Music and Movement in Programming – Movement Picturebooks

Last week I was able to co-facilitate a fantastic workshop for Early Childhood Educators all about incorporating music and movement into circle times and other programming for young children. We talked about why providing opportunities for children to move and engage with music is such an important part of early literacy, then shared some of our favourite songs, stories and rhymes for getting kids up and grooving. We even pulled out the shakers, rhythm sticks, scarves and parachute to really kick things up a notch! It was great fun, and a powerful reminder of the importance of physical literacy and creative physical expression in early childhood education.

If you’re interested in learning more about the importance of music and movement in early literacy, there have been plenty of articles written on the subject. The short version of it all is that music and movement help children develop vocabulary and comprehension, express their emotions in healthy ways, develop fine and gross motor skills, practice social skills, balance, coordination, and listening skills, and so much more. Oh, and I did I mention that listening to and making music, singing and dancing are just plain fun, and can be fantastic stress relievers for young children and their caregivers alike?

Obviously this is a subject that’s very near and dear to this librarian’s heart – I’ve written about physical literacy in storytime, talked about my favourite survival storytime songs , made a list of my top-ten favourite singable picture books, and of course shared several years’ worth of storytime outlines, which can be found under the “Library Programs” tab on my website.

In this post I’m going to be sharing some of the picturebooks we shared in our workshop that are designed to get your little ones up and moving about. In future posts I’ll share some of the musical favourites we looked at, as well as some singable picture books, and our favourite ways to use props in circle time. We shared a lot of information in the workshop, and by sharing it here on the blog, I’m also making a record of it for myself! Everybody wins!

If You’re Happy and You Know It by Jane Cabrera

Everybunny Dance! by Ellie Sandall

Spunky Little Monkey by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson, illustrated by Brian Won

Wiggle by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Scott Menchin

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Jump! by Scott M. Fischer

Wild One by Jane Whittingham, illustrated by Noel Tuazon

Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas

What are some of your favourite circle time / storytime books for getting kids up and moving about?

Check back soon for the next posts in this series on music and movement!