Books, Audio, & More

Looking for more?

• You can find more information on these songs at the master list of songs.
• You can also see which weeks these songs are used at the Lesson Plans page.

•BOOKS•

• Puff the Magic Dragon, by Peter Yarrow (Author), Lenny Lipton (Author), Eric Puybaret (Illustrator). Wonderful book. Includes a CD, but I don't recommend the music on it.
• This Land Is Your Land, by Woody Guthrie (Author), Kathy Jakobsen (Illustrator). Beautiful illustrations. Amazingly detailed and accurate.
• Baby Beluga, by Raffi (Author), Ashley Wolff (Illustrator). Children just LOVE this book. Simple and apt illustrations.
• The Cat Came Back, traditional song illustrated by Bill Slavin. Detailed illustrations tell the story in a humorous and creative way. Most popular with children aged 3+.
• Carnival of the Animals, by Jack Prelutsky (Author), Camille Saint-Saens (Composer), Mary GrandPre (Illustrator). A delightful adaptation of Saint-Saens' stimulating suite.
• Peter and the Wolf, by James Riordan (Adapter), Sergei Prokofiev (Composer), Victor G. Ambrus (Illustrator). This is but one of many book adaptations of Prokofiev's very famous composition. The story is a delight for children of all ages, introducing them to the instruments of the orchestra through a captivating tale.

•INSTRUMENTS•

• Drums #1 is a set of three small drums or increasing size.
• Drums #2 is a set of five drums. The largest drums are large indeed.
• Drums #3 is a large, loud gathering drum with a deep resonance.
• Sticks #1, are small and light. One stick is smooth, the other grooved.
• Sticks #2 are larger and denser. More expensive, but they make a much prettier sound, almost like that of real claves.
• Xylophones have it all: letters, colors, and sizes. You can also remove individual bells!
• Shakers are strong, durable, and colorful. I find this brand to be the best value: $21 gets you a dozen.
• Speaker is the UE Mini Boom, one of the best deals out there.

•CLASSICAL•

• Polka from Ballet Suite No. 1, Dmitri Shostakovich
• Carnival of the Animals, Camille Saint-Saëns
• Peter and the Wolf, Sergei Prokofiev
• Auf der Jagd, Johann Strauss, Jr
• Sleigh Ride, Leroy Anderson
• The Typewriter, Leroy Anderson
• In the Hall of the Mountain King, Edvard Grieg
• The Nutcracker Ballet Suite, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. I supplement this with a picture book (see left column). My recording of choice was done by Seiji Ozawa with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

•PUTUMAYO•

• Pomodoro (Picnic Playground), by Bomba
• No More Monkeys (Animal Playground), by Asheba
• Tarantainas de la Casa Sin Pared (European Playground), by Biella Nuei
• Just Kidding (Folk Playground), by Jon Gailmor
• Tum Tum Tum (Brazilian Playground), by Roberta Sá
• Bonjour, Bonjour (French Playground), by L'Autobus À Vapeur

•OTHER RECORDINGS•

• El Baile de Gorila, Melody Ruiz Guitierrez
• Dinosaur Rock n Roll, Joanie Bartels (Dancin Magic)
• The Martian Hop, Joanie Bartels (Dancin Magic)
• The Hokey Pokey, Joanie Bartels (Dancin Magic)
• Freeze Dance, Greg & Steve (Kids in Motion)
• Believe in Yourself, by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers