Take
Me Out to the Ballgame
Maryann Kovalski ISBN 0-590-45639-3
This is a neat little book. There are a couple of questionably
written pages of dialogue in the beginning of the book, but the rest of
the book is filled with the lyrics of the popular song (melodic sheet music
is provided at the back for those of you who've never had the fun of singing
this song at a live baseball game) and the illustrations show us what a
fun day Jenny and Joanna have with their Grandma at the stadium (and
how Grandma saves the day...and the game). Unfortunately, this book
is out of print (I found it at a garage sale...yes, I look for these books
everywhere),
but if you click on the title, Amazon.com
will try and find it for you...Good Luck!
Tchaikovsky
Discovers America
Esther Kalman ISBN 0-531-06894-3
In this book, real life journal entries from Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's
visit to the United States of America are woven into a fictional
tale of a young daughter of Russian immigrants who meets this quiet composer.
Although the story is rather sedate, my students were very interested in
learning a little about the man who's music they had been listening to
for the past week (and that you to Ms. Brossoit for borrowing my CDs and
making that possible). I feel they truly got a send of of who this
composer was, and after the reading of the story, they asked me to go back
to certain areas and asked some pretty insightful questions about Tchaikovsky
and Russia in general. If you teach your students about specific
composers, then this would be an excellent book to add to your library.
Ten
Little Rabbits
Virginia Grossman
& Sylvia Long ISBN 0-87701-552-X
This book actually has very little direct correlation with my music
program, but my students and I love it. It is a counting book, each
page describing what a Native American rabbit of a particular tribe is
doing. Each description is in a simple rhyme (hence my connection
to music...my students and I come up with our own melodies) and each tribe
is described in slightly more detail in the back of the book. So,
in addition to having a little bit of musical value, it has a large multi-cultural
connection which is not only important to my school district, but important
to me, as well.
There
Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Pam Adams
ISBN 0-85953-018-3
This is another book that takes a folk-song from the United States of
America and uses illustrations and die-cuts to make it even more engaging
for students. From the very beginning, the student is introduced
to a large woman. The die-cuts let you in to see what she has swallowed...and
as the animals get bigger, so do the die cuts. I've used this book
in tandem with other teachers' materials for the same song and the children
have loved it. I wouldn't suggest it for many of the older students...but
it's fantastic for the primary grades.
This
Is the House That Jack Built
Pam Adams
ISBN 0-85953-075-2
This is yet another (don't worry, there's only one more after this)
book that takes a folk-rhyme and uses illustrations and die-cuts to make
it more fun for kids to sing and read. This is another cumulative
rhyme which is great for students who are learning to match sounds with
words. And, like the other books, by the time the story is finished
there is a mob of people and pets on the page! Definitely a fun book!
This Old Man Pam Adams ISBN 0-85953-026-4
Alrighty, this is the last book that I own that was illustrated by Pam
Adams. Once again, she take the familiar folk-song from teh U.S.A.
This time however, it is not a cumulative song. It is a counting
song, though, and there's even parts of the pages that introduce addition.
Each old man is illustrated with a large number on his chest (which helps
with the learning of numbers) and is doing exactly what the song says.
So, not only is this a great way for students to learn words, but also
numbers and addition.
To
Every Thing There is a Season
Leo & Diane Dillon
ISBN 0-590-47887-7
This is a fascinating book! When I saw the cover, I knew I wanted to page through it, and as soon as I opened it up, I knew that I had to have to for my students. It is based on the famous verses from Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, followed by 1:4), and therefore, biblical in nature. But, instead of coming to the art from a purely Christian basis, Leo and Diane Dillon (who have won numerous awards in the past) take each set of verses and illustrate them in styles from throughout time and from around the globe. Included are Austrailian, Chinese, Egyptian, Ethopian, German, Greek, Indian, Inuit, Irish, Japanese, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Native American, Russian, and Thai. The artwork is amazing, not only in its variety but in its beauty as well. I use it with a world map, the Bible, and a Byrds CD to make one really neat lesson.
To Everything Bob Barner ISBN 0-811-82086-6
Another take on the Book of Ecclesiastes is this selection from Bob
Barner. This, exactly like the other, presents the verses from Ecclesiastes,
only Mr. Barner chose to modernize the verses. Also, the paintings
in this book are vibrant and colorful and all follow the same technique.
Definitely a book that would dovetail well with To
Every Thing There is a Season if a person wished to compare and contrast
books on the same subject!
Tuesday
David Wiesner
ISBN 0-395-5513-7
Hmmmm...a book without words used for a Music class? Of
course! I think I must have been the last on the bandwagon about
this book. But, when I finally did come across it, I bought
it immediately. I won't tell you the story (there are no words....how
could I?) But, I will say that when music of different tempi are
played for the children as they look at the wodnerful pictures in the book,
it can change their whole concept of the book....and that was a wonderful
way for me to introduce tempo as well the affect music can have on you
point-of-view. Besides, the book is just, simply, cool!
Turandot Marianna Meyers ISBN 0-688-09074-5
This is, simply, a beautiful book. It is the first book I began
to use to introduce opera to my students and, I think, it is by far their
favorite. It tells the story of the Princess of Peking, Turandot,
who kills any suitor that cannot answer her three riddles, and Calaf, a
travelling prince himself, who answers the riddles correctly and presents
one of his own. My students love trying to answer Turandot's
riddles and once they learn that this is an opera they have become very
interested in hearing the opera....whoopee!
Twelve
Lizards Leaping
Jan Romero Stevens ISBN 0-873-58744-8
Submitted by Mrs.
Calderwood. This is a retelling of the classic song, "The Twelve
Days of Christmas" with a southwest flair. Instead of Lords
a-Leaping and Maids a-Milking we have, in this book, Turquoise Rings and
Quail in a Palo Verde Tree. Traditionalists may not appreciate
the new twist, but for a person who's looking for a way to redo the Twelve
Days of Christmas and would also like some literature their students could
use to bolster their learning, this book is for you!
Twinkle,
Twinkle, Little Star
Iza Trapani ISBN 1-879-08587-9
This is an adorable book! Iza Trapani skillfully adds 10 new verses
to the classic songs and takes on a trip with an impish little star and
the adventurous girl who wishes upon it. The illustrations range
from bright and spectacular (haven't you ever wanted to play on Saturn's
rings?) to warm and homey. My students really like this book, and
the repetition of such a familiar tune throughout the new verses bolsters
their confidence to try and sing along when they see familiar words!
I would classify this one as a must have...!
Ty's
One-Man Band
Mildred Pitts Walter ISBN 0-590-40178-5
This is a nice book filled with onomatopoeia that tells the story of a young boy named Ty who meets a wanderer named Andro who teaches him how to make his own instruments and play them as his own one-man band. And, once Ty's one-man band has incorporated his friends and has the entire area dancing and hollering for more, Andro slips away into the night as mysteriously as he came. My students wondered how many other children Andro has taught. One of them even asked me if I was Andro...