Books about music are great tools that help us to connect with our children. They allow our kids to sing, clap, learn new songs and learn more about music in general. We put together a list of five great music-themed books for young children that your little ones will love! Leave us a comment below to let us know which one your kids enjoyed the most.
189 Canaries
Written by Dieter Böge
Illustrated by Elsa Klever
Translated by Laura Watkinson
HARDCOVER
Coming Soon: 9/7/2021
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5574-9
In a cozy room in northern Germany, a yellow canary sings rolling melodies to the miners and carpenters of the Harz mountains. But today a bird dealer has come, and he will take the canary far, far away from everything he knows. The journey leads onto trains and steamships, across Europe and even the Atlantic. At last the canary arrives in a room in New York where he hears a strangely familiar song…
This beautiful, poignant book introduces readers to the little-known history of a beloved songbird. Lushly illustrated in rich colors, 189 Canaries is an unforgettable story about music, migration, and the search for home.
Good King Wenceslas
John M. Neale
Tim Ladwig
Ages 4-8
Full-color Illustrations Throughout
HARDCOVER
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5209-032
This story, based on actual events that occurred in the tenth century, tells of a kind-hearted king and his page who set out to help a poor man on a cold winter’s night and experience a miracle along the way. Tim Ladwig’s energetic paintings bring new life to the familiar words and remind readers of all ages that helping others is a blessing.
I, Vivaldi
Janice Shefelman
Ages 7-11
Full-color Illustrations Throughout
HARDCOVER
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5318-932
In this dynamic picture-book biography, told as if by Vivaldi himself, the famous musician’s energetic personality and steadfast dedication to music come alive.
Despite his mother’s vow for him to become a priest, young Vivaldi is only interested in music. He soon grows from a feisty boy who wants to play the violin into a stubborn young man who puts his musical training ahead of his studies for priesthood.
Beautiful, ornate artwork portrays the spirit and splendor of Vivaldi’s hometown, Venice. A historical note, musical score, and glossary will help readers more fully appreciate Vivaldi’s life and musical genius.
The Song of Francis and the Animals
Pat Mora
David Frampton
Ages 4-8
HARDCOVER
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5253-332
With lilting verse and playful imagery, award-winning author Pat Mora celebrates the tender relationship between the beloved saint and the animals he loved. Woodcut artist David Frampton captures the exuberant songs of Francis and the animals in charming, colorful woodcuts that underscore the harmony between humans and the natural world.
Inspired by Saint Francis’s own reverence and love for animals, this book will encourage readers young and old to join in with the clucks of the chickens, the whirring of the cicadas, and the songs of the nightingale.
A Story Like the Wind
Gill Lewis
Jo Weaver
Ages 9 to 14
HARDCOVER
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5514-580
A masterful story about the power of hope
Rami is in a small dinghy filled with strangers, all of them refugees seeking a safe harbor. But with no motor, no oars, and a rising tide, their situation looks bleak. So Rami pulls out the only thing he brought with him—a violin—and begins to tell his fellow refugees a story through his music. And his story, about an indomitable white stallion and its struggle for freedom, gives them all the strength to remember the past and hope for the future.
A Story Like the Wind is a beautifully illustrated fable that shows how music and stories can bring people together. Readers of all ages will be entranced by this sweeping story that feels both new and timeless.
