Perfect for elementary teachers and substitutes, this collection of read-aloud videos of musical story books will engage and delight. Extend the learning with my BONUS follow-up activities for a complete lesson plan! Ready to teach!
Use the searchable musical elements, subject integrations, and grade levels for pre-school and elementary students. (below)
⭐️ Stars mark the BONUS: A FOLLOW UP for each video with a fun singing game/activity!
How is literature used in an elementary music classroom?
Some teachers purposefully focus on reinforcing both reading and music skills during lessons that integrate children’s literature, while others focus on reinforcing music concepts or skills.
Brown, Holly Ann, “Children’s Literature in the Elementary General Music Classroom” (2019). Theses and Dissertations. 2162. https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/2162
Table of Contents
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🟢 Creative OPTIONS for Read-Aloud Videos of Musical Story Books
Read-Aloud videos of musical story books are a great option when you need a screen presentation. Getting the hard-copy book is the perfect intimate setting to read and do your own interpretation, sound effects, and discussion.
- Use literature to teach and reinforce specific music concepts (tempo, dynamics, tone color, etc.)
- Use books to provide support for pre-reading, reading, and vocabulary exploration.
- Great for one-off lesson needs or sub plans
- Use related musical games/activities for follow-up interactive learning
- Class starter, ender, or transition in the class flow provides routine and structure.
🟢 Holiday/Celebration Index
Find books that highlight specific holidays and celebrations.
Day of the Dead
Hispanic Heritage Month
Fall/Autumn
Black History Month
Women’s History Month
Jazz History Month
🟢 Read-Aloud Videos of Musical Story Books
Jazz Dog (K-5)
A story about stereotypes and inclusion, and about overcoming our fears and following our dreams. Perfect for talking about genres and stereotypes as well as the influence of jazz on the American culture.
⭐️ Follow Up (Folk + Jazz)
Let’s take the classic folk/children’s song Mary Had a Little Lamb and give it a Jazz feel! Sing along!
Grab the book (aff link) for storytime or a great addition to centers activities. ⇩
Play jazz music of your own with Beat Island Jazz! ⇩
Before We Sleep (K-5)
As fall fades and winter approaches, best friends fox and mouse get ready for hibernation. Literature can TURN into musical story books when we integrate music!
Our fox friends continue to have fun, this time in Zootopia 2.
⭐️ Follow Up (Body Percussion to Zootopia 2)
⭐️ Follow Up (The Fox In a Box limerick)
Finish this limerick about a fox!
- Add a steady beat as you speak it.
- Add a short rhythm pattern (ostinato) as you speak it.
- Try the beat and rhythm pattern at the same time!
The Best Mariachi in the World (K-3)
- Length: 5:28
- Music Objectives: Mariachi instrumentation
- Subject Integration: Mexican culture, SEL (belonging)
Through small, brave steps, Gustavo learns how to express his love of music and the culture of the mariachi. Find inspiration in many of these types of musical story books.
This story of perseverance is beautifully illustrated and begs to be followed up with mariachi music!
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⭐️ Follow Up (Dance to Mariachi Music)
Dance the famous Los Machetes to mariachi music.
Music Is In Everything (PreK-2)
- Length: 3:10
- Music Elements: Rhythm, instruments, melody
- Subject Integration: Nature, sound, family
Great for vocal exploration, finding the rhythm and melody all around us.
This beautiful book opens our eyes to the “music” around us. From nature to everyday sounds to actual musical instruments, music IS in everything. A supplemental coloring book is also available!
⭐️ Follow Up (Nature Walk & Sound Effects)
- Nature Walk: Take a nature walk, stopping at times to recreate the sounds around you. (cars going by, construction, birds, dogs barking, wind, and whatever might be around your school whether it’s in an urban, rural, or suburban area)
- Sound Effects: Use vocal sounds, body percussion, and/or unpitched percussion to create sound effects for this poem.
Walking Through the Jungle
Walking through the jungle. What do I hear? A lion is roaring. (sound)
A monkey is chattering. An elephant is trumpeting. A bird is singing. A snake is hissing. A frog is croaking. The river is flowing. The wind is blowing. The rain is falling. A parrot is squawking.
Moon’s On Fire (PreK-1)
- Length: 6:30
- Music Elements: male/female voices, lullaby, chorus, key of Em
- Subject Integration: harvest moon, shadows, cowboys/cowgirls
Beautiful illustrations and story, perfect for read alouds and a book station for centers! ➡️
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⭐️ Follow-up Games: (For K-3) Sally Go Round the Sun (moon)
Old McDonald Had a Truck (PreK-1)
The classic song turned into a “Field of Dreams” grandstand arena with ramps and more! ➡️
⭐️ Follow-up Game: *Farmer in the Dell
*I update the lyrics replacing wife with partner or friend.
Cowboy Lullaby (PreK-1)
⭐️ Follow-up Game: Grizzly Bear (sleeping in a cave)
Rhythm Rescue (PreK-2)
Help Tala help her friends by clapping the rhythms. ➡️
⭐️ Follow-up Game: Plainsies Clapsies
A Hole In the Bottom of the Sea (PreK-2)
Interactive singalong with interludes ready for movement, body percussion. ➡️
⭐️ Follow-up Game: Charlie Over the Ocean
Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo (PreK-2)
Use this book with CD in your station rotations. ➡️
⭐️ Follow-up Activities: Coloring sheets, piggyback songs, and more at SPLYouth
Gustavo, The Shy Ghost (K-3)
- Length: 3:06
- Music Elements: Violin
- Subject Integration: SEL, shyness, making friends, Day of the Dead
Gustavo’s violin and music help him navigate the world of shyness and loneliness and find bravery and friendship.
⭐️ Follow-up Friendship Activities: “A” My Name Is alice.
This updated version uses “best friend” instead of husband/wife. It is a fun quick circle game or extended into a partner activity where you are assigned a letter of the alphabet to make up a new verse.
Family Dynamics (K-3)
A thorough and delightful introduction to the instruments of the orchestra! ➡️
⭐️ Follow-up Game: Four Corners
The 4 corners represent the four families. After choosing a corner, T puts up a picture of an instrument. All those in that instrument’s corner are out. Images and sounds can be found here.
Allegro (K-3)
A read aloud also available as an interactive book. Perfect for centers! ➡️
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⭐️ Follow-up Activity: Boomwhacker Piano
To start, gather your Boomwhackers. Next, press the PLAY button to begin. Then use the number keys to echo play patterns. For example, the teacher plays 1, 2, 3, and the students respond by playing C, D, E.
Throughout the activity, YOU will control the keyboard. I’m not exactly sure how it works, but it definitely does!
Dancing Hands (Grades 3-5)
Learn how 10 year old Teresa Carreño played the piano for President Abraham Lincoln! ➡️
⭐️ Follow-up activity: traditional Venezuelan toy, Gurrufío
Trombone Shorty (K-5)
Learn about Troy Andrews (Trombone Shorty), popular Jazz musician! ➡️
⭐️ Follow-up Activities: More about Trombone Shorty
Where Y’At? Boomwhacker Play Along
Hurricane Season Move It
Hurricane Season Rhythm Play along
CBS Evening News Interview
To Be a Drum (2-5)
A story of adversity and inspiration read by James Earl Jones. May the force be with you! ➡️
⭐️ Follow-up Activity: Drum Circle
Sit in a drum circle. To each student in the circle, T plays the rhythm to, “What’s your name?” and each student plays back the rhythm to their name.
🟢 More Great Literature in the Music Room
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