Sing-Along Song

Sing-Along Songs

by JoAnn Early Macken, LeUyen Pham

No toddler will be able to resist joining in with this toe-tapping, finger-snapping, sing-it-out-loud story! From a robin chirping in the morning, to a lazy dog snoozing on the kitchen floor, to the sound of Daddy's home-at-last footsteps in the evening, the whole day rings with its own kind of music. Lively illustrations of a loving family punctuate a rollicking text where the everyday sounds in a young child's world inspire the sweetest melodies.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Childrens, Music, Fiction, Family, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 11, 2004

About the author

JoAnn Early Macken is the author of six picture books, including Grow, Baby Says “Moo!”, Waiting Out the Storm, and Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move, and more than one hundred educational books for children. Her poems appear in many children’s magazines and anthologies, including Hop to It! Poems to Get You Moving and the Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations. Her poetry instruction guide Write a Poem Step by Step is based on her workshops.

JoAnn earned her M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has taught graduate, undergraduate, and continuing education writing courses at four Wisconsin colleges. She presents writing workshops for writers of all ages.

JoAnn lives in Shorewood, Wisconsin. Visit her web site at www.joannmacken.com.

Reviews

[Villain E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just positive and fun. With beautiful artwork.

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So enjoyable to read this book aloud.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the illustrations.

[Mama Bibliosoph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this joyful, rhythmic rhyming book. We follow a happy little boy through his day. The boy finds music in everything: The robin singing in the morning, the buzzing bees, the chittering squirrels, the cat, the dog, his father, his mother, and his baby sister in her crib. After each verse, our ever-delighted narrator always says, "I burst out singin'! I just gotta sing along!"

The predictive nature of this book is perfect for autistic kids, who quickly pick up on a strong format. But unlike the other books I've recommended on this list, Sing-Along Song demands singing but does not provide a melody. The challenge is to "hear" the music for yourself and come up with your own tune to sing.

This demand for play and creativity is a real challenge. It may be too much for some kids and just right for others. Parents can provide some structure by modeling how to make up a tune. Ultimately the bouncy rhythm, the onomatopoeia, and familiarity with common sounds will be the best guide.

While sadly out of print, this is a widely available library and used book find.

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I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post on books about singalong books: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/40-sin...

[Alison Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a bouncing rhythm and you can't help but sing and take pleasure in its sweet light-heartedness. The adorable little boy exuberantly sings little ditties about every day life (bees buzzing, squirrels chattering, daddy coming home, dinnertime, etc.). Toddlers will perfectly understand the joy he takes in little things. The illustrations are charming. A great, easy way to add some racial diversity to your toddler's books.

If you like "Sing Along Song" I'd recommend looking into some of Rachel Isadora's books. Her books also have racial diversity and are fun for toddlers. I haven't read many of Macken's books but I did really enjoy her book "Baby Says 'Moo!'" Its another rhythmic read-aloud and is fun for young toddlers.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just beautiful!! My 3 year old grandson came to visit and his parents forgot to bring his books. He won't go to sleep unless he gets a story read to him so he and I went to the library. I plucked this book off the shelf for the main reason that it featured an African American boy and I knew he could relate. Besides the fact that the little boy resembles my grandson. He loved this book! As time went on I named the little boy Bari (my grandson's name), and named the baby sister MiMi (which is my granddaughter's name). Boy did he get a kick out of that. It is so refreshing to read a book that features characters that look like the reader. I'm so glad I found this book. I plan to buy a copy so that my grandchildren will have it always.

[Anna Smithberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little book about the music in everyday life.

[Tiffany T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the art in this one, the painting was very good with pictures full of emotion and great color and depth. The song was cute and not insipid which is a hard line to tread in most kid books.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ve actually had this book for a while and have read it lots of times. It’s pretty adorable, and when my kids were a bit younger the little boy in this book looked so much like my little boy 🥰❤️👦🏾

[Sabura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute read. Glad to see Black book characters.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the adorable, bright, rounded, and cheerful illustrations by Pham may be my favorite part of this book, the author is actually JoAnn Early Macken.

I love the bouncy, happy rhythm of the text. The story follows a little boy throughout his day as he sings along with the sounds of his home and neighborhood.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girls and I love this book. The illustrations are gorgeous and inspiring. It's written in a poetic way that allows you to sing the story, which my children loved. It's such a lovely uplifting story about a kid loving life and singing about his day! This is the kind of book I'm drawn to read to my kids.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has such a cheerful feeling, and both Miss Muffet and I enjoyed hamming it up as we sang out, "I just gotta sing along!" each time it was repeated in the text. Though I didn't end up using it at story time before it was due back at the library, it has a great rhythm for reading aloud, and I liked it more and more each time I read it at home.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book ''Sing along song'' was a good book. I read this book durning the PSSA brake, i really enjoyed it. I like the ryhum of the songs and the songs are cool. This is the first childrens book that ive read and its the best so far. I really like this book and i bet many children would too.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous rhythm (it didn't go as well in storytime as I'd hoped, though, but I don't think that's the book's fault), and stunning illustrations. Pham very beautiully conveys the magic and wonder of the everyday -- also really excellently done as the world from a child's point of view.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED this catchy, cheerful rhyming book full of syncopated rhythms. Each time our little narrator hears the songs of the birds, the squirrels, the cat, etc., he says "I burst out singin' - I just GOTTA sing along!"

[Quintin Bostic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect sing along book for everyone! This book is guaranteed to get any early learner excited and ready to sing and read from the beginning to the end.

[Relyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. It will be great for teaching onomatopoeia, shaping words in writing, rhythm of words and adjectives.

[Shelly Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book encourages students to find their "thing" and go with!

[Meribeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Repetition and the movement from morning to nightfall frames this charming picture book especially for three-year-olds. Lilting language and lively illustrations beg for re-reading.

[Kristie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book, but best for preschool age.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 20 month old liked it. The pictures are very nice.

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet rhyming story. Fabulous pictures.