While I have been known to throw down some Wiggles in storytime on occasion, I am all about broadening the musical horizons of both kids and caregivers. As long as it’s kid-appropriate, you can share music from many time periods and genres. I use songs during storytime, of course, to dance and sing to, and I make playlists for playtime as well. I also try to have music playing during other programs, like crafts. On that note (pun intended!), here are some of my favorite resources for music:
Spare the Rock
A fabulous radio show that plays in Austin but is also available online.
From their website: “The show plays “indie music for indie kids,” including the best of music aimed at kids (like Dan Zanes, Moona Luna, Ella Jenkins, Elizabeth Mitchell, Lunch Money, Caspar Babypants, and They Might Be Giants) right along side kid-friendly tracks from the likes of The Ramones, Mike Doughty, Ella Fitzgerald, Brian Eno, Pizzicato Five, Andrew Bird, Fishbone, and more.” Right up my alley. Also it led me to a totally rockin’ tribute album to David Bowie called Let All the Children Boogie.
My Own Personal Music Collection
Don’t overlook your own favorites! Again, as long as they’re kid-appropriate, it’s totally cool to play your faves. Plus the kids will see how much you love them and it will help them get excited. Also, it’s totally okay to bring back the hits from your own childhood. For instance: Raffi is timeless. And often caregivers think it’s a hoot to hear songs that they heard as kids.
World Music
Get some other languages and rhythms in there! Putumayo kids is a great place to start.
Disney Movies
I am not above playing the Moana soundtrack to gain cheap cool points. Also, can we all agree that “How Far I’ll Go” is a huge earworm? (It’s stuck in your head now, isn’t it?)
Freegal
Freegal is a great thing to refer caregivers to, since a lot of them play music on their phones and it’s easier to download via freegal than play an audio cd. As long as they have a library card, they get 5 hours of streaming music per day and 5 MP3 song downloads per week. Some rad artists you can find on Freegal: Caspar Babypants, Laurie Berkner, They Might Be Giants, Sesame Street
Some of my favorite kids’ artists/albums that I haven’t mentioned yet:
Songs from Sesame Street
Usher’s ABCs, anyone!? (we love jammin’ to this in preschool storytime)
The Muppets: Green Album
Highlights: Weezer & Hayley Williams’ Rainbow Connection, Andrew Bird’s Bein’ Green
For Our Children
This is an album I listened to so much as a child that I broke the cassette tape. It is old, so it’s not in our catalog, but I checked and you can ILL it. Trust me, Little Richard’s Itsy Bitsy Spider will change your life. The sequel, For Our Children Too!, is not quite as good but has some gems like Seal singing Puff (The Magic Dragon) and Cher covering A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.
Old Town School of Folk Music
Ms. Renee Benson introduced me to the Milkshake Song and baby time would also transform into a mad dance party when we sang it. Also, I used their Row, Row, Row Your Boat during our Boats Afloat toddler storytime, and it was such a big hit that now we dance along to it every week.
Leave a comment with some of your favorite music to share in storytimes or to have in the background during other programs!
- Angela @ COL
