Using music to support early readers

I love picture books that feature rhyme, rhythm and song and come with backing CDs.  I find them highly engaging and wonderful for young emergent readers, as they encourage the children to join in with the reading and singing of the lyrics, or words in the picture book.

I recently shared some favourite titles from Craig Smith that come with backing CDs.  You can read that blog post here or by clicking on the image below.

Since then, I have found a couple of other new titles that are totally engaging - you can't help but join in with the reading/singing!

"She'll be Coming Round the Mountain"

Listen to a segment of the song here.  Scholastic provides free resources to support this text, including a cloze activity and teaching notes.  The lyrics are sung by The Topp Twins from New Zealand and this title is the latest in a series that includes "There's a Hole in My Bucket" (song teaser) and "Do Your Ears Hang Low?"  (song teaser).

"Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini"

This picture book is just gorgeous.  Kerry Argent has captured the hippo's emotions so perfectly in the gorgeous illustrations and  Deborah Mailman sings the lyrics in the accompanying CD.  Have a listen to the song teaser here.

Jennifer from Stories and Songs in Second, recently blogged about using songs to build strong readers and movement and reading on the Adventures in Literacy Land blog.  Bex also blogged about using music to teach reading in another blog post for Adventures in Literacy Land.  Those blog posts are well worth the read!

I hope some of the titles shared today help to build up your collection :)

Have a great week!