By Ali Kubeny (she/her), Children’s Services Librarian – Bellingham Public Library
2026 CLEL Bell Committee Member
One of my favorite ways to integrate the SING practice into storytime is to find books that have opportunities to squeeze a song in or can be set to a tune in their entirety. I always get excited to discover new ways to sing a book! I hope you enjoy some of my favorites presented in this video. Have you been singing along to any great new books lately (published between November 16, 2024 and November 15, 2025)? Share them with us here!
Books included in this video (and my sources):
- Thread of Love by Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal, illustrated by Zara Gonzalez Hoang
- Originally sung for me by Bernice Chang (Children’s Services Librarian – Bellingham Public Library)
- Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel
- Originally sung for me by Jessica Ralli (Coordinator of Early Literacy Programs – Brooklyn Public Library) in the 2024 presentation “Beyond Bilingual: Making Storytime Friendly to Families Who Are English Language Learners”
- Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
- Originally sung for me by Gloria Bartas (Children’s Librarian – Enoch Pratt Free Library in Maryland) as the November/December 2024 “Rhyme of the Month” in the Mother Goose on the Loose newsletter
- Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins
- Addition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” or other campfire songs
- Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers, illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz
- Addition of “Happy Birthday”
- 2025 CLEL Bell Shortlist Title (TALK)
