15 Musical Books for National Storytelling Week

Do you have a song that instantly takes you back?

One that reminds you of those hazy newborn days, rocking a tiny baby at 3am? A song that pulls you straight back to childhood? Or maybe one that still carries the ache of teenage heartbreak?

For me, music and memory are completely tangled up together. When my babies were tiny, I’d sing ‘Edelweiss’ from The Sound of Music, ‘You Are My Sunshine’, or Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’. Not your classic lullabies - but they're the ones my brain could conjure up when I was half-asleep. I can’t hear those songs now without being transported straight back to soft blankets, sleepy cuddles and that strange, magical exhaustion of early parenthood.

Music shapes our memories — and that’s exactly what this year’s National Storytelling Week is all about. The 2026 theme, Soundtrack Your Story, celebrates the many ways sound, rhythm and music help us tell stories and make sense of the world.

Why music and stories belong together

Research from the National Literacy Trust shows that music can be a powerful way to engage children and young people with literacy. Exploring stories through lyrics can even help re-ignite reading for enjoyment and writing for pleasure.

• Slightly more than 3 in 5 children and young people aged 8–18 (60.7%) regularly read song lyrics digitally.

• Nearly 1 in 5 (17.8%) say they write song lyrics on a screen at least once a month.

I find that so interesting! I used to get Smash Hits and Top of the Pops magazines to find all the song lyrics, but young people can find everything they need online now - and they still go after lyrics! Music and reading go hand in hand, whatever your age. That tells us something important: stories don’t only live in books. They live in rhythm, rhyme, repetition and sound. And embedding that in a child's early years is a gift you can give.

My favourite musical books for National Storytelling Week

To celebrate Soundtrack Your Story, I’ve rounded up 15 of my favourite books for bringing rhythm, beat, lyrics and songs into your storytimes.

Familiar rhymes (and lots of fun!)

Car, Car, Truck, Jeep

Sung to the tune and rhythm of Baa Baa Black Sheep, this is a brilliant one for getting children joining in straight away.

Ye Cannae Shove Yer Granny Off A Bus

These add so much fun to storytime. Children love joining in with the funny lyrics and the easy-to-pick-up tune (hopefully Granny won’t be offended!).

Strong rhythm — perfect for reading aloud

Big Red Bath

One of my personal favourites to read at storytime. It has such a great natural rhythm and feels like you’re “sing-talking”. Children absolutely love it.

The Big-Time Boogie-Woogie Animal Band

Very similar in style and just as fun to read aloud — lively, musical and full of energy.

Side-splitting books with music and rhythm

The Wonky Donkey ~ Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes ~ The Diddle That Dummed

If you haven’t encountered these three yet, you’re in for a treat! All are fabulous read-alouds. The Wonky Donkey has even been put to a tune (a quick search will find it), so the whole book can be sung. Pete the Cat is easy for children to join in with, and The Diddle That Dummed is just gloriously silly — which makes it perfect for storytime.

Books with lyrics you’ll recognise

Some very well-known songs have been turned into picture books, bringing back your own memories while introducing little ones to musical classics:

Yellow Submarine

What a Wonderful World

Moon River

Every Little Thing

Sometimes You Have To Be a Little Bit Naughty

Songs in book form

Hush Little Baby

Puff, the Magic Dragon

These are classic songs that can stir up deep memories if you haven’t heard them for a while — and Puff even comes with a CD.

A nursery rhyme hero

Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes: A Complete Collection of All Your Favourites

Honestly, who has the mental capacity to remember all the nursery rhymes? This lovely treasury takes the thinking out of it and is beautifully illustrated by Axel Scheffler, making it a joy to dip into again and again.

Grab your books via Bookshop.org

All of the titles in my '15 Musical Books for National Storytelling Week' list are available on our Bookshop.org booklist: Soundtrack Your Story.

I'd love to know what books you enjoy for a rhythmic, sing-song storytime? I hope you have a fun, music-filled storytime — full of rhythm, memories and maybe even a song that becomes part of someone else’s story.