by Lori

This past school year, my 9 year old learned to play her first musical instrument, the recorder, which has become a sort of right of passage for kids (and their cringing parents) around here over the years. She also participated in the school chorus. We are lucky to live in a school district that values music (and all the arts) education.  This coming year she will be learning how to play the violin, something she’s very excited about as her cousin learned to play last year. Not knowing a lot about music, I’m trying to learn and encourage her, with picture books of course.

If you have a child interested in music, or not interested yet, these books would be a great way to start exploring musical traditions and the joy music brings to people around the world!

Everything is Music

Do you hear music everywhere you go? In Everything is Music, a girl and her dog cycle around town one morning listening to the symphony that is their world. The ha-ha, he-he, tee-hee of children laughing, the whistle of wind down an alleyway, the rain tapping a melody on the street. They return home inspired to conduct their own chorus.

Everything is Music encourages readers to be present and notice the sounds and music that is around them anytime they step outside. After reading, my girls are more attuned to the sounds they hear outside, and even started making their own music while walking down the street. 

Hidden within the minimalist, monochromatic illustrations are 9 musical instruments, highlighted by their contrasting yellow hue, along with musical notes that blend in more naturally.  The girl’s red dress allows readers to easily follow her on her musical journey. 

With just a few words or single sentence on each page, Everything is Music is a great way to introduce even the youngest readers to sound, music, and instruments. 

Sounds Good!: Discover 50 Instruments

Using a cast of  anthropomorphized animals, Sounds Good! introduces readers to 50 musical instruments from around the world, exploring their history, how they are played, what feelings they might evoke, and some fun facts about each in an engaging format. 

There is a QR code on each spread so you can scan and listen to a piece featuring that instrument composed by an award-winning musician. The interactive format kept my girls coming back to this book to learn more. 

Beyond the commonly showcased instruments like drums, guitars, and trumpets, readers are introduced to instruments from around the globe like the sitar from India, kalimba from Africa, steelpan from Trinidad, and didgeridoo from Australia, among others. Instruments both ancient  (the lur – 1000 BC) and modern (the computer) are given their due. There were a lot of instruments I had never heard of in here! 

Readers are sure to find an instrument that piques their interest in this compendium. 

And There Was Music

Music can make us feel happy or sad. It brings people together, can change the rhythm of your heart, and can “remind you of where you come from”. These and many other ways that music shapes our lives are explored in this picture book that celebrates a rich variety of musical traditions.

Bold, emotive illustrations convey the power music has over people to create feelings, connections, and identity. My girls enjoyed looking at the wide array of instruments, styles of dress, locales, and emotions showcased.

The music and instruments featured in And There Was Music are from places including Japan, the US, Ireland, Persia, India, Indonesia, Scotland, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, southeastern Europe, Mexico, and West Africa, and are indexed in the back matter, along with more information about each illustration and what musical tradition it showcases. 

About Lori