Gift a young reader the joy of music! This holiday season, explore the best music-themed children’s books that spark creativity and celebrate sound. From African lullabies to introductions to classical music, rock’n’roll, jazz, and everything in between — there’s a book here for everyone. To learn more about a featured title, click on the book cover.
Get to know a quirky old lady who swallows a heap of animals—from a dog, cat, bird and spider to that infamous little fly. The children’s classic sets the table for several timeless folk tunes, written over 50 years ago. Tongue-in-cheek and smart at heart, this buffet of singalong alphabet, counting and rhyming songs is jaw-droppingly silly as it is devourable. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Songs from Around the World
Travel the world from the comfort of your home with these books that take readers from the cliffs of Ireland to the vibrant streets of Peru. From African lullabies to traditional Irish and Ukrainian folk songs, these collections open a musical window into cultures and customs from across the globe. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Sing Out! Six Classic Folk Songs for Tomorrow
“Pop Goes the Weasel” and “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” are just two of the classic folk songs reimagined by musicians Sin and Swoon and illustrator Sophie Casson in this singalong songbook. Like the songs, this collection is a timeless keepsake that you’ll want to pass down from generation to generation. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Introductions to Classical Music
Introduce children to classical music through themes. Amazing Water explores how the sea, rivers, fountains and rainfall inspired compositions by Vivaldi, Beethoven, Debussy and others. Little Creatures shows children how insects, spiders, wasps, butterflies, frogs and snakes inspired the likes of Ravel, Prokofiev and others. In Simply Fantastic, a cast of gnomes, fairies, witches, goblins, elves and wizards emerge from compositions by Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Verdi. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
The Piano
This playful tale invites children to explore how music makes them feel. Hear how sounds attune to emotions. See how music colours the imagination. From synesthesia to onomatopoeia, these musical sketches show that learning big words and even bigger ideas can be as simple as PLINK, PLANK, PLONK. Watch the animated video here. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Bertie and Friends Hit the Road
Once upon a time there were four friends who always had oodles and oodles of fun together. In A Picnic in the Sun and its sequel, A Feast Beneath the Moon, Bertie and friends go on a series of musical adventures full of surprises. Follow the gang on their journey to magical places, meet a host of quirky characters and sing along to original songs performed by award-winning musicians. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town!
From acclaimed author and playwright Tomson Highway, Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town! is a laugh-out-loud riot of a tale, interspersed with nine jazzy songs performed in Cree. This musical picture book includes a QR code to access the narrated story and songs online and a glossary of Cree words used throughout the tale. Readers can also download the free teaching guide and activity sheets developed by the Cree Literacy Network. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
We’re a Possum Family Band
The We're a Possum Family Band series follows Mama and Papa Poss on their travels across North America to the birthplaces of Cajun, jazz, country, rock ‘n' roll, blues, and traditional Quebecois music. In each toe-tapping tale, readers meet a cast of quirky characters, from Louis Catstrong in Glory Days in New Orleans to Elvis Harepiece in Sunny Days in a Memphis Studio and Johnny Splash in Heading to Nashville on Horseback. At the end of each story, explanatory notes delve into the key figures, instruments and customs behind each genre. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Need some non-Christmas kids tunes for the holidays? Check out our playlist, Classic Kids Folk Songs, Children's Nursery Rhymes and More!
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay informed about our new releases and events and for a chance to win our subscriber giveaway. To order books for your library or bookstore, please contact Hornblower Books/University of Toronto Press (Canada, United States) and MMS/BookSource (United Kingdom). For additional information, email info@thesecretmountain.com.
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Gift Ideas: 30 Best Children’s Books for Kids Who Love Music
Gift a young reader the joy of music! This holiday season, explore the best music-themed children’s books that spark creativity and celebrate sound. From African lullabies to introductions to classical music, rock’n’roll, jazz, and everything in between — there’s a book here for everyone. To learn more about a featured title, click on the book cover.
Little Stories of Great Composers
Little Stories of Great Composers introduces young readers to classical composers through the eyes and ears of a charming little mouse named Minim. The six-part collection features little-known tales of great composers, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Antonio Vivaldi, Franz Schubert, Joseph Haydn, and Niccolò Paganini. Listen to the accompanying story narration by Colm Feore and compositions performed by the I Musici de Montreal chamber orchestra. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Get to know a quirky old lady who swallows a heap of animals—from a dog, cat, bird and spider to that infamous little fly. The children’s classic sets the table for several timeless folk tunes, written over 50 years ago. Tongue-in-cheek and smart at heart, this buffet of singalong alphabet, counting and rhyming songs is jaw-droppingly silly as it is devourable. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Songs from Around the World
Travel the world from the comfort of your home with these books that take readers from the cliffs of Ireland to the vibrant streets of Peru. From African lullabies to traditional Irish and Ukrainian folk songs, these collections open a musical window into cultures and customs from across the globe. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Sing Out! Six Classic Folk Songs for Tomorrow
“Pop Goes the Weasel” and “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” are just two of the classic folk songs reimagined by musicians Sin and Swoon and illustrator Sophie Casson in this singalong songbook. Like the songs, this collection is a timeless keepsake that you’ll want to pass down from generation to generation. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Introductions to Classical Music
Introduce children to classical music through themes. Amazing Water explores how the sea, rivers, fountains and rainfall inspired compositions by Vivaldi, Beethoven, Debussy and others. Little Creatures shows children how insects, spiders, wasps, butterflies, frogs and snakes inspired the likes of Ravel, Prokofiev and others. In Simply Fantastic, a cast of gnomes, fairies, witches, goblins, elves and wizards emerge from compositions by Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Verdi. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
The Piano
This playful tale invites children to explore how music makes them feel. Hear how sounds attune to emotions. See how music colours the imagination. From synesthesia to onomatopoeia, these musical sketches show that learning big words and even bigger ideas can be as simple as PLINK, PLANK, PLONK. Watch the animated video here. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Bertie and Friends Hit the Road
Once upon a time there were four friends who always had oodles and oodles of fun together. In A Picnic in the Sun and its sequel, A Feast Beneath the Moon, Bertie and friends go on a series of musical adventures full of surprises. Follow the gang on their journey to magical places, meet a host of quirky characters and sing along to original songs performed by award-winning musicians. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town!
From acclaimed author and playwright Tomson Highway, Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town! is a laugh-out-loud riot of a tale, interspersed with nine jazzy songs performed in Cree. This musical picture book includes a QR code to access the narrated story and songs online and a glossary of Cree words used throughout the tale. Readers can also download the free teaching guide and activity sheets developed by the Cree Literacy Network. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
We’re a Possum Family Band
The We're a Possum Family Band series follows Mama and Papa Poss on their travels across North America to the birthplaces of Cajun, jazz, country, rock ‘n' roll, blues, and traditional Quebecois music. In each toe-tapping tale, readers meet a cast of quirky characters, from Louis Catstrong in Glory Days in New Orleans to Elvis Harepiece in Sunny Days in a Memphis Studio and Johnny Splash in Heading to Nashville on Horseback. At the end of each story, explanatory notes delve into the key figures, instruments and customs behind each genre. Buy from Bookshop and other retailers.
Need some non-Christmas kids tunes for the holidays? Check out our playlist, Classic Kids Folk Songs, Children's Nursery Rhymes and More!