Happy Top 10 Tuesday friends! Today’s lesson was inspired by an online friend with a shared love of singable books. She I both understand the value of musical storytelling and incorporate books often in our lessons. Whenever I teach music classes to young preschool-aged children, I always try to break up the class between singing songs, exploring musical instruments and musical storytelling. The varied lessons usually help to engage and maintain the attention span of little ones, because we all know that children love books!
Today, on this Top 10 Tuesday morning, it is the first day of summer camp! I am so excited to go meet new campers, work with new staff and introduce new curriculum that I’ve been working so hard on. This camp week’s theme is “Country Hoedown,” so I’ve tapped into my inner cowgirl and am hollerin’ a huge “Yeehaw” across the Tucson desert skies!
I have picked 3 books to use during this “Country Hoedown” session and thought that they would be a great Top 10 Tuesday activity for you to share with your children. Enjoy!
Book # 1: Tex and Sugar: A Big City Kitty Ditty (by Barbara Johansen Newman)
Here is the plot summary listed on Amazon.com:
“Meet two delightful country-crooning cats who will have kids singing their praises: Tex Mex Rex and Sugar Lee Snughead. Both kitties have left their small towns and come to the big city in search of fame and fortune on the stage. And why not? Tex’s tunes “could put smiles on fields full of cattle,” while Sugar’s voice “called as sweetly as catbirds in June.”But city life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be—until Tex and Sugar find each other…and discover what beautiful music they make together. Like the best country songs, Tex & Sugar is funny, touching, and carries a great message: Believe in Dreams, Darlin’, You Know They’ll Find You.”
Here is the link to purchase the book through Amazon: CLICK HERE
Tucson Songstress’s Note: This story is written with a steady rhythm and a sing-song humor. My suggestion is to take out rhythm sticks and have your child tap along as you read. If no sticks are available, tapping along on your lap is the next best thing.
Book #2: Sing, Sophie! (by Dayle Ann Dodds)
Here is the plot summary listed on Amazon.com:
“PreSchool-Grade 3. Fabulous cowgirl fiction. Sophie can make up rhymes and sing them with heart. But it’s too hot for her family to appreciate her talent. She is brushed off by her mom, her sister, her brother, and finally her dad, all of whom are otherwise occupied. And what songs to scorn! “Ducks and geese, they make me sneeze, I have freckles on my knees….My ears are big, my head is small, it doesn’t bother me at all….’Cause I’m a cowgirl, Yippee-ky-yo!” When a nighttime thunderstorm arrives, her baby brother can only be soothed by Sophie’s singing “louder than thunder, stronger than lightning.” Dodds creates a spirited, funny heroine, giving readers a glimpse at what younger times might have been like for Slue-foot Sue and Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind. Litzinger uses vibrant shades of pink, coral, and green to match Sophie’s funky originality. With watercolors, gouache, and pencil, she sketches faces with tiny eyes. The figures resemble a ’90s update of Joan Walsh Anglund’s folks, but with lots more humor and character. The font used for the songs looks hand-lettered, emphasizing the unique style of the rhymes. This crooner deserves center stage.”
Here is the link to purchase the book through Amazon: CLICK HERE
Tucson Songtress’s Note: Most of this story is sung by Sophie. When I read this story to children, I actually make use a melody and sing the words as Sophie would. Typically, I find myself using the melody from “Polly Wolly Doodle All Day.” It works well and is age appropriate. Sophie also croons the songs while playing her guitar. It’s a little difficult to sing, play guitar and read the story all at the same time, but if you have a guitar, it might be nice to talk about the guitar with your child. Show them the strings, the tuners and let them strum.
Book #3: Sunshine on My Shoulders (by John Denver)
Here is the plot summary listed on Amazon.com:
“This exuberant adaptation of the famous song by John Denver is sure to make you smile, even on a dark and cuddly evening with your child. It helps if you can sing–the musical score is included–or just pop in the CD that comes with the hardback edition of the book. Sunshine On My Shoulders celebrates friendship, sunshine and the simple joy of being together. A charming little girl and her father (who looks a bit like John Denver) enjoy a day together in the sun with a guitar, butterflies, a cat, a mouse, and lots of other critters. The illustrations abound with light, color and lots of humorous detail. This is the first of the John Denver & Kids series.”
Here is the link to purchase the book through Amazon.com: CLICK HERE
Tucson Songstress’s Note: John Denver was one of the first cross-over artists. Some considered him to be a country singer, and some considered him to be a folk musician. Regardless of the category you put him in, this is a beautiful song with charming illustrations that will be sure to hold your child’s attention. The book comes with a CD of John Denver singing it as you flip the pages. I encourage you to play the CD with you child until you both learn the song. Once the song is learn, try singing the song together without the CD.
Most libraries across the country offer a summer reading program. It is so important to try to maintain your child’s abilities throughout the summer, and I will be offering musical stories to you all summer long. Please check back here every Tuesday for a Top 10 Tuesday music activity to share with your child, and every couple of weeks, I’ll give you more singable stories to share. For previous top 10 Tuesday activities, click HERE, and to see a complete list of the Top 10 instruments under $40 that will help promote music education in the home, click HERE. I look forward to making music with you all summer long. Until next week, play on!
