5 Types of Storybooks You can Use in Your Classroom

I’m about to share with you the 5 types of storybooks you can use in your music classroom.  You know you want to use storybooks in your classroom.  Your principal is asking you to include more literacy skills, and you’d really like to include more storybooks in your daily music activities.  The problem is, you’re not really sure what kinds of storybooks to use.  Besides that, who has the time to research storybooks??

I know.  You’re way too overwhelmed to deal with anything new..  Your schedule is ridiculous, and you’re busy putting together your end-of-the-year program.  That’s why you’re here!  Because I know exactly what you need, and I’m going to give you the deets!

When you’re  planning storybook lessons, these are the When I’m planning storybook lessons, here are the 5 types of storybooks that are easiest to:I choose from:

1. Inspirational or world changing storybooks – I know that as a teacher of every student in your school, you understand the great avantage you have.  You get to teach skills and concepts that the classroom teachers don’t get to teach.  You also get to help teach your students to be good people.  Inspirational storybooks are a fantastic way to train good humans.  Here are some examples of world changing storybooks you can use in your classroom:
   1. Change Sings by Amanda Gorman
   2. What the Road Said, by Cleo Wade
2. Books that contain music content like the instrument families of the orchestra, books about specific styles or pieces of music, and books about specific composers and musicians.  Storybooks are truly the best way to teach music concepts and to help your students learn about composers or specific genres of music, because they are so engaging for your students.  Let’s talke about some examples of these types of storybooks:
   1. Family Dynamics, by Courtney Woodward (catch my facebook live interview with her from last week)
   2. All of the storybooks by Vicky Weber (Rhythm Rescue, Lazlo Learns Recorder)
3. Fun, engaging, and colorful storybooks.  Yes, I know.  You’ve heard that before, but it bears repeating.  Students are highly motivated by fun.  Silly illustrations, animals that talk, and colorful patterns will help your students stay excited about what they are learning.  The crazier the story, the more your students will learn.  Here are a couple of examples of storybooks with vibrant illustrations and ridiculous antics:
   1. Dinosaurumpus by Tony Mitton
   2. Down by the Cool of the Pool, by Tony Mitton
   3. Drum Dream Girl, by Margarita Engle
4. Books with repeating patterns – This is an easy one.  A repeating pattern is any phrase that is repeated many times throughout the storybook.  Repeating patterns are the perfect way to add rhythmic phrases, instrument play, or a tiny melody.  Let’s check out a couple of storybooks that have repeating patterns:
   1. Have You Got My Purr, by Judy West
   2. The Flea’s Sneeze, by Lynn Downey
5. Books with usable vocabulary.  Hmmm, now what’s this?  Well, let’s think about sound words, movement words, and music concept words.
   1. Sound words are any word that when you read it you hear a sound.  (Think bang or rat a tat tat).
   2. Movement words are any word that when you read it you can imagine a movement.  (Think leap or squat).
   3. Music concept words are any word you can use to teach a musical concept.  For example,
      1. “Up” can be used to teach vocal exploration or playing a melody that climbs up.  
      2. Bang can be used to teach the dynamic word forte or to teach musical opposites loud and soft

Storybooks are one of the best ways to not only keep your students engaged but also to teach basic music concepts.  Adding more stories to your curriculum will help your students be happier and create a classroom community that everyone will love to be a part of. Looking for a quick list of storybooks you can start using right away? Simply click the image above that says, Free List of Storybooks.