Whether you need some new tunes to listen to in the car or some sing-alongs for dance parties at the house with the kids, this playlist will have your children soaking up some literacy knowledge.
Every song on this music list encourages kids to read, learn letters and sounds, or build their oral language skills. Here are some of my favorite songs that help build reading skills.
Literacy-Building Song List
1. "Read a Book" from the album Sing Me Your Story by Two of a Kind will have the kids snapping and clapping as they chant about the adventures that await them between the covers of a book.
2. Emily Arrow creates amazing albums inspired by children's picture books. You can't go wrong with any of the songs from either of Storytime Singalong albums. My top pick to add to your playlist would be "Louise Loves Art Song" inspired by the book, Louise Loves Art, by Kelly Light.
3. The Learning Station also has an album that's based on children's literature called Literacy in Motion. Add "Wild Things" based on Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak to your list.
4. Eric Litwin, who's known for some of the Pete the Cat books, is also a songwriter. Little ones will love the "Three Little Pigs" story song from the Perfectly Purple album. Kids can act out the song as they sing along.
5. Kids will get a great sound workout with "Apples and Bananas" by Raffi on his album The Best of Raffi. Each verse has a phoneme substitution so "apples and bananas" becomes "ipples and bininis" and "eepples and beeneenees." It's a silly song that gives kids a great boost in phonological awareness.
6. If you're headed to the library, crank up "At the Library" by Hap Palmer. You'll find this little diddy on the We're On Our Way album. It might soon become the song you sing every time you take a trip to the library to find some great books.
7. Dr. Jean Feldman is well-known by many early childhood educators. Her songs are highly engaging and interactive. Your kids will adore "Who Let the Letters Out" from Totally Reading, Vol 1. Warning: you won't be able to get this song out of your head.
8. Elmo fans will adore "Elmo's Rap Alphabet" from the Sesame Street: Best of Elmo album. It's an upbeat take on the traditional alphabet song. And, if you want more Sesame Street alphabet practice, check out the album Sesame Street: Sing the Alphabet.
9. Kids can get in a little spelling practice with "Popcorn Words" on the Hip-Hop AlphaBop 2 album by Jack Hartmann. Your children will practice spelling three-, four-, and five-letter words like them, those, and from.
10. Older kids will enjoy the challenge of singing 26 nations in alphabetical order in "Alphabet of Nations" by They Might Be Giants. You'll find it on their Here Come the ABCs album which is full of fun alphabet related tunes.
Which song will be stuck in your head for weeks to come? Let us know!
Connect with Jodie at Growing Book by Book.
