Una lista de Books en English y en Spanish to use in Elementary Music Class

One special opportunity we have when teaching music is to help students connect speech and literacy (which can feel challenging for some students in traditional academic settings) to something they love--music!  Children's books can allow us to do that while also integrating visual art into the overall experience, which can not only help engage students but also affirm their cultural and linguistic identities.  These are some of my favorite bilingual selections along with helpful links.

Beautiful books in English and Spanish for your music lessons (Part 1)!

Baby Chicks Sing, The / Los pollitos dicen

 (PK-2nd) 

This is a great tool for early childhood because the title song is nearly universally known by Spanish-speaking populations, and for children to see their culture represented early on helps support their positive identify formation and bi/multilingual development.

 Change Sings by Amanda Gorman: 

La canción del cambio

(PK-5th)  

This book has been an excellent addition to classrooms and libraries everywhere, and an edition in Spanish allows for further cultural affirmation along with possibilities for connections to Spanish Language Arts (poetry and lyrics).  I usually use it to start discussions about how Dr. King's legacy inspires the characters / us, community murals, musical instruments, imagination, and music as a gift.

Sing with Me ~ Canta conmigo 

(PK-2nd)   

This book has come to be very useful in my Kinder lessons and for lower elementary Special education classes.  Verbal and non-verbal students have flipped through it and selected the song they want, and I sing it as they strum my ukulele and invite them to sing.  The translations provided are whimsical and the illustrations are very appealing to kids.

What Can You Do With A Paleta?

(PK-3rd)  

This book is as cute as it is culturally relevant and full of potential interactive activities to offer students.  Here are two examples of musical extension activities:

 1) Using colorful popsicle sticks, go over colors in English and Spanish, an play a rhythm stick game such as rhythm echoes, "Tapping on My Sticks" and/or "Cho-co-la-te."

 2) Allow students to each try an accordion (which is mentioned in the book).  There are some child accordions for $20 or less out there, and for most Latine children it will be a meaningful and culturally affirming experience.

 

Finding the Music / En Pos de la Musica 

(PK-4th)  

I love the way this book portrays the main character's journey of musical/cultural/personal identity and the importance of music in the lives of many kids of people in the community.  I've used it in lessons about mariachi music or when teaching a folk song such as "De colores."

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Have you shared any of these books or have move to add to this list?  Let us know!