Libraries Rock!

For Early Readers

This recommended reading list provides a broad list of books related to this summer’s theme of music. This list includes audio, braille, and large print titles and is recommended for those reading at a preschool through 2nd grade reading level up to a kindergarten through 3rd grade reading level.

 

To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through WolfPAC. Identification numbers for braille books begin with BR, large print books begin with LP, and audiobooks begin with DB or DBC. All audiobooks are linked to the Braille and Audio Reading Download site (BARD) for downloading.

 

Preschool to Grade 2

 

  

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer 

BR012040 (Print/Braille) 

A mother dog is concerned when her puppy George cannot bark. He can quack and meow and moo, but no "arf" comes out. So his mother takes George to the vet to find a solution. Building Block Picture Book Award nominee, 2000.         

  

A Day at the Seashore by Kathryn Jackson 

LP002483 

Nancy and Timmy spend a day at the beach with their family. A Little Golden Book. 2010. 

  

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow 

BR053745 (Print/Braille) 

LP002262 

A counting book in which one by one the little monkeys jump on the bed only to fall off and bump their heads. 1989. 

  

God Bless America by Irving Berlin 

BR051368 (Print/Braille) 

LP050128 

A family of bears experiences America in an illustrated version of the classic song "God Bless America." 2003. 

  

If You’re a Monster and You Know It by Rebecca Emberley 

BR051582 (Print/Braille) 

DBC05418 

LP002122 

Read by Mary Grace Newman. Reading time: 5 minutes. 

Monsters sing their own version of this popular song that encourages everyone to express their happiness through voice and movement. Building Block Picture Book Award nominee, 2011. 2010. 

  

Interrupting Chicken by David Erza Stein 

BR051564 (Print/Braille) 

DBC05419 

LP002126 

Read by Daniel Diedriech. Reading time: 5 minutes. 

Little Red Chicken wants Papa to read her a bedtime story, but interrupts him almost as soon as he begins each tale.  Building Block Picture Book Award nominee, 2011. 2010.       

  

Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas 

BR051595 (Print/Braille) 

DBC05431  

Read by Mary Grace Newman. Reading time: 3 minutes. 

Chicken's cow visitors try to jump, dance, and wiggle on his couch, which is much too tiny for such exuberant activities. Building Block Picture Book Award nominee, 2012. 2011. 

  

The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Izy Trapani 

BR051665 (Uncontracted Print/Braille) 

LP000289 

The itsy bitsy spider encounters a fan, a mouse, a cat, and a rocking chair as she makes her way to the top of a tree to spin her web. Includes music on the last page. 1998. 

            

Mole Music by David McPhail 

DBC06586  

Read by Wendy Devilbiss. Reading time: 3 minutes. 

Feeling that something is missing in his simple life, Mole acquires a violin and learns to make beautiful, joyful music. 1999. 

  

My Family Plays Music by Judy Cox 

BR016002 (Print/Braille) 

An African American girl joins her musical family playing on a variety of instruments in various settings. She participates in a marching band and a string quartet and performs at church, in a café, in a ballroom, and in a concert. 2003.        

  

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin 

BR019038 (Print/Braille) 

BR050167 (Print/Braille) 

BR051754 (Print/Braille) 

BR060122 (UEB Print/Braille) 

DBC09626 

Read by Eric Schmitt. Reading time: 3 minutes 

Zoo animals from polar bear to walrus make their distinctive sounds for one another. Then the zookeeper hears children imitating the animals. Includes related activities and a note to parents and teachers. 2004.  

  

Punk Farm by Jarrett Krosoczka 

LP001952 

At the end of the day, while Farmer Joe gets ready for bed, his animals tune their instruments to perform in a big concert as a rock band called Punk Farm. 2005. 

  

Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera 

DBC01452 

LP002543 

Read by Mary Grace Newman. Reading time: 7 minutes. 

In this expansion of a familiar song, the occupants of a rowboat enjoy seeing and making the sounds of different jungle animals. Building Block Picture Book Award nominee, 2015. 2013.   

  

The Surprise Party by Pat Hutchins 

DB027128 

Read by Pam Ward. Reading time: 3 minutes     . 

Rabbit whispers to Owl, "I'm having a party tomorrow.... It’s a surprise." But as the message is passed from friend to friend, it is changed again and again. 

  

Tap Tap Boom Boom by Elizabeth Bluemle 

DBC06646  

Read by Ginger Dody. Reading time: 2 minutes. 

Tap tap boom boom got a storm in bloom. It’s a mad dash for shelter as rain sweeps into an urban neighborhood. Where to go? The subway? It's the perfect place to wait out wind and weather. Strangers share smiles and umbrellas and take delight in the experience of a city thunderstorm. Boom, Boom! Award winner. 2014. 

  

This Little Piggy by Tim Harrington 

LP002335 

Expands on the traditional counting rhyme, revealing exciting things the second set of toes does which inspire the first set to try more "fun stuff" too. Building Block Picture Book Award nominee, 2014. 2013.

Kindergarten to Grade 3

Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood

DB085304

Read by Peter Holdway. Reading time: 19 minutes.

Recounts the story of Ada's dream to play music in Cateura, a small town built on a landfill in Paraguay. Favio Chávez, an engineer and musician, recycled garbage into musical instruments and taught the kids to play, eventually earning global recognition. 2016.    

 

Ben's Trumpet by Rachel Isadora

DB050752

Read by Chuck Young. Reading time: 4 minutes.

Ben enjoys listening to the music from his neighborhood jazz club and plays along on his imaginary trumpet. One day the club's trumpeter notices Ben and sees his dream. 1979.  

 

The Deaf Musicians by Pete Seeger

BR017245 (Print/Braille)

DB064140

Read by Michael Russotto. Reading time: 10 minutes.

Jazz pianist Lee is asked to leave his band when he loses his hearing. At sign language class, Lee meets Max who plays the sax. Riding the subway together, they form a new band with a big audience. Schneider Family Book Award. 2006.               

 

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle 

BR021077 (UEB Print/Braille)

DBC06833

Read by Deanna Sarkar. Reading time: 9 minutes.

Poetic biography of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga. Recounts how as a girl she followed her dreams to become a drummer, despite being continually reminded that only boys play the drums and that there has never been a female drummer in Cuba. 2015.           

 

Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland Shows a Young Girl How to Dance Like the Firebird by Misty Copeland

BR021065 (Print/Braille)

American Ballet Theater soloist Misty Copeland encourages a young ballet student, with brown skin like her own. She teaches her that, with practice and dedication, the little girl could become a firebird too. 2014.

 

Giggle E. Goose by Al Newman

LP000129

Giggle E. Goose is a noisy little goose who learns when to be quiet and when it is okay to talk. 1995.

 

Good Night, Owl! by Pat Hutchins   

BR002455 (Print/Braille)

Poor Owl tries to sleep but it is impossible because his noisy neighbors keep him awake all day long. After the day animals fall asleep in the evening, Owl takes his screeching revenge. 1974.

 

The Great Monster Hunt by Norbert Landa

BR051579 (Print/Braille)

DBC05425

LP002121

Read by Mary Grace Newman. Reading time: 7 minutes.

When Duck hears a noise under her bed and runs to fetch help, each animal that hears about it imagines a more dangerous beast in Duck's room. Building Block Picture Book Award nominee, 2011. 2010.

 

Hi, Koo!! A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth

BR021016 (Print/Braille)

Little panda bear Koo describes the four seasons in twenty-six haikus. 2014.          

 

Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato: An Irish Folktale by Tomie DePaola

DB037999

Read by Larua Giannarelli. Reading time: 9 minutes.

Jamie O'Rourke, the laziest man in Ireland, would do anything to avoid work--especially if it involved growing potatoes. So each year Eileen, his wife, would plant, care for, and harvest the praties to keep from starving. But one year Eileen wrenched her back. Certain that starvation was near, Jamie set out for confession and, on the way, caught a leprechaun who offered to grant him a wish. 1992.

 

Just a Lucky So and So: The Story of Louis Armstrong by Lesa Cline-Ransome

LP003059

Relates the story of jazz innovator Louis Armstong's rise from street waif to international superstar. 2016.

 

Mahalia Jackson: Walking with Kings and Queens by Nina Nolan

LP002674

A picture-book introduction to the gospel singer's life and career. 2015.

 

Max Found Two Sticks by J. Brian Pinkney

LP050150

Although he doesn't feel like talking, a young boy responds to questions by drumming on various objects, including a bucket, hat boxes, and garbage cans, echoing the city sounds around him. 1994.

Putter and Tabby Toot the Horn by Cynthia Rylant

LP002551

Mr. Putter's neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, decides that they should join a band, but finding the right one isn't as easy as it sounds--for them or their pets. A Mr. Putter & Tabby book. 1998.

 

Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone? by Iza Trapani

LP000287

An expanded version of the traditional rhyme, in which the little dog runs away and explores the desert, mountains, and oceans before deciding that home is best. Includes music on the last page. 1996.

 

Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum by Robert Andrew Parker       

BR018019 (Print/Braille)

DBC08576

Read by Brian Hotaling. Reading time: 16 minutes.

Bad eyesight doesn't stop Art Tatum from learning to play his family piano. Art's musical career grows from playing professional shows in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, to appearing with jazz bands across the country. Includes biographical information. 2008.

 

Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia

LP002065

A parade of colorful construction vehicles doing their work means plenty of joyful noise! 2007. 

 

Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews

BR021098 (UEB Print/Braille)

DB085566

Read by Ken Jackson. Reading time: 18 minutes.

Autobiography of music prodigy Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, who was leading his own band by age six. Today this Grammy-nominated artist headlines the legendary New Orleans Jazz Fest. Coretta Scott King Award. 2015.

 

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss

BR011001 (Print/Braille)

Musical instruments take their place, one by one, on the stage until there is a chamber group of ten. 1995.