"Singing" books-- do you have any recommendations?

[Dcclerk]

My DS LOVES the books that allow mommy to "sing" them. For example, we have a silly little Itsy Bitsy Spider book that he loves, because I sing the rhyme. He also loves his ABC book because I made up a song to that one. I'm trying to track down other books that lend themselves to singing. (I don't mean those electronic books that make sounds when you push a button or something.) I'm open to the ones that come with a tape or CD, as long as the music is easy to learn because our CD player is a pain and I don't see myself using it much. Thanks for your suggestions!

[August Mom]

DS likes Wheels on the Bus (http://tinyurl.com/7ycnl), God Bless America (http://tinyurl.com/6f7r9) and Down By the Station (http://tinyurl.com/7yoxx). DS absolutely loves the Down By the Station book. It is illustrated by Jess Stockham and is a Classic Book with Holes. On each page there are more holes and more sounds from the different vehicles. DS loves the holes. We have the large board book format (probably 12" x 12").

[JMS]

When I read your request I had to run upstairs to the nursery to get DD's (well, my) favorite book.

It's called "If You Were My Bunny" and I just found a link on Overstock.com
http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&PROD_ID=778690

there are six little one page stories (if you were my bunny, my bear cub, my kitten, my duckling, my puppy, my baby) each followed by a little song from mother to baby. The last page of the book explains to the reader how each one is supposed to be sung. For example, "the bunny lullaby may be sung to the tune of 'Hung, Little Baby".

I read this book to DD every night before bed.. it's a staple.
HTH..

[kaitlinsmommy]

I sing Sandra Boynton's Snuggle Puppy to dd & she likes that.

[babymama]

DS loves Snuggle Puppy. Picked it up at TJ Maxx for like 5 bucks.

Mama to Santiago, born 11/16/03

[pritchettzoo]

I sing Snuggle Puppy too--because of the Philadelphia Chickens book/CD. It has lyrics and music to many of her books, and I think it's really hysterical.

Another one (which might be a tad gruesome for your tastes) is There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback.

Anna

[DDowning]

I second the cheer for Down by the Station. C got this as a birthday gift and he laughs whenever I make the sounds. He'll also sit by himself and use the holes to move the pages. Its the first book that he doesn't actually chew on!

[Dcclerk]

Thanks so much for your recommendations, everyone. I have never heard of any of the non-Sandra Boynton ones, so I learned a lot from you. I will definitely stock up on your suggestions. Have you ever noticed that you get the best ideas for books here?

[zuzu]

DH sings "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" to Sarah and she loves it. I didn't remember that song from Sesame Street, but DH did. We got it as a gift, but here's the Amazon link: http://tinyurl.com/53qhd

We love the Boynton books too! :)

Melissa, mom to Sarah (5.10.03)

[darby24]

Raffi is the big hit with my nephew, his 'baby beluga' book is *very* well worn. It's got beautiful pictures, he loves to point out all the animals. It also helped us learn all those hard lines, everyone in the family can sing 'baby beluga' by memory now. http://tinyurl.com/3wrx2

Raffi has a number of other song books as well. The 'down by the bay' is very cute. http://tinyurl.com/6adzh

HTH

[Momof3Labs]

We All Sing with the Same Voice - also a Sesame Street classic!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060274751/qid=1089847398/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/103-0642198-3925421?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[youngmommy]

I stumbled on this old post looking for ideas for new board books for DD. I really love the book "Hush Little Baby" by Sylvia Long.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0811822907/qid=1121641076/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3235382-1333736?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

It's sung to the tune of hush little baby but with much nicer words.

[purpleeyes]

I was going to post about this book, but the PP beat me to it! We LOVE this book- I wind up singing the words of the book whenever we hear the melodies!

This was a great questions-I'm definately going to look into the Baby Beluga book. That is one of our favorites!!

Beth

[MarisaSF]

I'm not sure if this was intended, but I sing Sandra Boynton's "The Going to Bed Book" to the tune of Rockabye Baby. It works pretty well.

The su-un has set
Not lo-ong ago
And ev'ry body go-oes below
To ta-ake a bath
In o-one big tub
With so-oap all over
Scru-ub, scrub, scrub

etc...

Our other fave is Baby Beluga, which was already mentioned.

ETA: We also like "5 little monkeys jumping on the bed" -- it's a board book.

[SarahK]

My daughter loves Ten Little Monkeys...we have two versions of it--one for upstairs and one for downstairs. It is hilarious to see her shaking her finger and saying "no monkeys bed!"

She also likes the Old MacDonald book we have--"ei-ei-o" is her favorite part.

[luvtoshop]

My dd loves reading/singing the "Yankee Doodle" sing-a-long book. Search "sing along" on Amazon and you may be able to find more. Good luck!

Sandra
Mommy to 2 sweet girls!