Music Smart - Kristen Remenar

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Music Smart

A collection of 17 posts

Celebrate Disability Awareness Month with Music and Art!

Celebrate Disability Awareness Month with Music and Art!

This July, I had the incredible pleasure of hearing author/illustrator Cece Bell speak about her creative process. Many of us know Cece from her graphic novel, El Deafo. Her newest picture book, Animal Albums from A to Z, is ideal for punsters, fans of Sandra Boynton, animal lovers, musicians,

Your Name is a Song

Your Name is a Song

This is the book you need to start your school year. A little girl is upset because her teacher and classmates not only can’t pronounce her name, they seem to think it isn’t important to say it correctly. When the little girl goes home upset, her mother tells

"We Shall Overcome"

"We Shall Overcome"

Music can reach us in a way that nothing else can. During February – and every month – We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song written by Debbie Levy and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a cross-curricular book you can use to teach American history and social justice. The song, “We

September Bonus List of Books and Activities!

Because I gave a presentation to awesome librarians this month and I couldn’t resist sharing all the great ideas we came up with, you get a bonus post this month! And because you’re getting a bonus post, I hope you’ll allow me to indulge in a bit

Abiyoyo and Abiyoyo Returns

Abiyoyo and Abiyoyo Returns

It’s almost Halloween, and you want a book to share with your students that will give them shivers, but not nightmares. Pull out these picture books about a scary giant and the clever little boy who defeats him, and you’ll be hitting the Common Core State Standard of

We Will Miss You, Maurice Sendak

We Will Miss You, Maurice Sendak

May 8, 2012, the children’s book world lost an honored artist/author/illustrator, Maurice Sendak. Most people remember his book Where the Wild Things Are, but Sendak was by no means a one-hit wonder. He wrote and/or illustrated dozens of children’s books, so today, I’m mentioning

It's time to Bawk & Roll!

It's time to Bawk & Roll!

Elvis Poultry and his back-up chicks are back, so hop on this tour bus and get ready to Bawk & Roll! Tammi Sauer and Dan Santat made this follow-up book just as irresistible as their first tail-shaker, Chicken Dance. Marge and Lola are now officially back-up dancers for the King

My Pick for St. Patrick's Day

My Pick for St. Patrick's Day

In the past, I’ve had rotten luck finding a good book to share with wee ones on St. Patrick’s Day, but I think I’ve found gold with this one: Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato: an Irish folktale by Tomie dePaola. Jamie O’Rourke is the

The Piggy in the Puddle

The Piggy in the Puddle

“See the piggy, see the puddle, see the muddy little puddle. See the piggy in the middle of the muddy little puddle.” This classic tongue-twisting pig tale, The Piggy in the Puddle, by Charlotte Pomerantz and James Marshall is almost 40 years old, and it is still pure fun to

The Ballad of Valentine

The Ballad of Valentine

“Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Valentine, I have written forty letters, but you’ve never read a line.” Alison Jackson and Tricia Tusa have me singing this Valentine’s Day. In their book, The Ballad of Valentine, a narrator tries most every way he can to

Frosty the Snowman!

Frosty the Snowman!

When I sing to my own ‘tweenage kids, they roll their eyes and beg me to stop. But when I sing to preschoolers and kindergartners, I get instant engagement. That’s why I love books that can be sung, like Frosty the Snowman written by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins

I'm a Turkey!

When I was little, I had a book with a 45 rpm record (yep, I’m that old) that I loved. It was “A Lot of Hot Water” read by Gordon from Sesame Street. Audio recordings of books have gone through a media transition or two, but it’s still

Can You Make a Scary Face?

Can You Make a Scary Face?

With Halloween approaching, I’m on the lookout for spooky stories, and this one caught my eye: Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas. It is the ultimate participation picture book, and your wiggly ones will love it. A big, goofy ladybug gets kids to stand up, sit

Cool "Jazz Baby"

Cool "Jazz Baby"

“Brother’s hands tap. Sister’s hands snap. Itty-bitty Baby’s hands clap-clap-clap!” I don’t think it’s possible to read Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler and R. Gregory Christie aloud without bouncing a bit. This book, which earned the Geisel Honor Award, works on so many levels. Your

Do Your Ears Hang Low?

Do Your Ears Hang Low?

“Do Your Ears Hang Low?” by Caroline Jayne Church is a great choice if you’re looking for a preschool “print motivation” book. The art is big and bright for group sharing, the text is short and simple, and because it follows the classic song, you can sing-read this book.

What a Wonderful World!

Color Knowledge

What a Wonderful World!

Ashley Bryan gorgeously illustrated the classic song written by George David Weiss and Bob Thiele to make a picture book perfect for your music-smart kids. Play Louis Armstrong’s version of the song for your little ones, and then sing-read this book. After listening, take little ones outside and look