Island Books Storytime Titles

Island Books Storytime

Favorite Read-Aloud Picture Books 

How I Choose Picture Books to Read Aloud

Since my read and sing story times are primarily for babies up to 6 and read to a group rather than one on one, I look for picture books that have large, and usually simple illustrations, that have rhyming text, alliteration, and onomatopoeia. Rhyming and the rhythm produced through rhyming appeals to babies who are just learning about language. They are drawn to the sounds of words long before they understand their meaning. Toddlers and preschoolers build early literacy skills through rhyming and alliteration, so that’s a bonus! And rhyming is predictive. Additionally, books that have repeated text become interactive when you invite your audience to join you, and repetition is great for the brain!  Of course my favorite book to read is a book with a song. An example would be Groovy Joe Ice Cream and Dinosaurs, listed below. There is actually a recurring song you can sing together. One more requirement for books I list here.. They are all FUN TO READ! And while all this fun is happening children are building the skills they will need to become successful readers!

Visit my websites, SingWithOurKids.com and Nancymusic.com for free songs to sing, lists of picture books based on songs, and all kinds of activities to bring it all together! (there are NO ads on these sites!)

Books we’ve read at Sing-alongs, Updated weekly

10/15/22 A Spoonful of Frogs, by Casey Lyall (published 2022)

                Cows in the Kitchen, by June Crebbin

01/21/21 Are You a Cheeseburger? by Monica Arnaldo (published 2021)

A Fox Found a Box, by Ged Adamson (published 2019)

One Fox, A Counting Book Thriller, by Kate Read (published 2019)

01/14/21  Polar Bear’s Underwear, by Tupera Tupera (published 2015)

                Starhug, by Cindy Wong (published 2021)

12/10/21 The Cat, and the Rat, and the Hat, by Em Lynas, illustrated by Matt Hunt

12/17/21 Santa Jaws, by Bridget Heos

Favorites Picture Books shared 2016-2020 (older ones are out of print but can usually be found used at Bookfinder.com)

Cows in the Kitchen, by June Crebbin (published 1998)

Polar Bear’s Underwear, by Tupera Tupera, (published 2015) - still available as of 2021

Animal Boogie, by Debbie Harter and Fred Penner (published 2011)

Car, Car, Truck, Jeep, by Katrina Charman (published 2018)

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Car, by MAry Peterson (published 2018)

Tanka, Tanka, Skunk, by Stever Webb

Don’t Wake Up the Tiger, by Britta Teckentrup (published 2016)

Groovy Joe Ice Cream and Dinosaurs, by Eric Litwin (published 2016)

Trees Make Perfect Pets, by Paul Czajak (published 2020)

Knot Cannot, by Tiffany Stone (published 2020)

Pokko and the Drum, by Matthew Forsythe (published 2019)

The Yawns Are Coming, by Christopher Eliopoulos (published 2020)

Monsters New Underwear, by Samantha Berger (published 2017)

By the Light of the Moon, by Frann Preston-Gannon (published 2019)

The Watermelon Seed, by Greg Pizzoli (published 2013)

A Fox Found a Box, by Ged Adamson (published 2019)

A Hippy-Hoppy Toad, by Peggy Archer and Anne Wilsdorf (published 2018)

Trashy Town, by Andrea Zimmerman (published 1999)

 

More Free Little Wordless Books!

These wordless books are great because:

• Children love little books (my grandaughter squirrels them away in pockets or little bags)
• Children love to sing (just eavesdrop on any child; you'll hear singing!)
• Children love to have their own books (well, duh! Who doesn't'?)
• Children love being able to read the pictures (Words aren't the only way to read!)
• Children experience success as they sing, letting the lyrics of the song guide the turning of the pages

There are lots of tips and more books little wordless books to print here Printable Books to Sing

And don't forget, every book has a song to go with it which you can download next to the printable, or use the qr code reader on your smartphone to connect with the song using the qr code on each little book. So you can read and sing wherever you are!

Read to Sing and Sing to Read!

SingWithOurKids.com Day 28 of 30: Exploring the Free Resources

These little wordless books (also called zines) are one of my favorite resources! The nursery rhymes are familiar to children, so they know the sequencing and when to turn the page. The QR code on each cover will instantly take you to the song simply sung. Or you can download the songs when you go print out the books. I created them for use with family literacy, but they are great for all children.  

To learn more about how to use and to download, print, and make them, go to

 https://singwithourkids.com/family-lit-printable.htm

And here's a little trivia about these little books..

They were illustrated by my good friend, Charlie Williams, cartoonist, author, and sound impressionist, aka, Noiseguy. He also contributed to my Tips and Tricks from the Experts page. Read his wonderful article here. Tips and Tricks From the Experts

What's Right With This Picture?

SingWithOurKids.com Day 26: Exploring the Free Resources

When I started the community project I hadn't thought about the documentation I would need. I was unbelievably lucky to have two moms who were also photographers attend most of my events. Without any direction from me they snapped amazing photos of children and families, photos I couldn't have been able to move forward without. The photo below is possibly my favorite. For in the moment I hadn't realized what it so perfectly captured... do you see it?
All of these children and their grown-ups are engaged. Not one is on a cell phone; all are simply and incredibly present. I honestly got chills when I saw it and realized what I hadn't seen before. And I thought, it is possible to do this. This photo is my north star for this project. With deepest appreciation to Carey Moncaster, photographer, mother,  and human being extraordinaire.

All of the songs and printable books, and homemade instruments and information on Sing With Our Kids are simply there to support singing in real time, with our friends and families, so that we reap all the benefits it has to offer. Check it out, if you haven't already.- and sing to be present!  SingWithOurKids.com

All are present and accounted for!

Pop Goes the Weasel; A Canary in the Coal Mine

Sing With Our Kids.com Day 25 of 30: Exploring the Free Resources

I started Sing With Our Kids with two broad goals:

• Provide families with (traditional) songs to sing.
• Provide  opportunities to sing them, so they are sung

Why? Because in order to sing together, we need to know the same songs. Songs are like familiar expressions. Just as most people know what the expression "canary in the coal mine" means, songs carry unspoken understanding of language, culture, and ancestry. The good news is, that there are so many songs to choose from that you can pick and choose the ones you like. So if a weasel isn't your thing, there are plenty more for you to share. Keep singing to keep these songs around for our children's children,.

In my work as a songwriter and performer I see every day which songs are slipping away from our collective memory. Pop Goes the Weasel is one of those. Whenever I do this event with a parachute and a ball (to pop at the appropriate time), I spend some time teaching the song to many of the people gathered. These songs that have been around for hundreds of years have served us well; connecting one generation to the next and giving us a common thread. I hope they will be there for our children's children. I hope I'm doing my part to make sure they are. If you don't know Pop Goes the Weasel! you can of course hear and download it and many other traditional songs on Sing With Our Kids .

Perfect Song for a Windy Fall Day!

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Timing Is Everything!

SingWithOurKids.com Day 24 of 30
Exploring the Free Resources

Since I'm doing my community project in real time, things crop up that are new and will be added to the website. And sometimes you find the perfect book (of sources this is subjective, but nevertheless..). At Island Books last week I was introduced to one of these perfect books. Beautiful illustrations, rhyming text that's fun to read, a very sweet story, and of course- it's about singing..singing together! I can't wait to share it tomorrow, and coincidentally my free song of the month is  Everybody Has a Song to Sing . I plan to read the book and sing the song, and I invite you to do the same.
#singwithourkids

The perfect companion book to my new song, "Everybody Has a Song to Sing"

The Thing About Singing...

SingWithOurKids.com Day 23 of 30
Exploring the Free Resources

The thing about singing is that no matter where you are, if you start doing it- and you sing songs people know, they will join in- especially if there are children! When I put word out to my community that I was doing a project and anyone could invite me to lead a sing-along, this is what happened. A block party, complete with street sign, fire engine, families, hamburgers, scooters and helmets, political signs, and singing! By holding singing events in unexpected places, I hope to get people thinking about how much fun it is to sing. And once that happens, the door is open.What songs would you sing in your neighborhood at a block party? Which songs would your neighbors know? Visit the Sing With Our Kids Song Library for ideas about traditional songs and roundup anyone who plays and instrument to join your neighborhood band. Every song has an mp3 and lead sheet with
chords to get you going.