Skip to main content
The twelve days of Christmas
Spirin, Gennady
The Twelve days of Christmas is sung in churches, houses, and concert halls throughout the Christmas season. It is hard to imagine a Christmas celebration without it. From the partridge in the pear tree to the five golden rings to the twelve drummers drumming, carolers enjoy taking turns singing different verses. Gennady Spirin's paintings bring new life and spectacular beauty to this classic song, making it a gift to be treasured at Christmastime. An illustrator' note addresses the song's origin and history.

Buffalo
Brodsky, Beverly
The buffalo was very important for the survival of Native Americans. Learn about the history and importance of the buffalo. Excerpts from Native American songs and many original paintings add an artistic dimension.

In my momma's kitchen
Nolen, Jerdine
A young girl's fondest memories happen in her momma's kitchen. Achievements, family, stories, cooking and love are all celebrated in the kitchen. Great-Aunt Caroline, corn-pudding time and nighttime serenades are a few of the special moments in this loving family.

Say hey: A song of Willie Mays
Mandel, Peter
Willie Mays grows up in a time when black athletes were separate from white athletes in America. But due to Willie's baseball skills, the New York Giants recruit him. Willie breaks many baseball records because of his fast running and powerful hitting power.

Hush harbor: Praying in secret
Evans, Freddi Williams
Simmy is both excited and nervous for his job as Scout during the community meeting. Simmy is excited because this means the elders trust him, but he is nervous because slaves are not supposed to gather and sing together. Simmy must be very careful and listen for the master during the meeting.

Rockin' reptiles
Calmenson, Stephanie//Cole, Joanna
Allie the Alligator is a typical young girl. She and her two girlfriends have lots of fun together playing games and dressing up. The three of them will do anything to be able to go to the Rockin Reptiles concert, their favorite band. There's a catch though -- only two can go.

The face at the window
Hanson, Regina
Catching sight of Miss Nella in her window is supposed to be very bad, Dora's friends tell her. When Dora tries to steal a mango from Miss Nella by throwing a stone, Dora is frightened by the sight of Miss Nella in her window. Dora soon discovers that Miss Nella isn't evil. She is just lonely and sick and has no one there to make it better for her.

Paul
Kuskin, Karla
Using his imagination, Paul goes on a fantastic trip looking for his magical grandmother. Along the way, he sings a song that his grandmother eventually loves.

The minstrel and the dragon-pup
Sutcliff, Rosemary
A ministrel finds a dragon-pup egg on a beach and adopts it after it hatches. The minstrel raises the dragon-pup, Lucky, until he is stolen. Due to Lucky's absence, the minstrel's songs suffer until he is once again united with Lucky.

Grandpa's song
Johnston, Tony
Grandpa is the loudest, happiest singer there is. But when he forgets the words to his favorite song, his granddaughter helps him to remember it.

Frank and ernest play ball
Day, Alexandra
Frank and Ernest are a bear and an elephant who need jobs. Mr. Palmer lets them manage his baseball team. They do not know very much about baseball so they are always looking up baseball terms in the baseball dictionary.

I know an old lady who swallowed a fly
Rounds, Glen
During this familiar folksong, an old lady swallows all sorts of animals. In each instance, she swallows another animal in hopes of catching the previously swallowed animal.

Drummer hoff
Emberley, Barbara
This story is a folk song which depicts seven soldiers building a cannon. Drummer Hoff is the one soldier who shoots the cannon.

This old man: The counting song
Koontz, Robin Michal
Learning to count to ten is made easy when you sing "This Old Man" and rhyme each of the numbers with different words.

My gran
Boon, Debbie
A little girl has a very special grandmother. When Gran visits, they make things, eat different foods, and spend fun time together.

Truck song
Siebert, Diane
A rhymed text and several illustrations describe the journey of a transcontinental truck.

This old man: A musical counting book
Haber, Jon Z.
Enjoy the pop-up book version of the song "This Old Man" as you learn how to count and rhyme numbers with different words.

I like winter
Lenski, Lois
A boy tells of all the things he likes about winter, including snow, Christmas, ice skating, sledding, etc.

A-hunting we will go!
Kellogg, Steven
As it gets close to bedtime, a brother and sister gather up their animal friends and go on an adventure because they do not want to go to sleep. They go hunting for more friends and fun and travel through woods and across an ocean. As the children and animals get sleepy, they return home to take a bath, brush their teeth, and put on their pajamas. The words of the story are set to the classic children's tune A-Hunting we will go.

Just enough is plenty: A hanukkah tale
Goldin, Barbara Diamond
It is almost time for Hanukkah. Malka's family invites a peddler for dinner. They are surprised when they wake up in the morning and find that the peddler has left behind wonderful gifts.

Lucky song
Williams, Vera B
Evie receives everything she wants from her family, including something new to wear and a kite to fly. One of the best things Evie receives is a song from her father.

Rainbow in the morning
Withers, C.//Jackson, A.
You will laugh and have fun with these jokes, riddles, limericks, and songs. Which one is your favorite?

Cakes and miracles: A purim tale
Goldin, Barbara Diamond
Hershel is a blind boy who loves to play outside and catch frogs in the river. His mother is always angry when he comes home covered with mud. One day Hershel has a dream that he can see. After that, he is able to help his mom make three-cornered fat cakes and cookies to sell at the market so they can earn money.

Going to my nursery school
Kuklin, Susan
Heath describes his day playing with his classmates at nursery school. The children play with the water table, the class rabbit, and the blocks. After their snack, they run, climb, ride, slide, bounce balls, play chase and pretend games on the rooftop playground.

Yoko
Wells, Rosemary
When Yoko brings sushi for lunch at school, everyone makes fun of her and calls her weird. However, her teacher comes through with a plan to involve the students in learning about international foods. Will anyone try the sushi?

Harry and the lady next door
Zion, Gene
Harry doesn't like the lady next door because she sings very high and loud and it makes his ears hurt. Harry tries to have the lady sing lower and quieter.

Johnny crow's new garden
Brooke, L. Leslie
Johnny Crow has a new garden of the local animals. They sang, dance, and have a party thanking Johnny Crow.

Anna's garden songs
Steele, Mary
Anna spends the day in her garden. She picks beets, potatoes, rhubarb, radishes, lettuce, carrots, peas, tomatoes, cherries, onions, cabbage, leek, herbs, and nasturtium. Anna likes to sing as she picks her vegetables.

Whale song
Johnston, Tony
A little boy thinks that whales count when they sing. He believes that whales don't just make noise.

Shaker boy
Ray, Mary Lyn
At age six, Celeb comes to live with the Shakers and he spends the rest of his life in their unique culture. He learns their ways, their songs, and is inspired by angels.

The secret of the stones
San Souci, Robert D.
John and Clara work very hard all day, but they have no children to love. One night Clara finds two little white stones and brings them home with her. When they came home the next night all of the chores had been done, and John and Clara must find out who their helpers are and how to help them!

Gabriella's song
Fleming, Candace
When Gabriella begins to hum a tune, the inhabitants of Venice begin to hum along too. The tune makes some happy, others sad, and some even swoon. The power of music is clearly portrayed in this story.

Hey, little ant
Hoose, Phillip//Hoose, Hannah
While playing with his friends one day, a little boy spies an ant. As he prepares to squash the tiny insect, the boy listens to the ant's plea not to step on him.

It's about time, jesse bear
Carlstrom, Nancy White
Jesse Bear tells of his adventures of his day from start to finish. He tells his adventures through songs. Jesse Bear gets sick and must stay in bed to get better. Mama Bear comes in to put Jesse Bear to bed for the night and tells him to rest up for adventures tomorrow.

Irene jennie and the christmas masquerade: The johnkankus
Smalls, Irene
Irene Jennie, a young girl living on a plantation, is sad when she can't spend Christmas with her parents. She prays for things to change and a Christmas parade cheers her up. As she watches the parade with her godmother, she receives a nice surprise.

Yankee doodle
Kellogg, Steven
A young boy accompanies Yankee Doodle on travels through the battle fields of the Revolutionary War. Sing through the verses of Yankee Doodle as you journey with them.

The desert mermaid (La sirena del desierta)
Blanco, Alberto
The last of the desert mermaids is found living in an oasis in the Sonara desert. An Indian and his horse take her on a journey to find the roots of her ancestors. Here she finds the gift of song and can finally join the thousands of mermaids riding the waves.

The little fir tree
Brown, Margaret Wise
A fir tree is cut down to be used as a Christmas tree for a boy with a handicap. After the holidays, the tree is replanted in the forest. Every year, the boy's father digs up the tree to be decorated. One year, the boy goes to the forest by himself to decorate a tree.

A long long song
Delessert, Etienne
Acrobats and musicians appear out of nowhere and perform on the front steps of a town hall. The show takes place in a small New England village. Those who see them perform never forget who they are.

Born in the gravy
Cazet, Denys
Margouita starts her first day of kindergarten. She tells papa all about her big day over an ice cream cone. She has one question that papa knows just how to answer.

Zelda and ivy and the boy next door
Kvasnosky, Laura McGee
A new boy named Eugene has moved in next door to Zelda and Ivy. the three quickly become friends. A romance blooms, they play imaginary games, and go camping. Like all friends, they don't always get along, but they work out their differences.

Bread is for eating
Gershator, David//Gershator, Phillis
When a little boy leaves bread on his plate, his mother reminds him how important bread is and the hard work that goes into making it. Through a song, children learn why they should not waste food, and how to be thankful for grain and bread.

Today is monday
Carle, Eric
Today is Monday and it is string bean day. Tuesday is spaghetti day and Wednesday is ZOOOOP. Thursday is roast beef and Friday is fresh fish. It is time for all the hungry children to eat up!

The vegetable show
Brown, Laurie Krasny
Different vegetables put on a vaudeville show for a group of children to enhance their popularity. For example, Bud the Spud does some magic tricks where he becomes a bowl of mashed potatoes, french fries, and potato pancakes. Other vegetable performers include B.A. Dilly (pickle), Miss Lotta Root (carrot), and Super Chile (pepper). By the time the show is over, the children like their vegetables.

Passover
Nerlove, Miriam
It is time for Passover and a father tells his son the tradition of Passover. He explains the different types of food that are eaten and the hunt that occurs after dinner. They then sing songs together.

The first song ever sung
Melmed, Laura Krauss
A boy asks different people and thinks about the first song ever sung. He gets many different answers. They are all okay with him and make him happy.

My mama sings
Peterson, Jeanne Whitehouse
A mother sings songs to her little boy just like her mama used to sing to her. One day when the mother comes home from a bad day at work, the little boy makes up a song about his mother. This makes his mother very happy.

The story of bentley beaver
Sharmat, Marjorie Weinman
From being scared to go to school to being scared of dying, this book narrates Bentley Beaver's life. He grows up with his parents and then begins his own family. Bentley reflects on his life with a song.

Dealing with feelings: I'm scared
Crary, Elizabeth
Tracy can not wait to meet her new neighbors. Her smile disappears when she sees that her new neighbors own her worst fear, a big dog!What will Tracy do?Is she going to watch from her window, sing a happy song, or ask someone to hold her hand when she meets her new neighbors?No matter what Tracy decides, she will soon overcome her fears by getting a puppy of her own!

Carolina shout!
Schroeder, Alan
Delia who lives in Charleston, South Carolina and hears music wherever she goes. But her sister, Bettina, cannot hear music. So Delia shows her that music is everywhere. You just have to listen, especially along the streets and harbor of this historical city.