This is one of the books that my children grew up with and that they and I really enjoyed. The songs, mostly traditional nursery rhymes, children's songs, and folk songs, have music to accompany them and also have beautiful illustrations from the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's a great book to read and sing through with the kids, and one for them to enjoy when they can read & sing on their own. Both of my kids are talented musicians and artists, so maybe this book had an influence on them.
This is a beautiful slim hardcover book containing the words and short musical scores of timeless children's nursery rhymes and folk songs illustrated with art works thoughtfully chosen from collections in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. It isn't so much a children's book as much as a book for adults to read, sing, play or look at with children. It was like our coffee table book for the piano. When it was opened, it never failed to delight.
Traditional children's songs paired thematically with illustrations from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. ( Each one includes a short commentary explainning a little about the song and the art)
This beautiful book is a combination of artwork and folksongs. I cannot believe how much my youngest son, age 3, loves this book! He loves to look at the pictures while I sing the songs - and it is a wonderful collection of American folk songs: America the Beautiful; Oh Susanna; Clementine; Hush Little Baby; Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush; Greensleeves; Home On the Range; I've Been Working On the Railroad; Yankee Doodle Dandee; and so many more.
A wonderful book given to us as a gift when Jake was born. Not only are the pictures, which are pulled from works from museums, beautiful the songs are classics. When you first get this book, you will question if your children will be interested in "old" songs like Clementine. Our kids love to explore and sing songs from this book and you will find yourself transported back to a different, simpler era. A great book for your childrens library.