Engaging books are critical for circle time success. And, what is more engaging than singing? Try these sing a long books for circle time for your next whole group read-aloud story time.
Circle Time Sing-A-Long Books
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Books Sung to Familiar Tunes
Old Mikamba Had a Farmby Rachel Isadora is an African variation of Old McDonald Had a Farm. Children will meet lions, rhinos, and zebras.
Old MacDonald Had a Boatby Steve Goetz has us travel in a rusty fishing boat for an adventure. Also, check out Old MacDonald Had a Truck.
Jump in your vehicle for Twinkle Twinkle Little Car by Kate Dopirak. Little Car isn’t ready for bed so it travels around town saying goodnight to everything.
This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt is a jazzy rendition of “This Old Man.” Learn about counting and jazz musicians.
It’s no ordinary boat in Go, Go, Pirate Boat by Katrina Charman. It’s a pirate’s boat!
Go, go, pirate boat,
Across the salty sea,
Raise the anchor, hoist the sail,
It’s a pirate’s life for me.
Also check out Charman’s other song books- Car, Car, Truck, Jeep and The Whales on the Bus.
Hey Ho, to Mars We’ll Go! by Susan Lendroth blasts on to the Red Planet. Join the astronauts and learn alongside them in this out of the world adventure. The song is sung to “The Farmer in the Dell.”
There Was a Tree by Rachel Isadora is sung to “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” This variation takes us to beautiful African Savanah.
Jennifer Ward is well known for her “Over in the Meadow” variations to teach us all about different environments. Here are just a few to enjoy: Way Up in the Arctic, Somewhere in the Ocean, Over in the Garden, and Way Out in the Desert.
The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk by Kabir Sehgal is one of my favorite variations of “The Wheels on the Bus” because we get to learn about a different culture. So load up the Tuk Tuk and head to India. To see even more variations of the song see our Variations of the Wheels on the Bus list.
If You’re a Robot and You Know It by David A. Carter is to the tune “If You’re Happy and You Know It” but with a robotic twist. Get ready to stretch your limbs, shoot your laser eyes, and jump with this sing-along pop-up book.
Down by the Barn by Will Hillenbrand is perfect for a farm unit. It’s sung to the tune “Down by the Station.” Actually, Hillenbrand also has a Down by the Station book too.
Classic Songs to Sing
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush by Jane Cabrera walks children through their day from morning until bedtime. Cabera also has SEVERAL other books to sing along to including The Bear Went Over the Mountain and Ten in the Bed.
More Books to Sing
Learn how to sing I Got Two Dogs by John Lithgow by watching him teach it to you in this YouTube video and then enjoy it over and over again with the students.
Who Took the Cookies From the Cookie Jar? by Bonnie Lass is a fun book to sing and work on rhyming and names of students. Extend the learning fun with the book with our free Who Took the Cookies From the Cookie Jar? Activities too.
Laurie Berkner is a staple musician for children’s music and now some of her songs are being turned into books. Check out Monster Boogie, We Are the Dinosaurs and Pillowland.
Eric Litwin, author of the first four Pete the Cat books, bridges early literacy with music masterfully. One of his newest books is The Poop Song. You can listen to the song on the publisher’s website making it so much easier to figure out how to sing the story. Basically, the children join in every time the word “poop” is mentioned. Since that is a lot, then the kids will be participating throughout the book. Definitely a silly one.
Another classic children’s singer is Raffi. Some of his most popular songs have also been turned into books including Baby Beluga, Five Little Ducks, Shake My Sillies Out, and more.
You can’t sing the entire story of Vole and Troll by Iza Tapani, but there is still plenty of singing to be had. Vole needs to get over the Troll’s bridge and he tricks him each time with various familiar songs.
Barefoot books create some amazing diverse sing-along books many of which include cds of the music. Check out some of my favorites.
Head underwater and explore all around the lake in the There’s a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake by Loreen Long.
A fun read for a study of the body isDem Bones by Bob Barner. This one is fun to sing and super educational.
And, then there is the song that you can’t get out of your head- “Baby Shark.” Yep, “doo, doo, doo” Well, they created a book to accompany the song now. Actually, there are lots of spin-off titles too. And, I even have a free printable activity you can use while you sing/read.—>Baby Shark Printable Activity.
Canticos also has a variety of board book sing alongs that are bilingual for our youngest circle time sessions. Try Little Chickies/Los Pollitos or Little Elephants/Elefantitos by Susie Jaramillo.
Collections of Songs Books
On Top of the Potty (Silly Dilly Songs) by Alan Katz will especially delight older children. In fact, you’ll find that many children will memorize the songs and sing them over and over again. Mine did!
The Neighborhood Sing-Along by Nina Crews is a great collection of songs paired with photographs making this a nice collection to have on hand.
Another collection is 
by José-Luis Orozco. It includes six songs that are done in English and Spanish.
I see lots of sing-alongs in your future!
Printable Sing-Along Book List
Grab a printable list of the books above to keep handy and reference.
More Circle Time Songs
Keep the singing and learning going with our Circle Time Songs and Chants Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Great songs to familiar tunes that teach children phonological awareness skills, alphabet recognition, vocabulary, and more!
Circle Time Songs and Chants Vol. 1
Circle Time Songs and Chants Vol. 2 (Month by Month)
Enjoying singing along to some great books.
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