Toys I Make, Trips I Take – Resources

The semester of Toys I Make, Trips I Take, of the Kindermusik Imagine That! program is so CHOCK full of themes, it is an interesting challenge to collect and present the information. 

First, there is the theme of the toymaker making toys for his toy shop.  AND the aspect of each of the classic toys to enjoy, ie. the Jack In the Box, the drum, the spinning top, etc.  I’ve got lots of songs, and other resources, as you will see, but not so many books about the classic toys or the toymaker. 

I am open to someone sharing books or resources they love on this subject, by making a comment on this blog.   I have found a few online, and ordered them, but cannot yet recommend them.  Maybe you’ll see some new entries soon.  Only if they’re the best!

I must first recommend a fabulous classical music piece,  The Toy Symphony by Leopold Mozart.    You can find a great recording of this symphony on the CD set described in this posting:  Classics for Children – Great set of classical music 

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Within the semester, we have the opportunity to help the toymaker build a boat, and a train, and to explore adventures that we might have in our imaginations.  The following blog posting include resources for these themes.

 

Traveling with Trains by books, music, and more.  (NEW)

Travel by boat – in a book or two  (book resources and ideas)

Children, Children, build me a boat  (activity idea and slide show)

 

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During our train travels, the children are encouraged to explore map reading and map making skills.  I have recently found a wonderful book that introduces map skills to young children.

Treasure Map  by Stuart J. Murphy, Harper Collins

A group of children on Elm Street find a treasure map, and learn some important mapping skills on the way to finding a wonderful “treasure” under the X.  Readers will be intrigued by the treasure, and may want to start their own tradition.

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Mighty Maddie by Stuart J. Murphy,  , Harper Collins, Inc.  Maddie has toys ALL over the house, big heavy ones, and very light ones, and needs to have them all cleaned up before her friends start arriving for her birthday party.  She decides to become MIGHTY MADDIE, and does an amazing job with things both heavy and light.

The previous two books are part of the MathStart series. Cora (4) and I have just discovered the MathStart series through our local library, and we are loving them.  Each book is a wonderfully interesting story that introduces a basic math concept.  Check out more information on these books, and fun math activities on the author’s website, www.stuartmurphy.com .

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During the last part of the semester, we focus on the enjoyment of stuffed animals as friends, confidants, and playmates.  Along that line, I do recommend:

 

 

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear  – Ill. by Michael Hague;  Scholastic, 1993 .  It is the classic rhyme that encourages specific movements, and the illustrations are classic and delightful.  Try to make each of the positions that you see the little bear doing, even along the borders of the pages.

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Fabulous videos about Toys: 

Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys – GoodTimes Entertainment, 2001 – This is an excellent follow up, with top notch voices, for Rudolph to join with an elf that would rather be a dentist than make toys.  Feeling like they don’t fit in, they find more misfits – toys that are made incorrectly – and end up saving Christmas by foiling the plans of the Toy Taker. 

The Tangerine Bear – Feature Films for Families , 2005  – A toy bear that no one wants longs to find a home.  When no one buys him, he ends up in a story specializing in damaged merchandise.  He meets new friends, including a Jack in the Box, and eventually discovers his true home.   

I would highly recommend ANY of the films from this company; they are all fully designed to “strengthen traditional values through entertainment”.  And they do.  Check them out at www.familyfilms.com .  We personally have more than 30 of the films by this company and both the children and grown ups enjoy them.  See my blog posting: Feature Films for Families .

 

Children’s books about Orchestra Instruments

In the first year of Kindermusik for the Young Child, the students learn about each of the different groups of instruments in the orchestra.  A fun way to enhance this learning is through books that explain or expand on these instruments in ways that relate to children.  I have found the following books to do Just that! 

The Remarkable Farkle McBride – by John Lithgow,  Ill. By C.F. Payne;  Scholastic, 2000.

Farkle is a talented young musician, but just can’t stick to any one instruments.  He finally finds his talent is conducting all of the instruments.  Wonderful story of finding your place in this world.

 

Orchestranimals – by Vlasta van Kampen and Irene C. Eugen;  Scholastic, 1989.

The penguin conductor is anxiously trying to get everyone ready for the upcoming concert.  Introduces all the instruments in an amusing way (and includes a snippet of music melodies for each instrument).

 

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin – by Lloyd Moss,  Ill. By Margorie Priceman;  Alladin Paperbacks, 1995.

A musical counting book.  The delightful rhymes help clarify what groups of instruments playing together are called; one instrument plays a solo, two is a duet, three is a trio, and so forth, until an entire orchestra is gathered.

Of course, listening to classical music is a perfect way to learn about the instruments

Classics for Children – Great set of classical music  - This recording includes Peter & The Wolf, as well as Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, plus many more – Just BUY this CD set – you and your children will get so much out of it.

 

Classics for Children – Great set of classical music

Classics for Children

Released by Decca Recording Company

I HIGHLY recommend this 2 CD set for every parent with young children. 

This is a top notch collection of classical music that was specifically written for children.  It includes:

• Peter & the Wolf – Prokofiev; 
• The Carnival of the Animals – Saint-Saens; 
• The Flight of the Bumble Bee – Rimsky-Korsakov; 
• Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra – Benjamin Britten
• The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – Paul Dukas
• The Toy Symphony – Leopold Mozart 
• and many other musical pieces about animals, toys, and other things interesting to children. 

 Please see the FULL LIST OF SELECTIONS on these 2 CDs.  This link also leads you to an online site that is currently selling this set for just $14.95. 

My advice… Just get it!  You will be exposing your children to classical music written specifically for them from composers throughout history. 

And don’t just listen to it;  draw the animal that the music is about; pretend to be the animal, moving the way the music makes you feel, talk about the animal, and why someone would write music about it!  The pamphlet that comes in the CD features just such artwork by children, and they have several great ideas for interactive and creative ideas to do with your children.  Who could ask for more?

Favorite Musical Recordings about Animals

Here are a few of my favorite recording artists, and my favorite albums about animals.  I’m sure I will be adding to this page, so keep looking:

*  Anna Moo Crackers:  Songs and Music by Anna Moo  (a Floridian children’s music artist)            Produced by A. Moosic Productions.  Books A Million had these for sale. 

A great set of all original songs about animals and people.  Adults, as well as children, will LOVE this album.  Catch her in concert if you can, she comes to Orlando annually.

*  Earthy Tunes – Nature Songs for Kids, ages 3-11 years.  from Mary Miche. Call (510)845-8417.  (You’ll just have to trust me and order this one !  It will quickly become a favorite!)

Singable, lovable, crazy, fun lyrics like “Animal Party at My House, filled with feathers and scales and furs…maybe next time they’ll pick yours.”, “Banana Slug – when some people see you, they say Ugh”,  “It’s a Very Good Day for walking in the sun, ‘cause it’s a sunny day”.   

*  Classics for Children;  by The Decca Record Company             ***** Highest Recommendation

Top-notch collection of classical music that was specifically written for children.   Includes:  Peter & the Wolf – Prokofiev;  The Carnival of the Animals – Saint-Saens;  The Flight of the Bumble Bee – Rimsky-Korsakov;  and many other musical pieces about animals.  I’ve mentioned this one in a previous posting, but it’s worth rementioning!  Just get it!  You will be exposing your children to classical music written specifically for them from composers throughout history. 

And dont’ just listen to it;  draw the animal that the music is about; pretend to be the animal, moving the way the music makes you feel, talk about the animal, and why someone would write music about it!

Classical Kids Series

The Children’s Group offers an amazing array of musical products for children.

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My favorite sets are the Classical Kids series, which includes an excellent set of recordings available that introduce children to composers and their music through the telling of very creative stories that include the composer as a character, and is set in the time that they were alive and composing or conducting. 

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In the Kindermusik for the Young Child program we study several composers, and there is a Classical Kids recording that pertains to several of them.

Their first recording is called Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage.   In the first semester of YC, we study Mozart’s Opera, The Magic Flute.  On the Classical Kids recording, the viewpoint of the story is about these children that are meant to take part in his opera, and they learn much about Mozart in the process. 

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In Sem. 2 of Young Child, we study Beethoven.  The Classical Kids version of “Beethoven Lives Upstairs” comes in both a CD recording and a DVD movie.   This scenario takes place in Beethoven’s older years, after he has become deaf.  The viewpoint of the story is about a boy who mother rents the upstairs of their house to Beethoven.

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“Mr. Bach Comes to Call” also comes as a CD recording and a DVD movie. 

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Each tape is fascinating, and includes a wonderful variety of the music written by that composer – You’ll want to go on a road trip, just so you can focus on listening to the entire thing without interruption.  They are available to check out in the local libraries, or you can find out more online at www.childrensgroup.com.   

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Make sure you make the opportunity to do this at some point in time – it is well worth it.  I have about 7 in the series.  My son, James, and I love to listen again and again.  Our favorite actually features a lot of Renaissance Music in its story – “The Song of the Unicorn”.   This was one of the CDs I listened to at home while I was going through early labor with Cora – it helped focus my mind on something else.