Read and Groove: 8 Picture Books to Help Encourage a Love of Music

Read and Groove: 8 Picture Books to Help Encourage a Love of Music

Music is a wonderful way to help little ones learn reading and other life skills, and these are some of our favourite picture books that celebrate the joy of music!

Rhyming reads

Your Personal Penguin by Sandra Boynton

A read-aloud and a listen-along favourite of young children and the grown-ups who read to them. Fun to hold, the book tells the story of a slightly bewildered hippo and the loyal penguin who wants nothing more than to be his pal.

Readers aged 4+

The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith and Katz Cowley

Each page in this book tells us something new about the donkey until children are in fits of laughter! It’s a modern classic, and the donkey gets wackier and wackier as the story progresses, and parents and children alike will laugh at the hilarious illustrations and creative rhymes. It was also recorded as a song by author Craig Smith, and it won the APRA Children’s Song of the Year in 2008 – but be warned, it’s incredibly catchy!

Readers aged 0+

Sing along with classic songs

Footloose by Kenny Loggins and Tim Bowers 

The 80s classic song Footloose by Kenny Loggins has been reimagined as a children’s book. A zoo is turned into an all-night dance party with all the animals joining in. The lyrics have been adapted by Kenny himself to suit, and are accompanied by bright and cheery illustrations by Tim Bowers. The book comes with a CD that includes Footloose and a monkey medley, too!

Readers aged 2+

Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow, Lenny Lipton and Eric Puybaret

Welcome to Honalee, an enchanted land of imagination, acceptance and love. This book is a natural fit for a musical nighttime read. You’ll certainly have the lilting tune in your head as you read through the pages – it also comes with the original recording on CD, too.

Readers aged 3+

Non-fiction picks

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin! by Marjorie Priceman

Teaching kids about instruments is a great wat to encourage a love of music. In this book, a whole orchestra comes on stage one by one, introduced by their sounds. Not only will children learn about musical instruments and musical groups, they can even get some counting practice.

Readers aged 4+

Ada’s Violin by Susan Hood and Sally Wen Comport

This book tells the true story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay. Music teacher Favio Chavez creates instruments out of rubbish for children in the town of Cateura, and now they travel the world to spread their music and powerful message of hope. It’s a wonderful testament to the power of music.

Readers aged 4+

Musical inspiration

Mulga’s Magical Musical Creatures by Mulga

Artist Mulga has released his first picture book. It shows the vivid dreams of a musician as he searches for musical inspiration, with quirky, vividly bright animals playing a variety of instruments. The musician wakes from his rainbow dreams inspired to write a song, and we think plenty of kids will be too.

Readers aged 3+

The Flying Orchestra by Clare McFadden

A beautiful story about how music is all around us. Whether they’re playing a ‘violin solo when someone misses their train,’ a ‘symphony at the airport for a traveler coming home,’ or a ‘sontana for a sad moment at a birthday party, the Flying Orchestra are bringing music to each and every day.

Readers aged 4+

COMMENTS

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *