My Favorite Things: A Gorgeous Illustrated Story of the Beloved Classic Song for Kids

by Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Renée Graef (Illustrator)

Raindrops on roses
and wkiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles
and warm woolen mittens...
"My Favorite Things," Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved song from The Sound of Music, has captured the hearts of children young and old for generations. Its magical images -- cream-colored ponies and girls in white dresses -- paired with its lilting rhyme, never fail to delight. Now acclaimed illustrator Renee Graef gives this classic song new meaning with heartwarming full-color illustrations Of a loving family and their life throughout the course of a year. Complete with the score of the song, My Favorite Things is both a wonderful book for families to share and a gorgeous keepsake to cherish.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Childrens, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American composer who worked primarily in musical theater.

With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the best-known American composers of the 20th century, and his compositions had a significant influence on popular music.

Richard Rodgers was in the inaugural group of Kennedy Center Honorees in 1978 for lifetime achievement in the arts.
In 1990, the 46th Street Theatre was renamed the Richard Rodgers Theatre in his memory.

Reviews

[Melody Schwarting]

A thoroughly charming version of the iconic song, complete with sheet music in the back. Graef somehow imagined each favorite thing just how I pictured them. The details are charming: "cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudel" shows a little girl feeding strudel to her toy ponies. I love how Graef's warm style allows her to explore different times and places. Some scenes feel more historic and some are definitely modern, but I didn't notice until a third reading.

Truly lovely, one to pull out for "feeling sad."

[Olivia]

I’m loving sharing this with my little ones!
The illustrations bring the song to life.
It’s beautiful.
I appreciate the emphasis on focusing on good things, for kids to learn that. Especially “when I’m(they’re) feeling sad”.

After introducing them to the Sound of Music my daughter has been asking for to read/sing this almost every night before bed.

[Joanne]

We brought this book home from the library last night and I have read it to son #2 at least a dozen times already. We went through it six and a half times in a row before bed tonight. I'd finish singing it, and he'd turn it over and hand it to me again to read.

It's beautifully illustrated, the words are as charming as ever, and obviously I don't have to be Julie Andrews for him to love it.

[Shannon]

Beautiful illustrations of a favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein song. “Noodles” caught my 2-year-old’s attention, and she proceeded to go through the book about 4 times in a row. I can only think she was studying the pictures since she would stop on a page much liner than reading or siding the text took.

[Mister David]

Actually, the text is by Oscar Hammerstein III. Richard Rodgers composed the tune.
Since the words are vivid and picturesque, the lyrics provide great fodder and inspiration for an illustrator. These paintings are beautiful and in a rather traditional style. Works well for a sing-a-long.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter]

Renee Graef is one of my favorite illustrators, and she did a beautiful job on this classic and well loved song. I especially appreciate this edition because the two children look like my own two and this is the song I’ve sung to them as a lullaby. It holds a special place in my heart.

[LORIANN (my opinion doesn't mean much, but ...)]

I'm not really sure this counts as a book read, but I'm going to count it as it's part of a December Challenge.

It is a children's picture book and it was a delight to read and enjoy the picture!!!

[Aneesa]

Sometimes I am asked to read this instead of sing it. That is a no-go.

[Mel Beags]

Beautiful. Music at the end

[Alyssa]

This book has a rhyme to it. and things I have heard some of the things in this book in real life.

[kelley]

Such beautiful artwork that accompanies the music and lyrics to "A Few of My Favorite Things"

[Little Seesaw]

When you read this book you simply remember your favorite things and then you don't feel so bad.
The artwork is exquisite.

[E & E’s Mama]

The sweet song from The Sound of Music with precious illustrations.

Real aloud recommendation: any age

[Carly Hales]

Renee’s illustrations are the epitome of wholesome and cozy!! I just love them. They pair perfectly with the darling words of this song.

[Kayla]

This is a very good and interesting book my favorite parts are the rhyming

[Heather]

I had this on my wish list and then a young friend of ours participated in a ice skating show based on this song and I thought I would order a copy for her birthday. And of course, if I'm going to order a copy for her, we certainly needed to have our own copy to make sure the book was indeed a good gift. I was drawn to it to because of the illustrator, Renee Graef who illustrates many of the My First Little House Books. I will warn you though, it's hard to read it without singing it. So clear your throat and take a long draught of water, because you may need to 'read' it more than once. Pure delight.

[Amy]

I love books I can sing to my children instead of just read. This one combines one of my favorite things, I mean songs, with appropriate and well-rendered illustrations. What can be better, especially when I have a preschooler who loves to hear her books sung as much as I like to sing them? Well, there's also the fact that I can't read it without an overwhelming desire to watch The Sound of Music on a cold winter night, a nostalgia for my teenage years when my friends and I did just that.

[Monalisa Johnson-brown]

This is about a little girl who talks about her favorite things. She talks about raindrops on roses whiskers on kittens, and more. She like mittens because they keep her hands warm. She likes animals made out of chocolate, birds flying in the sky on a night when the moon is out. She likes little white dresses with snowflakes on them. Her favorite things helps get through a bite or a sting.

[The Library Lady]

This isn't fake sweet, like "Love You Forever" or "The Velveteen Rabbit", though song and illustrations combined do skate close to that edge. It's the sort of book grandmas buy as gifts, but the sweetness is genuine and of course there's a great Richard Rodgers tune to sing it to. Besides, what do you expect from a book of a song from "The Sound of Music"? :D

[Shelli]

Beautiful illustration to the well known tune of My Favorite Things. Might be fun to play the song and follow along with the book. If you have any musical skills the sheet music is located in the back of the book as well.

[Liesl]

Lovely presentation of a classic song with beautiful accompanying illustrations. But then again, I am a bit biased to like anything associated with The Sound of Music. I love the inclusion of the song's sheet music at the end.

[Shana]

This book was recommended by our librarian and was a wonderful choice. We read it over and over again and looked for it to check out again on our next trip to the library. It is a keeper and I plan on surprising my daughter for Christmas with it.

[Vanessa Holzknecht]

I love this song and I think it has such a great idea to have it as a book. The message of thinking about the good things when things are bad is such a good one to remember and I really enjoyed it! I think it would be great to read and sing with kids and for them to learn the meaning.

[Lori]

A picture book based on the beloved song from "The Sound of Music."

[Krista]

The illustrations are beautiful! This is one of my favorite songs and to see it in a picture book format is wonderful!

[MissInformation]

Nice illus, beautiful song, and simple enough for Storytime.

Lists all the favorite things first, then has the "When the dog bites" part just once at the end.

[Ellen]

I absolutely adore Renee Graef's illustrations, and like that she is a Wisconsin illustrator. Look for the kids wearing Packers jackets in the book!

[Cws]

JEPIC-Rod

[Kami Huff]

*Picture Books* The pictures in this book are very well done. It includes the music from the famous song in the back.

[Amanda]

Cute book. Impossible to read without singing!