The following is a list of recommended books, videos, and audio recordings that provide a wide range of reading and research resources for this unit. Collect as many as you can for your classroom science library, or provide the list to your school or local librarian.
By Budge Wilson; illustrated by Susan Tooke. (2001, Tundra Books)
A beautifully illustrated story about Angus, a young boy who uses the music of the sea, rocks, and wind as the inspiration to choose and master an instrument so he can join his family’s orchestra.
By Tama Janowitz; illustrated by Tracy Dockray. (2001, SeaStar)
A mother and son pay close attention to the sounds all around them and theorize in increasingly exaggerated and nonsensical ways about what produced them. A good picture book for reading aloud or independently.
Edited by Kathy Dawson; illustrated by Rachel Isadora. (2000, Putnam Group Juvenile)
A fictional account that highlights the varied sounds of the city. A good picture book for reading aloud or independently.
By Paul Showers; illustrated by Aliki. (1993, HarperTrophy)
A father and child take a walk together and listen to the sounds around them. A good picture book for reading aloud or independently.
By John Coy; illustrated by Joe Cepeda. (2000, Knopf)
A child and her father take a drive when the little girl can’t fall asleep. The noises they hear along the way are highlighted and represented with inventive use of language and lots of onomatopoeias! A good picture book for reading aloud or independently.
By Richard Alington and Kathleen Cowles. (1999, Raintree/Steck Vaughn)
Simple, clear introduction to the many kinds of sounds made by people and animals. Includes information about the parts of the ear. Suggested reading level: ages 5 to 8.
By Caroline Arnold; illustrated by Cathy Trachok. (2001, Charlesbridge Publishing)
Animals and other organisms with super senses of hearing are featured on large two-page spreads full of interesting facts.
By Gary Gibson; illustrated by Tony Kenyon. (1995, Copper Beach Books)
Innovative ideas for experiments with sound are carefully explained with minimal text in this step-by-step guide that facilitates a child’s understanding of vibrations, bouncing sounds, and pitch. Suggested reading level: ages 4 to 8.
By Wendy Pfeffer; illustrated by Holly Keller. (1999, Harpercollins Juvenile Books)
Focuses on how sounds are made and used for communication. Text is child-friendly and accessible for many independent readers. Also a good read-aloud.
By Robin Kerrod; illustrated by Mike Atkinson. (1991, Marshall Cavendish)
Contains projects, experiments, and activities aimed at exploring music and other sounds. Text is child-friendly, but probably too difficult for many second graders to read independently. A good reference book for the unit.
By Ray Broekel. (1983, Children’s Press)
An overview of sound and related concepts, with simple experiments to demonstrate each concept. Text is child-friendly, but probably too dense for many second graders to read independently. A good reference book for the unit.
By Neil Ardley. (1991, Harcourt)
Includes easy-to-follow instructions (thanks to large photos accompanying many steps) for a variety of homemade instruments and sound-related experiments.
By Margaret McLean; illustrated by Ken Stott. (1989, Lerner Publications Company)
Includes detailed instructions for building a variety of musical instruments ranging from simple to complicated.
By Rebecca Anders; illustrated by George Overlie. (1975, Lerner Publications Company)
Includes instructions for making percussion, wind, and string instruments from easy-to-find materials.
Written and illustrated by Ann Wiseman. (1984, Atheneum)
Includes instructions for constructing and playing a variety of instruments made from basic materials. Instruments range from the simple (playing body parts and kitchen utensils) to the complicated (building zithers from wood).
By Meryl Doney. (1996, Orchard Books)
Provides step-by-step instructions and excellent illustrations for making a variety of musical instruments from around the world. Also gives background information, including geographical region, about each instrument or type of instrument.
By Elaine Marie Alphin. (2001, Carolrhoda Books)
The history of the telephone, methods of communication before the telephone, and the role of the telephone in society are presented with ample illustrations in this introductory text.
By Mordecai Gerstein (2002, Farrar Straus & Giroux)
A wonderful picture-book biography about the composer, Charles Ives, which uses onomatopoeias throughout to cleverly convey the composer’s ongoing attention to and inspiration from the sounds of everyday life.
Videos and Audio Recordings
Video produced by Polygram Video, 1994.
Introduces young people to the orchestra by using musical instruments to tell an adventure story. There are also many other good recordings and videos of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.
Video produced by Disney Studios, 1991.
Classical music reinterpreted by Disney animators, resulting in surreal fantasy and playful escapism.
Video produced by Sony Wonder Studio, 1995.
An animated classic story about a brave little tuba who leaves the Great Orchestra and sets out to find a melody all his own. This story teaches children about musical instruments, as well as about being unique.
Compact disc produced by Telarc, 1990.
Benjamin Britten and Sergei Prokofiev, composers.
Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra includes 13 variations on a single musical theme, each featuring a different instrument or family of instruments and different musical elements. Excellent introduction to the instruments that make up an orchestra. There are also many other good recordings of this piece, as well as of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.