21 Favorite Singalong Books for Kids

Hannah Scott:  Baby Beluga, a song by popular children's singer Raffi, was a staple in my childhood. This book takes the classic song about the little white whale and his mom and pairs it with cheerful paintings to create a board book your little one will enjoy over and over.

Hannah Scott:  I never liked the song "Do Your Ears Hang Low" until I stumbled across this children's book version with illustrations by Jenny Cooper. She's taken the traditional lyrics and applied them to an adorable basset hound -- whose ears do hang low, of course!

Hannah Scott:  The iconic song "What a Wonderful World" by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss (and made popular by Louis Armstrong) is the perfect message of wonder and positivity for kiddos. With the addition of vivid mixed media collage illustrations, this book becomes a celebration of all that is good and right in the world -- and we could all use a little more of that!

Hannah Scott:  Perfect for reinforcing rhyming words, "Down By the Bay" by Raffi is a kid-favorite for its funny lyrics and downright silly situations. A bear combing his hair? A llama wearing pajamas? Let the laughter ensue!

Hannah Scott:  I'm a big fan of Pete the Cat! In this story by Eric Litwin, Pete sings a song about his white shoes that change colors on each page as he gets into different types of messes. The simplicity, repetition, and practice with colors make this a perfect choice for the preschool crowd!

Hannah Scott:  Confession: I have had Pete the Cat's button song stuck in my head on more occasions than I care to admit -- and I don't even mind! This story by Eric Litwin is whimsical and fun, as Pete the Cat loses button after groovy button and learns that "buttons come and buttons go."

Hannah Scott:  Has your child ever been confused (or amused!) that "ants" and "aunts" are completely different? If so, this clever story by Maurie Jo Manning is sure to tickle a few funny bones as a little girl and a whole line of aunts go marching down the street with their umbrellas to get out of the rain.

Lisa R:  I absolutely love the folk song Inch by Inch, written by David Mallett. This illustrated book helped me pass that love on to my daughter. The joyful pictures follow a boy and his dog as they garden and learn how to respect and be at one with the earth. Sheet music for the song is included at the end of the book.

Hannah Scott:  Dolly Parton's signature song, Coat of Many Colors, tells the story of her childhood poverty and the coat her mother once sewed her out of rag scraps -- which led to lots of teasing from her classmates. Themes of family love, resourcefulness, and kindness emerge in this lovely children's book rendition.

Hannah Scott:  I have such fond childhood memories of my dad playing guitar and singing Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver. The colorful illustrations in this version are meant to look like a quilt, and the score and CD are included so your kiddos can listen and sing along!

Alexandra F.:  I can’t stress enough how much we loved this expanded version of the classic nursery rhyme by Mary Anne Hoberman. With several additional, original verses - all sweet, rhyming and adorable - this was a book we sang with our first two kids so much that it actually fell completely apart before they outgrew it. It was the first book I sought out when we had our younger two, and we are enjoying it immensely once again!

Hannah Scott:  Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow is a folk song made popular in the 1970s by the group Peter, Paul, and Mary. The lyrics themselves tell the story of a little boy and his (presumably imaginary) dragon friend, Puff. The painted illustrations by Eric Puybaret bring the already-vivid lyrics to life in an even more endearing way. This is a lovely accompaniment to the music!

Hannah Scott:  Banjo Granny by Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin features an original bluegrass song/lullaby, sung by a grandmother on her way to see her grandchild for the first time. The musical notation is included for those who would like to sing along, but the rhythmic poetry is just as appealing for those who may not be able to read music. Beautifully painted illustrations add to the appeal of this heartwarming tale! There's just nothing quite like the bond between a grandmother and grandchild.

Hannah Scott:  This story by Jessica Law includes an audio CD to sing along with the classic Hole in the Bottom of the Sea song. Illustrations are bright, colorful, and scrapbook-esque, making this a visual treat as well. The Barefoot Books publishers also have a YouTube channel where you can watch their books come to life with the songs! We LOVE Barefoot Books at our house, and I think your kids will love them too.

Hannah Scott:  Remember the classic song "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More"? This book reworks the lyrics for a whole new subject -- painting! If you have an art-loving kid, you'll love this colorful tale by Karen Beaumont that can be sung to the original tune.