorite things” is a song about… things. At its core, it’s a tact song, packed with new and exciting things to learn and label. it’s also a song about what “favorites” are, which is, I’ve learned, an incredibly harsh concept, full of theory of mind landmines. any practice with the idea of ”favorites” is helpful.
some of the things are more unusual (“shiny copper cauldrons…”), but the lyrics usually contain something more accessible in each group (“…and warm woolen mittens”).
Graphic images are simple and understated with colorful, solid backgrounds that make labeling even easier. often the left page is reserved for the text, visually dividing the book in a predictable format.
31) mr. mistoffelees: the conjuring cat (old possum picture books)
by t.s. eliot, illustrations by arthur robin
Faber and Faber (2015); paperback, $9.95
the old possum book of practical cats by british poet t. yes eliot is a famous collection of funny cat poems. It was adapted into one of Broadway’s longest-running shows, Andrew Illyod Webber’s Cats in 1981.
Probably the best known poem is “Macavity: TheMystery Cat”, which was the first poem adapted by Arthur Robins in his series of picture books on ancient opossums. but my personal favorite is this, mr. mistoffelees: the magic cat.
robins captures all the whimsy of the broadway poem and tune with his illustrations. the famous magical cat is on stage, dressed as a magician, and in multi-panel sequences we see him perform classic and hilarious illusions. it’s always hard to do this when you’re singing, but there’s a great opportunity here to stop once in a while and ask a child to say what comes first, next, etc. for each magic trick.
This book doesn’t have a story, per se, that some parents unfamiliar with cats or the t.s. the eliot collection can be strange. It’s a character sketch. If you’re not familiar with the song, it’s very easy to find online, and there are some great videos of the Broadway musical that your child might enjoy watching. if they get hooked, you can discover many more jellicle cats in this amazing picture book series!
32) on top of the potty (silly songs)
by alan katz, illustrated by david catrow
Margaret K. McElderry Books (2008); hardcover, $17.99
This collection of camp-themed potty songs and traditional tunes will be passionately loved or feverishly hated by any parent who picks it up. it’s unpleasant. very, very gross.
There are also legitimate reasons that are not bad for some. I love, for example, “don’t throw strange things in the potty” (sung to the tune of “the battle hymn of the republic”), but this and other songs in the book about mishaps and misbehavior can give a little encouragement . , opposition children “ideas.” My kids like rules, in general, so I wasn’t worried.
This book will be useful for some children who are learning to use the toilet. makes pooping, peeing, and going to the bathroom fun, and we want good associations with this process.
This isn’t the first time katz and catrow have teamed up to produce silly poems about daily life and social skills. The Silly Dilly Songs series of books has a lot to offer. parents of children with autism may be particularly interested in the titles Get me out of the bathtub, are you very polite? and too many kisses!.
33) your personal penguin
by sandra boynton
Workman Publishing Company (2006); board book, $6.95
I could have made a whole sing-along book list by sandra boynton. there are many popular titles to choose from, like snuggle puppy! and barnyard dancing. and has released several collections of extremely funny songs like rhinoceros tap, philadelphia chickens, blue moo, frog problem and others. they are all worth seeing.
but the personal penguin is special to me. my first post on this blog was something of a love letter to this book. the lyrics, which describe the longing to be a companion to someone through life’s adventure, spoke to me as an overwhelmed mother of two newly diagnosed autistic children. I wanted to access their worlds.
This was a book we read as a family every night for months. my wife janet made musical instrument noises (she plays a mean trumpet) while i sang. When I couldn’t connect with my kids, who had suddenly regressed out of nowhere, this little board book seemed like magic. gave me hope and that’s why I started the blog.
Like all of Sandra Boynton’s sing-along books, the art (friendly-looking animals on solid backgrounds) is easy on the eyes, and the poetry is understated and repetitive. davy jones sings the free recording of the song on the publisher’s website. here’s a video of him recording it:
34) this land is your land
by woody guthrie, illustrated by kathy jakobsen
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (2008); hardcover, $18.00
Both of my kids love this classic woodsy, guthrie folk song, as do I for its progressive message of inclusion. while some of the lyrics may be beyond your comprehension, the repeating chorus is very clear and grabs your attention.
the illustrations are busy and detailed, which makes my son luke annoyed. but for my son harry who loves visual stimulation there is so much to see! he studies each panel for a long time. his interest is a wonderful opportunity to teach some basic American geography. Maps and iconic architectural and natural images from across the country are displayed.
When I started reading this book to my children, I practiced a little pronouns and it was very helpful. the repetition of “this land is your land, this land is my land” is a repeated opportunity to reinforce your/me with the finger.
35) I have two dogs
by john lithgow, illustrated by robert neubecker
Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers (2008); hardcover and CD, $18.99
It’s hard to think of John Lithgow without evoking his many acting roles. For me, it’s his terrifying run as Arthur Mitchell in one of the last seasons of Dexter. but lithgow is also a successful and prolific author of children’s books… who doesn’t actually kill people.
Her latest book, I Have Two Dogs, is an extravagant little book with a simple text that rhymes. digital art delivers all the action and energy of fanny and blue, the narrator’s dogs. but with solid backgrounds, the frantic, messier strokes don’t feel too busy, just active.
the book comes with a cd in which john lithgow performs the song. his acting is amazing. he has all the skill of a sesame street cast member, breaking the fourth wall and engaging the audience with him. a choir of children can be heard modeling how to participate in the song. Check out this video below to see what I mean (with apologies for the pizza hut ad):
36) happy!
by pharrell williams, photos by amanda pratt, illustrations by kristin smith
G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers (2015); hardcover, $19.99
Whether your child knows this pharrell williams hit from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, from their workout playlist, or even if this will be their introduction, listening to the song as they read happy! it’s probably going to be a lot of fun.
The book was almost universally criticized in reviews for awkwardly translating the song’s lyrics onto the page. and it is true, the letters do not make sense by themselves if they are “read”. I also think it would be almost impossible for a parent to sing this book and bring it to life. the backing vocalists sing critical lines, and the instrumentation provides plenty of energy. but the critics don’t seem to have considered what I think is obvious: this book was meant to be looked at while listening to the recorded song.
Realistic photos of diverse children imaginatively playing with homemade props and costumes are great models of how to play. the secret here is to take the multi-sensory approach. Turn up the volume. break a move be happy.
37) kids, go!
by They Might Be Giants, Illustrations by Pascal Campion 
Simon & Schuster (2009); hardcover and DVD, $19.99
Grammy award-winning indie rockers, they might be giants, are probably best known for their incredible collections of music videos. Here comes the ABCs, here comes the 123s, and here comes the science. this is her second picture book created around a song, after bed bed bed, a collection of three bedtime songs that I found a bit too abstract in places.
kids go! It’s simple and high energy. she speaks directly to the children, telling them to “get up” and “get up off the ground.” instructs them to “move like a monkey” and “come on! come on! come on!”.
This is a perfect book for kids who need help with their arousal level, as well as kids who love the multi-sensory mix of dance, music, and visuals. there’s even an instrumental break for a dance party in the middle of a song on the dvd.
the line art is delightfully simple with lots of white backgrounds and a restrained color palette that looks almost ’70s.
a dvd with the animated music video comes with the book. here is a version on youtube:
38) inch by inch: the garden song
by david mallet, illustrations by ora eitan
HarperCollins (1997); paperback, $6.99
a determined little gardener plants, waters and protects his seeds until they grow and an abundance of fruits and vegetables are ready to be harvested.
If this mellow American folk song wasn’t a part of your childhood, give John Denver a quick listen to it on The Muppet Show in 1979 and prepare to fall in love.
ora eitan’s impressionist watercolors are pretty, but little aroused kids could use a lot more excitement. (you have to bring the energy yourself as a singer). still, the art is easy on the eyes and not too hard to decipher (like impressionist art can be) with its white frame.
The tempo and lulling nature of this sweet song make it a perfect lullaby. Plus, if you play guitar or piano, there’s sheet music on the inside back cover.
39) today is Monday
by eric carle
Puffin Books (1997); paperback, $6.99
each day of the week a different animal is represented eating a new food. then on Sunday all the “hungry kids come and eat it!”
Last year, I did a blog post about days of the week that included today is Monday. Everyone loves Eric Carle, and I find the combination of his magnificent art with this upbeat, cumulative song, the days of the week, animals, and a book on how to eat different kinds of food an irresistible combination. Both of my kids are in food therapy because they are picky eaters and I really appreciate books that make eating different kinds of food fun.
here is a video so you can hear how it sounds:
A note: a children’s librarian told me that she finds this book difficult for children to sing at story time, and I certainly agree that it takes some practice to understand, especially since the song is fast-paced. .
40) one is a drummer: a book of numbers
by roseanne thong, illustrations by grace lin
Chronicle Books (2004); paperback, $6.99
One of the first melodies most children learn is “twinkle twinkle little star.” this book was designed to be sung to that simple tune.
roseanne thong and grace lin have written three picture books that explore chinese culture. They are all worth exploring: Red is a Dragon is a book of color concepts. round is a mooncake is a shape concept book. one is a drummer it’s a book of numbers.
We follow a girl as she counts things in her community (from one to ten). there are dragon boats, fish balls, dim sum, mahjong players, bamboo stalks, and more.
grace lin tends to use a lot of very complicated patterns, which can be overwhelming for some kids. the thick black lines you draw with a little help.
This is a wonderful book to teach children about another culture or to learn more about their own heritage. however, as with all thong/lin Chinese concept books, some of the unknown elements will add an additional challenge that may be too much for some. my son luke’s attention was drawn to the pages where his difficulty in understanding text and images was tested. a “dragon ship” was something we could label. two “greetings on the wall”, written in Chinese characters, was too strange a concept. still, because of the familiar structure of the counting concepts book, he was able to understand that there were two of something to count. he scanned the page and was able to point and say “one, two” in the correct places, but not understand what he was pointing to.
See Also: How to Get a Month of Audible and Two Books for Free | The Manual