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The Planets: A Story Orchestra

The Planets: A Story Orchestra

by | Apr 3, 2024

Blog post written by Abby Hamel

On April 8th, 2024, an out-of-this-world event will occur: the solar eclipse! Rochester is lucky enough to be in the path of totality for this eclipse and I can feel the excitement around me. The Planets by Helen Mortimer is the newest installation in “The Story Orchestra” series where the reader is taken on a musical journey along with learning a little bit about each planet in the solar system.

I love “The Story Orchestra” books because they take great works of music such as Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Mozart’s The Magic Flute, or Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and turn them into stories for everyone to enjoy. A notable feature of these books is the last page, where readers can learn more about each clip they heard in the book, the composer, and some important music terminology.

Each page has a musical note with snippets from Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite The Planets to accompany our two main characters on an adventure throughout our solar system. While reading the book, Jessica Courtney-Tickle’s illustrations bring to life how vast and mysterious our galaxy really is. The two explorers we follow visit the three planets closest to Earth, make their way through the asteroid belt, and onwards to the outer planets. There are an array of skills to be learned and practiced while reading this book, such as astronomy, memory recall, and musical terms.

Astronomy

Readers will learn about each planet and a trait unique to that planet such as the volcanoes of Venus, why Uranus is blue, and how many rings Saturn has! Each musical piece paired with the page reflects the traits of these planets, which help in adding more layers to the story.

Memory Recall

There are many memorable moments throughout the story. Reading a few times can generate so many questions such as, what music did your child like hearing the most? Does this match their favorite planet? It may also present an opportunity to recall information they learn in school, like how long it takes Neptune to make one full rotation around the sun.

Musical Terms

As mentioned above, there is a glossary in the back of the book that contains musical terminology to learn. This may be a helpful tool when reading the information that accompanies the clips heard throughout the story. The terminology learned in the back of the book may also be carried over to listening to music on the radio, not just classical music!

With the celestial event of the year upon us, The Planets is a great gateway into classical music and learning more about our very own solar system.

Click here if you’d like to purchase this book on Amazon!

Blast off!

Book: My Voice is a Trumpet

Book: My Voice is a Trumpet

by | Feb 22, 2022

Blog post written and submitted by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC 

“Voices are powerful, and together they’re strong, like the musical notes of a beautiful song.”

Think about it. Each person has a voice. When voices come together, it can sometimes be chaos. But, it can oftentimes be powerful! Jimmie Allen’s new children’s book My Voice is a Trumpet describes in rhyming verse how all people have voices and voices are strong when brought together to support an important cause or idea. Together with illustrations by Cathy Ann Johnson, Allen’s storybook depicts how people of all ages can use their voices to “stand up for what’s right and know what feels wrong.”

 

One of the most important points (at least to me) that Allen makes in his new book is that no one’s voice is the same. Voices can be loud, quiet, young, or old. A person may need to use gestures, sign language, or a communication device in order to be heard. It’s important to celebrate our differences and treat each other with kindness and compassion.

As February is International Build Self-Esteem Month as well as Black History Month, I believe it’s extremely important to discuss with your child that it’s okay to be different from others. They may talk differently, walk differently, or look different compared to their peers or those around them. Jimmie Allen’s book makes it a point to state that we can all be brought together in spite of our differences.

When reading this book with your child, here are a few questions to keep in mind:

Comparing your voice to a trumpet

How can your voice sound like a trumpet? Should your voice always be loud? Trumpets can play music that is loud and powerful, but they can also play music that is soft and sweet. When should your voice be loud and powerful? When should your voice be quiet?

Recognizing differences in others

All of us have different voices, but we can all come together to stand up for what we believe in. Do you know someone who speaks a different language or uses a different way to communicate? Even though that person may have a voice different from yours, theirs is just as important!

How will you use your voice?

What can you use your voice for? Many people use their voices to stand up to bullies, to help save the planet, or to speak peace for all people. What is one way you can use your voice to make a difference in your community?

My Voice is a Trumpet is Jimmie Allen’s first book, but he made history as the first Black artist to have two consecutive number one hits on the country music charts! In addition to the creation of this book, Jimmie Allen also wrote a companion song of the same name: “My Voice is A Trumpet.” This song expresses the importance of being kind and also recognizing that “you’re beautiful the way that you are.” As you listen to this song with your child, discuss with them what makes them beautiful. Remind them they are beautiful the way they are, no matter what.

We hope you enjoy reading this book with your child during International Build Self-Esteem Month as well as Black History Month! If you wish to purchase this book on Amazon, you can do so here.

Happy reading!

Book: Jingle Bells

Book: Jingle Bells

by | Dec 14, 2021

Blog post written by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC | Song recorded by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC

The Christmas season is filled with many traditions. When I was growing up, my parents would allow my sister and I to open one present on Christmas Eve. I was always the first one awake on Christmas morning, ready for what the day had in store! I didn’t realize how Christmas traditions are vastly different around the world until I read Jingle Bells by Iza Trapani for the first time. 

I’m fairly certain we all know the first couple of verses to the classic song “Jingle Bells.” In Iza Trapani’s interpretation, the lyrics are changed to fit the story: traveling around the world to different countries and learning about the Christmas traditions there! Throughout the story, the reader learns about Christmas traditions in a variety of countries including Mexico, Sweden, the Philippines, and Kenya. When reading this story with your child, you can help them practice many skills such as geography, reading comprehension, and inferencing.

Geography

Within this story, the reader is shown and told about the Christmas traditions and countries all over the world. This is a great opportunity to practice geography skills with your child and to help them locate the different countries on a map or a globe. You could also work on directional skills and ask your child where a particular country is in relation to the United States.

Reading comprehension

In the back of this book, there is more information about the traditions in each country mentioned in the story. Read this information with your child and ask them questions to encourage growth of comprehension skills. What do children in Mexico look forward to on Christmas Eve? Where can children in Italy find their presents on Christmas morning? At what time do people in Poland begin eating Christmas dinner?

Inferencing

This book also gives children the opportunity to work on their inferencing skills. Encourage your child to think about the different traditions in each country while looking at the pictures in the book. Are the children in each country pictured as feeling happy? Why do you think they feel happy? How would you feel if you participated in a different tradition?

If you would like to use a recorded version of Iza Trapani’s version of “Jingle Bells,” I recorded this one for your use!

Jingle Bells

by Iza Trapani | Sung by: Kayla Davitt, MT-BC

Although Christmas traditions vary around the world, it is often a time to spend with friends and family. Whether you are celebrating new traditions or continuing on with family traditions, we hope you and your family enjoy this holiday season!

If you wish to purchase this book on Amazon, you can do so here.

Happy reading!

Book: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

Book: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

by | Nov 16, 2021

Blog post written and submitted by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC 

An old lady, a turkey, a football, and a boat. You may be asking, “What do these specific objects have in common?” If you have small children at home, you’ve probably heard or read the book There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Well, in this series, the main character continues to swallow seasonal objects as the calendar year progresses! In There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey, the story centers around a turkey-eating holiday: Thanksgiving!

 

As we meet the main character, she begins by swallowing a live turkey. She then proceeds to swallow a variety of objects, some that very obviously make one think of Thanksgiving. When reading this book with your child, you can encourage them to think about what is happening in the book. Here are some ideas:

Fact vs. Fiction

For young children, they may still be learning about how to separate fact from fiction. This story is a great way to allow your child an opportunity to apply their reasoning skills to the events in the story. You can ask them questions such as: Do you think a person can swallow a balloon? Is it possible for a person to swallow a boat? What do you think would happen to a person if they swallowed something inedible like a ball? These questions and others can encourage your child to apply skills and knowledge from their own lives to answer the questions logically.

Sequencing

The events in this story follow a pattern, so this is a great way to work on comprehension skills with your child! When reading this book with your child, you can leave blanks in the content and allow your child to fill in the blank with the correct word. You can turn it into a game with your child and see how quickly they can fill in the blank! Another way to practice putting events in sequential order is to print out these activities and have your child put the pictures in the correct order according to what the old lady swallowed in the story.

Fine motor skills

The above mentioned activities not only allow your child to work on their sequencing skills, but they can also work on their fine motor skills! The activities consist of coloring, cutting, and glueing. This would be a great time to work on some of those skills with your child!

If you’re looking for a recording of the song to use while reading this book with your child, here is one that I enjoy.

Also, check out this amazing activity by Speechin Made Easy to act out the story as you listen to the recording.

We hope you enjoy reading or singing this song with your child as 2021 comes to a close!

If you wish to purchase this book on Amazon, you can do so here.

Happy reading!

Book: Change Sings – A Children’s Anthem

Book: Change Sings – A Children’s Anthem

by | Oct 12, 2021

Blog post written and submitted by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC 

In today’s world, there’s turmoil. There’s anger. Strife. Arguments. There are people around the world engaging in dehumanizing behaviors. I don’t know about you, but thinking about everything that is going on in the world today makes me feel discouraged. However, my discouragement changed into hope when I read Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman and Loren Long.

 In this stunningly illustrated book that takes Amanda Gorman’s poem to a new level, you encounter the journey of a young girl who is making changes in her world, one small step at a time. The story begins when a young girl, who is never given a name, is holding on to her guitar and thinking about some of the famous people in history whose changes have impacted our lives today, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. The young girl is inspired by a mural of Martin Luther King, Jr. to go out into her community and begin making changes: cleaning up a local playground, giving food to the needy, aiding the elderly, and building a ramp for another child in a wheelchair.

Throughout her journey, the young girl encounters children of all different backgrounds. She gives each child their own instrument and, as the story progresses, a band develops with each child added as an important piece of the ensemble. This metaphor is awe-inspiring: we can come together (like a musical ensemble does) to make changes in our community for the better!

As you read this story with your child, don’t be afraid to discuss some of the moral dilemmas we are faced with today, such as inequality and prejudice. With no children of my own, I cannot speak from experience when discussing the dilemmas mentioned. However, I don’t think it is ever too early to have these discussions with your child. Ask your child what they can do to make their community a better place. Maybe they could help clean up their local playground or take a meal to a neighbor in need. Remember, no good deed is too small!

Stephanie Leavell, a fellow music therapist, has written a song to accompany this storybook. The song and the melody lends itself wonderfully to make this inspiring storybook even more impactful. Please enjoy this recording as I sing the melody Stephanie wrote. 

Change Sings: A Children's Anthem

by Stephanie Leavell | Sung by: Kayla Davitt

We hope you enjoy reading this book with your child this school year! 

If you wish to purchase this book on Amazon, you can do so here.

Happy reading!

Book: Rocking in My School Shoes

Book: Rocking in My School Shoes

by | Sep 7, 2021

Blog post written and submitted by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC

It’s that time of year again! Time to pick out a new backpack, sharpen pencils, and get ready to learn! For the first time in almost 18 months, children around the country are getting ready to go back to school for in-person learning. This can be a daunting time for any child, but may be especially unnerving for little ones. However, once you read Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin, your child will become familiar with some of the places in and around school. The laid-back song that accompanies this storybook will help to put your child at ease and feel more confident when it’s time to tackle in-person learning.

This story begins with Pete the Cat walking down the sidewalk in his new “school shoes.” Pete then gets on the school bus and rides it to school. Throughout the story, different places within the school setting are described and introduced: the library, the lunchroom, and the playground. In each setting, Pete is engaging in an activity while wearing his “school shoes.”

When reading this storybook with your child, encourage them to pick out some details: What is Pete reading about? What is he eating for lunch? Where is he playing on the playground? Not only will these questions allow your child to practice comprehension skills, but it will also give them ideas as to what they may do (read, eat, play, etc.) in certain settings in school.

One of my absolute favorite activities in school was coloring; and now it’s a part of my self-care routine! If your child enjoys coloring, check out our Rockin My School Shoes activity, where they can color a picture of what their back-to-school shoes look like. Encourage your child, while coloring, to think about the different activities they may do in their “school shoes.” You could also talk to your child about the range of emotions they may be feeling about starting a new school year. Check out our blog post about using social songs to help with the the transition back to school. 

Click here to purchase this storybook on Amazon. 

Best of luck to you and your kiddos in this new school year and happy reading!

Explore More Books from Kayla!

The Planets: A Story Orchestra

The Planets: A Story Orchestra

by | Apr 3, 2024

Blog post written by Abby Hamel On April 8th, 2024, an out-of-this-world event will occur: the solar eclipse! Rochester is lucky enough to be in the path of totality for this eclipse and I can feel the excitement around me. The Planets by Helen Mortimer is the newest...

Book: My Voice is a Trumpet

Book: My Voice is a Trumpet

by | Feb 22, 2022

Blog post written and submitted by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC  “Voices are powerful, and together they’re strong, like the musical notes of a beautiful song.” Think about it. Each person has a voice. When voices come together, it can sometimes be chaos. But, it can...

Book: Jingle Bells

Book: Jingle Bells

by | Dec 14, 2021

Blog post written by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC | Song recorded by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC The Christmas season is filled with many traditions. When I was growing up, my parents would allow my sister and I to open one present on Christmas Eve. I was always the first one awake on...