Making Sounds
                 Julian Rowe & Molly Perham    ISBN 0-516-08136-5

This is a nice little Science of Sound book that explains, in simple terms, how sounds is made and transmitted.  Not only does it explain it in simple terms, but it gives examples of how the students can make certain sounds (balloons squeaking, rubber bands twanging, pins dropping) and compares these things to how other things work (voices, guitars, etc.).  Not only are the examples good for the children, but they've been good for me when I need to give an impromptu explanation for the dreaded, "Why," questions and I want to make sure that the student understands the answer!
 

Mary Wore Her Red Dress
                                        Merle Peek         ISBN 0-395-90022-0

This is a tiny little book.  I wouldn't suggest it as a book to show to your class as you sing it.  But, as a book for you students to read after you've taught them the song, it is perfect!  It is just big enough for a child's hands and has pages as thick as cardboard for easy turning.  Children really like this old Texas folksong and will probably love this inexpensive little book as well!
 

Max Found Two Sticks    Brian Pinkney    ISBN 0-671-78776-4

Submitted by Michael Macro.  I was telling Mr. Macro about this web-site, and right after saying that he wanted the URL, he handed me this book and asked if was on the list.  Well...it is now.  Mr. Macro is a classroom teacher (5th grade) and I'm not sure in exactly what setting he uses this book, but it's definitely a good one.  Max doesn't feel like talking, one day, and finds two heavy twigs which he uses to beat out rhythms on anything nearby.  He mimics just about anything he hears and communicates just fine that way.  The end of the tale is heart-warming and shows the marvel of passing the love of music from generation to generation.  Definitely a book I'll be buying in the near future!
 

Meet the Orchestra                                      ISBN 0-15-200222-7
Te presento a la orquesta                             ISBN 0-15-200275-8
                           Ann Hayes & Karmen Thompson

This is a wonderful little book that introduces the instruments found in the orchestra (much like Zin! Zin! Zin! : A Violin, but with more instrument described) and does in in greater detail.  While Zin! Zin! Zin! would be a great initial book for introducing the instruments, older students or students with questions left unanswered have enjoyed this book.  I have included both the Spanish and English versions as I use both with my students and they are both excellent resources.

 
Mole Music                    David McPhail        ISBN 0-8050-2819-6
 
Mole is happy with his life, but there is something missing and he doesn't know what that something is until one day he sees a man on the television playing the most beautiful music on a violin.  Immediately, Mole orders his own violin and thus continues a story that will affect many more people than Mole will ever know.  Not only is this a fantastic story about music and the fuits of continued practice, but it is also a marvelous way to show children that their actions may have profound effects beyond what they can see or imagine.  Don't forget to point out the small pictures that occur before the story actually starts....they're priceless!
 

Moses Goes to a Concert                              ISBN 0-3743-5067-1
                            Isaac Millman

I saw this book advertised in a magazine called "Teaching Tolerance."  This book tells the tale of Moses and his fellow classmates (all of whom are deaf) and what happens when their teacher takes them to a Concert for Young People.  The book is written with care and includes ASL phrases (shown to students by Moses) which correspond to the story.  It also has a great message of empowerment that, while directed toward children who are deaf, is good for any child to hear.  I found that this book was ideal for my classes since within my class I incorporate ASL phrases and signs for the children to practice.  Not many books will combine music and deaf culture and direct toward children!
 

Mozart (Famous Children Series)
                                             Ann Rachlin    ISBN 0-8120-4989-6

In this nice little book, Ann Rachlin recounts the childhood of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  It is written in language very easy for children to understand, and the cartoon-like illustrations are fun to look at while the book is being read.  It is a new book in my little library, but one that my students enjoy.
 
 
Mummer's Song                    Bud Davidge    ISBN 0-531-06825-0
 
This is a great book, and I'm glad I came across it before it went out-of-print.  It comes with a cute song that you can sing with the book and sheds light on a custom that was once in danger of dying out:   the Mummers who roam door-to-door to entertain people during the Christmas holidays.   This beautiful tradition hails from Newfoundland and continues along today.  This book is a wonderful (and popular, with my students) way to bring some multicultural learning in from just north of the border...
 

Music (Eyewitness Books)    Neil Ardley    ISBN 0-394-82259-5

This book is a great source of photographs and descriptions for my students.  It's format lends itself to being used as a reference material and I have never actually read them this book cover to cover.  But, the last time one of my 5th graders asked me what the inside of a piano looked like, I was able to turn to page 46 and show them (since there was no piano in their room).
 

Music, Music for Everyone!                        ISBN 0-688-07811-7
¡Música para todo el mundo!                       ISBN 0-688-14021-1
                                                      Vera B. Williams

Rosa's grandmother is sick...and, as her family begins spending its money for medicines and treatment, Rosa decides to get her friends together to play some music to cheer her grandmother up...and then comes up with a fantastic idea.  Not only does this book fit into my music curriculum, but it reinforces the idea of solidarity between friends and family.  I've only been able to read this to my students once, but they enjoyed it a great deal and I suspect that it will become one of my more popular books.
 

The Music Pack/a Unique Three-Dimensional Tour...
  Ron Van Der Meer & Michael Berkeley   ISBN 0-679-43098-9

This is a book that my children very rarely get their hands on without supervision.  There are pop ups, and moving parts that allow students (and other questioning non-music teachers) to learn about music as they do.  Since there are so many moveable paper parts, I let my older kids explore under my supervision.  In addition the book itself, the Music Pack comes with a small musical dictionary, a CD recording of 20 masterpieces, and a commentary on those 20 pieces.  It's a really fun book!
 

My Very First Mother Goose
                                        ed. Iona Opie        ISBN 1-56402-620-5

Mother Goose is classic, but so few children seem to recognize the name.  So, when I found this book with fun and beautiful illustrations at such a good price (I found my copy at a garage sale), I had to have it.  I have seen many of my  primary students go for this book first when they get free time for music and choose to read.  And, I've even caught one of them trying to turn the rhyme into a song using sol and mi!  Even though that particular child didn't know who or what Mother Goose was, it was clear to me that I had made a good choice including this book in my rolling library!