My friend agreed. We’d met at a music conservatory when we were both violin performance majors. We looked through the book together, reminiscing about how we used to read it over and over when we were just beginning to dream about being musicians one day. Although my friend is currently an active performing violinist and I am not, both of us recognize the power music had on our work ethics and our creative, emotional, and intellectual lives. In fact, research from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation confirms the conventional wisdom that learning music benefits children educationally, cognitively, and socially. Some of the skills kids may pick up from their experiences with music include pre-reading abilities in toddlers, gains in auditory and motor function, critical thinking, compromise, creativity, cooperation, and concentration. So, how can adults get the children they love interested in music as early as possible? One great way is by using music books written just for kids. In addition to doing a little of my own research, I talked to four musicians who are also parents to get their recommendations and experiences as well. Many of the books listed below are available in audio versions, produced specifically to enhance the story and experience.
Music Books for Kids: Fiction
Music Books for Kids: Nonfiction
Music Books for Kids: Interactive Experiences
The following two books aren’t traditionally interactive music books for kids, but were enhanced with multimedia experiences by some of the musicians and parents I talked to: Wong told me she shared this story with her middle schoolers during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. While the students were skeptical about reading a children’s book, they ended up enjoying the story and appreciating the message that what you do in insolation can still have far-reaching positive effects on others. On the surface, it might seem like a very specific book about a particular industry, but Choi told me how much she appreciates the “wonderful metaphor for society: 101 individual musicians coming together to play as one harmonious ensemble.” An audio version is also available. An audio version is also available. An audio version is also available. Chang told me this book and keyboard were beloved by her son from before he turned 1 year old. Chang explains that the keyboard is color-coded to match the notes on the staff, which her son picked up quickly, allowing him to immediately begin playing along with the songs. Chang described it as “a mix of music and various sound effects that emphasize and support the context of the story.” She told me it held her son’s attention for long periods of time and helped him better understand storylines. Clearly, music books for kids are more than just words on a page. They’re multi-sensory experiences that inspire playing or singing along, taking in visuals, and, of course, listening. But most importantly, these books help kids discover the joy of music and the power it can bring to their lives. Although this title doesn’t have an audio version, when Choi recommended this title to me, she emphasized how much she and daughter loved listening to Armstrong singing it as part of the experience. “We discovered this book when my daughter was 2 years old and it was read to her class at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Weebop program,” she told me.” Through this book, she learned about the great Louis Armstrong and had fun finding him in the illustrations.” Jonathan Chan, a classical and jazz musician in Niskayuna, New York, told me he’s noticed that his 1-year-old son is drawn to any book with “a deliberate and lyrical quality to its text,” including The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Chan says his son is “absolutely transfixed when it’s accompanied with the narration and music provided in the Illuminated Films rendition of the story,” and he believes it’s the combination of music and text that motivates him to spend more time reading this particular book than any other. “My take,” Chan told me, “is that judicious use of multimedia can encourage kids to like books, too.” Looking for more books about music? Book Riot has lots of recommendations, from murder mysteries that revolve around classical works to novels inspired by heavy metal.
