This list began when I decided to add a picture book per week to our piano practice. My library did not have such a list or a way to help me search for music themed titles. So I buckled down and did some research. I uncovered a mountain of books and musical story recordings. The titles listed here are the ones I have checked out personally and we enjoyed. Some books can be sung, some are in prose about a composer or a work, some are rhythmic and can be drummed while read, and some have characters who make music in some way. The list of recordings at the bottom are great for car rides. Thank goodness for libraries.
Picture Books to SING
- The Ants Go Marching by Jeffrey Scherer
- The Bear Went Over the Mountain by Iza Trapani
- Goodnight My Angel by Billy Joel
- Jo MacDonald Hiked in the Woods by Mary Quattlebaum (tune ‘Old MacDonald”)
- Over in the Forest by Marianne Berkes
- Over in the Meadow any version
- Somewhere in the Ocean by Jennifer Ward
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow paintings by Eric Puybaret (CD with Judy Collins singing)
- Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale
- There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea by Jennifer Ward
- There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by
Picture Books about PIANO
- Henry the Steinway: A Star is Born by Sally Coveleskie (three books in series)
- My Friend the Piano by Catherine Cowan
- Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum by Robert Parker
- Song of Middle C by Alison McGhee (recital jitters)
- Yellow Umbrella by Jae Soo Liu (No words book, CD with original piano music for each page. My FAVORITE book. Perfect for a rainy day.)
Picture Books about JAZZ
- Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford
- Duke Ellington by Andrea and Brian Pinkney (NO CD, playing a Duke Ellington CD before or while reading really sets the mood)
- Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa by Andrea and Brian Pinkney (CD has full narration set to authentic tracks)
- Jazz Fly and Jazz Fly 2 by Matthew Gollub (CD of jazzy narration)
- Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! by Wynton Marsalis
- This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt (sing to tune of “This Old Man”)
Picture Books about WORKS & PIECES OF MUSIC
- Bach’s Goldberg Variations by Anna Harwell Celenza (CD)
- Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker by Anna Harwell Celenza (CD)
- The Farwell Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza (CD)
- The Heroic Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza (CD)
- Pictures at an Exhibition by Anna Harwell Celenza (CD)
- Rhapsody in Blue by Anna Harwell Celenza (CD)
- Saint-Saens’s Danse Macabre by Anna Harwell Celenza (CD)
- The Star-Spangled Banner: America’s National Anthem and Its History illustrated by Todd Ouren and the book illustrated by Peter Spier
- Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by Anna Harwell Celenza
Picture Books about ORCHESTRA or INSTRUMENTS
- Arturo’s Baton by Syd Hoff
- Berlioz the Bear by Jan Brett
- I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello by Barbara Gariel (Sing it)
- Listen to My Trumpet by Mo Willems
- Mole Music by David McPhail (Mole buys a violin)
- The Philharmonic Gets Dressed by Karla Kuskin
- Tubby the Tuba by Paul Tripp (CD with narration)
- Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss (Brings up “solo, duo, trio, etc.”)
Picture Books with STRONG RHYTHMS (Read while tapping or drumming)
- Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson (and all other Bear… titles by her)
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle
- Dr. Seuss’s ABC Book by Dr. Seuss
- Hand, Hand, Fingers Thumb by Al Perkins
- Jamberry by Bruce Degen
- Tanka Tanka Skunk by Steve Webb
Picture Books about HOLIDAYS
- Good King Wenceslas: A Traditional Tale by Marshall Cavendish (Sing along)
- Twelve Days of Christmas
Other Picture Books
- A Duck In New York City by Connie Kaldor (CD with songs, not narration)
- Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger illustrated by Michael Hays
- Do Re Mi If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido d’Arezzo by Susan Roth
- The Fabulous Song by Don Gillmor (Kid plays instruments poorly but writes and conducts his own music)
- Listen to the Birds: An Introdocution to Classical Msuci by Ana Gerhard (CD of excerpts of pieces about birds to match illustrations)
- Lizard’s Song by George Shannon
- The Lost Music: Gustav Mole’s War on Noise by Kathryn Meyrick
- The Maestro Plays by Bill Martin Jr.
- Marvin Makes Music by Marvin Hamlisch (story about performance jitters)
- The Musical Life of Gustav Mole by Kathryn Meyrick (CD)
- A Winter Concert by Yuku Takao (lovely wordless picture book)
Recordings of MUSCIAL STORIES (perfect for car rides)
- A Classical Kids Christmas by Classical Kids
- Beethoven Lives Upstairs by Classical Kids
- The Carnival of the Animals by London Philharmonic (Maestro Classics)
- Hallelujah Handel! by Classical Kids
- Juanita the Spanish Lobster by London Philharmonic (Maestro Classics)
- Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel London Philharmonic (Maestro Classics)
- Mother Goose Meets Father Bach by Monique Mead
- Mozart’s Magic Fantasy: A Journey Through ‘The Magic Flute’ by Classical Kids
- Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage by Classical Kids
- Mr. Bach Comes to Call by Classical Kids
- Peter and the Wolf by London Philharmonic (Maestro Classics)
- Seal Maiden: A Celtic Musical by Karan Casey
- Song of the Unicorn: A Merlin Tale by Classical Kids
- The Story of Beethoven in Words and Music by Arthur Hannes (Introduction to the Classics)
- The Story of Swan Lake by London Philharmonic (Maestro Classics)
- Tchaikovsky Discovers America by Classical Kids
- The Tortoise and the Hare by London Philharmonic (Maestro Classics)
- Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery by Classical Kids