Best orchestra books for kids
One of the best ways to get your kiddos excited about listening to Classical and Jazz music is to introduce them to the wonderful and fascinating instruments that make it all happen. Just like we introduce our kids to princesses, dinosaurs, trains, and mermaids, we can captivate our children’s imaginations by expanding their knowledge of how this music is made. My Elf leaps out of his seat with excitement when he hears and recognizes instruments in songs. It makes my heart sing when he says: “I hear the trombone! Mama, that’s the violin!”. Grab any one of these and draw your kids into the music-making magic.
Another reason to introduce your children to the orchestra is that an orchestra inhabits all the skills of good citizenship. Orchestra members have to work together to make music. They must wait to play their instrument at the proper time, learn to adjust to fit their movements and sounds with those of others. They have to cooperate and collaborate, they must develop sympathy, empathy, and trust. Wouldn't the world be an incredible place if we would all unite like an orchestra?
To that end, here is a selection of our favorite books about the Orchestra, the instruments, and the marvelous sounds they make.
Orchestra
by Avalon Nuovo and David Doran
This is our current favorite. Illuminated by David Doran's stylish and immersive artwork, this hardcover is a pleasure to look at no matter your age. The book has three sections. First, it goes through each instrument family, outlining the basics. Then it focuses on one of the instruments of that family, pointing out its different parts and mechanisms. Next up, the makers of music, striking a good balance between male and lesser-known female composers. And lastly, it explores other genres orchestras play in, such as Jazz, Opera, Dance, Musical Theater, and Cinema. This one is a MUST HAVE. Ages 2 and up
Meet the Orchestra
by Ann Hayes and Karmen Thompson
This book is a more fantastical exploration of the orchestra and its instruments. A wonderfully illustrated animal plays each instrument and their descriptions focus on how their sounds make us feel: “the violin can be bright as laughter... the oboe may remind you of the sadness saying goodbye to someone you love...the clarinet melts in your ears just like ice cream melts in your mouth…” We especially love the wild lion who plays the conductor in a tuxedo.
Ages 1 and up.
Poppy and the Orchestra
by Magali le Huche
We are big fans of the Poppy series in our household. This was the first one we purchased when our Elf was just a few months old and he adored being able to listen to music clips on every page. This one follows a group of animals who each play a bit of Camille Saint-Saens’s Carnival of Animals. It also has some quirky extra sound effects of frogs jumping or a mole tripping with a loud “boiiinnng” which is entertaining at any age. All ages.
Welcome to the Symphony
by Carolyn Sloan and James Williamson
Here is a unique, interactive introduction to the orchestra through one of the most famous symphonies ever written. With its 19-button sound panel, this book allows you to separate the melody, the harmony, the sounds made by a violin, a viola, a cello, a double bass, and more of the beginning of the symphony. It’s very fun and will really give your kiddo a sense of how the sound of an orchestra comes together. All ages.
How to build an orchestra
by Mary Auld and Elisa Paganelli
The London Symphony Orchestra creates a lot of educational programming and free content for children and this book is one of them. It’s the story of a conductor who is auditioning each instrument for his orchestra. But not just any conductor, the real-life legendary conductor of the LSO, Simon Rattle! I love how it shows the musicians walking up the stage door for the auditions dressed in their street clothes and lugging their instruments. It really gives a sense that orchestra musicians are real people just like us, imperfect, nervous, and wonderful.
Ages 5 and up.