Hearing Things                                             ISBN 0-516-44909-5
Lo que escuchas                                           ISBN 0-516-54909-X
                                        Allan Fowler

This is just a little science book that talks about sound and things that we hear.  It talks briefly about the physical make-up of the ear and describes different loud and quiet things that people hear.  Although there is no actual music in the book, it works nicely with the small "Science of Sound" unit that I teach every year, especially for the younger children.
 
 

The Highwayman              Alfred Noyes       ISBN 0-192-72133-X

Submitted by Colleen.  This is a tale of true love, hidden jealousy and murder!  And, yes, you can teach it to children!  Although, I would suggest no younger than 4th grade for the story.poem itself and no less that middle or high school for this version.  In it, a young woman and her love, a highwayman or bandit, make a plan to meet in the night soon.  The redcoats are alerted, tie and gag the lovely young woman, and lay in wait for the notorious highwayman.  To warn her love, the young woman does the only thing she is able:  manages to get her fingers on a gun and pull the trigger, which in addition to warning him , send a bullet through her body leaving her dead.  The highwayman, hearing the shot and guessing that the redcoats are there, rides headlong into the trap, hoping his true love is not dead...and dies in the ensuing battle.  How does this relate to music?  Well the poem was set to music by Loreena McKennitt on her album, "The Book of Secrets."  And, if you ever do a folk tale unit with your students, or study songs that tell stories (like I do), then this tragic tale would be a good addition to your curriculum!