Book Description

This anthology of original poems for young children by Alma Flor and Isabel includes some of their favorites.

Award winning illustrator Claudia Legnazzi complements this book with her vibrant and delightful creations.

Author’s Note

Poetry is a child’s best friend. A poem is a treasure that can remain with us forever. New words, new structures, new images, ideas, values and reflections can be part of the poem’s gift. Rhyme, rhythm or cadence will facilitate remembering it.

A poem a day is an infallible prescription for an engaging classroom and happy children.

Facilitating access of children to poetry has been one of my life quests.

Many years ago, in what now seems as another life time, when my children were growing up in Perú I was able to publish in Lima four poetry anthologies Poesía Menuda, Poesía Pequeña, Poesía Infantil, Poesía Niña.

Later I was able to incorporate wonderful poetry in the Hagamos caminos reading program.

Publishing Días y días de poesía, an anthology with a poem for each day of the year, has been one of my greatest satisfactions in life. I know many classrooms have incorporated the idea of “a poem a day” thanks to that anthology. Collaborating with Lee Bennet Hopkins and Violet Harris to create the English companion to Días y días de poesía, the multicultural anthology A Chorus of Cultures was an equally joyful experience.

Isabel Campoy and I have published a series of seven anthologies of poetry in Spanish as part of the Cielo abierto Series: Gorrión gorrión, La rama azul, Verde limón, Dulce es la sal, Nuevo día, Huertos de Coral and Ríos de lava. We are delighted to have included there poetry from the best poets from the Spanish-speaking world. As well as the poetry series of Gateways to the Sun / Puertas al sol which includes four volumes, in separate editions in English and in Spanish: Dreaming Fish / Pimpón, Laughing Crocodlies / Mambrú, Singing Horse / Mambrú, Flying Dragon / Chuchurumbé. The beautiful presentation of these books, where the artistic illustrations are a worthy companion to the poems gives both Isabel and myself immense satisfaction.

Recently we have published a series of books of rhymes from the oral tradition in bilingual editions, in order that English speakers can also get to know and enjoy our folklore: ¡Pío Peep! and MuuMoo are collections of rhymes. Merry Navidad is a collection of villancicos or Christmas carols, and Ten Little Puppies / Diez perritos a book inspired on a traditional popular rhyme.

Salta, saltarín is a new addition to this world of poetry all children should have access to.

Other works by the same illustrator

Claudia Legnazzi has been the illustrator of two other of my recent books published by Frog Street. The new edition of The rooster who went to his uncle’s wedding / El gallo que fue a la boda de su tío and Cristina y la rana / Cristina and the Frog.

Claudia was also one of the illustrators of the collection Gateways to the Sun / Puertas al sol. Among her work there she did outstanding illustrations for my play Serafina’s Birthday / El cumpleaños de Serafina included in the book Roll ’N’ Role / Teatrín de Don Crispín.

READERS’ RESPONSES

If you have enjoyed reading or sharing this book, I would very much like to hear from you. Please click here to send your comments.

Book Description

In this whimsical ABC book in Spanish each letter is represented by an animal which in turn introduces the next.

This book represents the playful rhymes that young children thoroughly enjoy. It will be a delightful way of making young children aware of initial letter/sound correlation, of individual letters, of the ABC, and of the names of many animals.

The excellent illustration by María de Jesús Álvarez, and the clever rhymes, makes this a book to be enjoyed by all.

Author’s Note

Animals were a very important part of my life and of my children’s lives. This is why it is not surprising that so many of my books are populated by animals.

I enjoy clever rhymes and delight when I see how much children appreciate them.

This playful book will invite them to anticipate which can be the next animal and a word that rhymes with the animal’s name is always the clue.

It always give me great satisfaction when I can have a book published that gives children joy while allowing them to enrich their vocabulary, acquire new concepts, and become stronger readers.

I hope this playful book will do just that.

And what a joy that it would have such beautiful illustrations by María Jesús Álvarez, who had already illustrated Celebra un PowWow con Sandy Starbright / Celebrate a Pow Wow with Sandy Starbright, one of the books from the Cuentos para celebrar / Stories to Celebrate series.

Correlations

This book can correlate to my other ABC books: Abecedario de los animales, Coral y espuma: Abecedario del mar, and Gathering the Sun.

Other books with rhymes are: Me gustaría tener / How Happy I Would Be and Una extraña visita / Strange Visitors.

A book that also offers prediction supported by the rhyme is ¿Quién nacerá aquí? / Who’s Hatching Here?

READERS’ RESPONSES

If you have enjoyed reading or sharing this book, I would very much like to hear from you. Please click here to send your comments.

Teacher’s Resource Book: Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción

Book and CD Description

Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values.

Sigue la música contains well known songs from the folklore like He perdido el do and Mambrú. It also includes some original poem/songs by Alma Flor Ada like Clotilde and Dragones y cocodrilos. For La Cucarachita Martina. Suni Paz has created an exceptional dramatization of the retelling in verse by Alma Flor Ada of the well-known tale. Isabel Campoy’s poem/song Familia celebrates the richness of family.

Suni Paz musical creations draw from her extensive knowledge of Latin American and Spanish musical tradition making this CD and all CDs in the series a powerful introduction to the Hispanic musical heritage.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

• He perdido el do – Folklore
• Antón Pirulero – Folklore
• La Cucarachita Martina — Alma Flor Ada
• Las jirafas gemelas — Alma Flor Ada
• Flores y caracoles — Alma Flor Ada
• Clotilde — Alma Flor Ada
• Mambrú – Folklore
• Dragones y cocodrilos — Alma Flor Ada
• El reloj de mi bisabuelo – Folklore
• La vilanela – Folklore
• Familia – F. Isabel Campoy
• La playa – F. Isabel Campoy

Teacher’s Resource Book Description

Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel campoy

This handbook, inspired in the Transformative Education process developed by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, explores the use of songs in the classroom and provides specific suggestions to be applied with Música amiga.

It is divided in two major parts. The first, Aprender cantando, explores the uses of songs in topics like:

• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones para eliminar la ansiedad y facilitar el aprendizaje
• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones como base para la expresión corporal o dramática
• Las canciones en la adquisición de las habilidades lingüísticas
• Las canciones en la integración entre la escuela y el hogar
• Las canciones y los valores transformadores

The second part offers specific suggestions for each of the 120 songs contained in the Música amiga program.

Author’s Note

The production of the Música amiga series has been one the highlights of my life as an author. Although these books may have a much humbler physical appearance than many other of my books, this program combines the creativity of three extraordinary artists and human beings: Isabel Campoy, Suni Paz and Ulises Wensell. Furthermore the product was originally published by my son Alfonso Zubizarreta and its production was one more expression of his support for my work.

Many of the poems/songs that appear in Música amiga were originally part of the Reading Program Hagamos caminos, and signify the first time that Suni Paz and I collaborated. I have mentioned in many occasions that having such an excellent musician create music for my poems has been one of my greatest satisfaction.

Isabel Campoy brought her sensitivity, humor, and creativity to Música amiga, creating a number of original poems for this program, which were also put to music by Suni. The value of family, the treasure of culture, the importance of maintaining our language, the appreciation for learning and reasoning, and the joy of celebrating life in all its forms are some of the topics in Isabel’s contributions to Música amiga.

The art in these books was originally created by Ulises Wensell for Hagamos caminos. Ulises is a most talented artist and has been a true inspiration for my writing. I truly wanted to write children’s books because I dreamt that Ulises could create for my text art of the quality of his illustrations for El emperador y los pájaros or El retorno de la primavera, which I continue to consider absolute masterpieces.

As life would have it, I was able to demand, in order to accept the request to create Hagamos caminos that Ulises would be the illustrator.

And he created, for that reading series, art appropriate for any quality literature book.

When developing Música amiga we were delighted to be able to draw from the Hagamos caminos art to illustrate this collection of poems/songs.

And an extraordinary combination of talents have given life and light to these books and CDs that can enrich all and every classroom with the gift of poetry, songs, and art.

Música amiga program description

There are ten books to this series, each with an accompanying CD.

Each book includes 12 carefully selected poems. All 120 poems are presented as songs in the CD collection. Some of the poems are from folklore, a number of them have been originally written by Alma Flor Ada and by F. Isabel Campoy. A few are from other renown poets.

The books have magnificent illustrations from internationally acclaimed illustrator Ulises Wensell.

All of these poems and songs can be enjoyed by children from Pre-K to 6th grade. As a matter of fact, many can be enjoyed even by older students.

The first five volumes are particularly suited for helping develop specific literacy skills and for the reinforcement of specific syllabic combinations as well as overall language development. The last five volumes support sustained language development, a deepened appreciation for literature and an ongoing love for independent reading.

The titles are:

• ¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
• Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
• Canción y alegría — Música amiga 3
• Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
• Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
• Caracolí — Música amiga 6
• Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
• Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
• El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
• El son del sol — Música amiga 10

Themes, Values and Vocabulary

The information on this page includes not only the list of poems in the books and songs in the CDs but also an indication of the Themes and Values presented in them.

Initial Reading in Spanish

For teachers or parents interested in teaching or strengthening initial reading skills with songs, there is also a chart to indicate the syllables that are reinforced through these poems and songs as well as a correlation with the initial reading series Hagamos caminos since many of these poems and songs are included in the Hagamos caminos books.

Música amiga Guide

The Música amiga Teacher’s Guide offers general suggestions for the use of music in the classroom for vocabulary, concepts and values development, and specific suggestions for the use of each song.

Aprender cantando, set of 2 cassettes. These cassettes explore how songs can facilitate learning in a variety of ways. Recorded in Spanish by Alma Flor Ada with numerous examples of songs performed by Suni Paz.

Significance of the Use of Songs in the Classroom

The importance of songs in the classroom cannot be overly emphasized. Songs are a vehicle for both teachers and students to develop fluency in the language, improve pronunciation and intonation, build vocabulary, and develop their understanding of Hispanic culture. Learning the traditional folklore cherished by families and communities will strengthen Latino children’s sense of identity; for English-speakers learning Spanish, songs and folklore will deepen their appreciation of the Spanish language.

The content of the ten Música amiga volumes are:

¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
[While every one of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the joy of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for language and vocabulary development as well as family and identity values.]

Los elefantes — Folklore
Sapitos – Alma Flor Ada
El barco chiquitito – Folklore
En el puente de San Juan – Folkore
Uno de enero – Folklore
La cigarra guitarrista – Alma Flor Ada
La bella hortelana – Folklore
En alta mar – Folklore
El beso – F Isabel Campoy
Lluvia – F Isabel Campoy
Mi historia – F Isabel Campoy
Aquí vivimos — F Isabel Campoy

Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
[While everyone of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for phonemic awareness and the practice of the five vowels as well as family values.]

Una mosca – Folklore
A, a, a, mi abuelita me dará – Alma Flor Ada
Yo te daré – Folklore
La i minúscula – Alma Flor Ada
La mar estaba serena – Folklore
Un… en un… — Alma Flor Ada
Las cinco vocales – Folklore
Color hermoso – F Isabel Campoy
Mi abuelo – F Isabel Campoy
¡Qué miedo! – F Isabel Campoy
Arre, arre — F Isabel Campoy

Canción y alegría – Música amiga 3
[This volume contains stories in verse by Alma Flor Ada. These stories w introduce charming characters like La gallina Picotina, El loro Ala de Oro and La ratita Roequeso as well as three charming poems by Isabel Campoy. The poems and songs are particularly suited to allow children with initial reading skills to read the lyrics independently.]

Perrito color de café – Alma Flor Ada
Fa, fe, fi – Alma Flor Ada
El gato del mago — Alma Flor Ada
La gallina Picotina – Alma Flor Ada
La ranita – Alma Flor Ada
La burrita – Alma Flor Ada
El loro Ala de Oro – Alma Flor Ada
La ratita Roequeso – Alma Flor Ada
Mi oso de papel – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi mapa – F. Isabel Campoy
Canta — F. Isabel Campoy

Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
[Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values. All the poems in this volume have been written by either Alma Flor Ada or Isabel Campoy. The CD offers a combination of diverse music, lyric songs like El hada Hadaluna, lively songs like Jarabe tapatío and Sube y baja and whimsical invitations to reflect like Mi backpack, La cama de mi maestro y Soñar palabras.]

El ciempiés y la cigarra – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón Botón – Alma Flor Ada
El hada Hadaluna – Alma Flor Ada
Los ocho chivitos – Alma Flor Ada
Josefina y sus amigos – Alma Flor Ada
Jarabe tapatío – Alma Flor Ada
Y va de cuento – Alma Flor Ada
Sube y baja – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi backpack – F. Isabel Campoy
Bolsillo de pantalón – F. Isabel Campoy
La cama de mi maestra – F. Isabel Campoy
Soñar palabras — F. Isabel Campoy

Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
[A combination of well known tradicional songs, like Las mañanitas and Tengo una muñeca and songs that emphasize the value of family.]

Las mañanitas – Folklore
Del… al… — Alma Flor Ada
Tato, Anita y Titino — Alma Flor Ada
Tengo una muñeca – Folklore
La paloma – Folklore
Tengo, tengo, tengo – Folklore
En una bella ciudad – Folklore
Origami — Alma Flor Ada
En el kiosko — Alma Flor Ada
¡Adelante! – F. Isabel Campoy
Mamá – F. Isabel Campoy
Mis manos – F. Isabel Campoy

Caracolí — Música amiga 6
[A combination of songs from folklore, including the beloved De colores, original poems/songs by Alma Flor Ada and magnificent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy that stress the importance of language continuation, Hablar como tú, as well as the values of family and culture, Tú eres muy rico]

De colores – Folklore
Primavera — Alma Flor Ada
Salta la tablita – Folklore
Cri-crí — Alma Flor Ada
Caballito blanco – Folklore
Pimpón – Folklore
Las marionetas – Folklore
Juanito – Folklore
Juega conmigo – F. Isabel Campoy
Hablar como tú – F. Isabel Campoy
Caracola – F. Isabel Campoy
Tú eres muy rico – F. Isabel Campoy

Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
[Well known songs from folklore like He perdido el do and Mambrú, accompany some original poems/songs. La Cucarachita Martina is an exceptional dramatization by Suni Paz of the well-known tale. Isabel Campoy’s poem/song Familia celebrates the richness of family.]

He perdido el do – Folklore
Antón Pirulero – Folklore
La Cucarachita Martina — Alma Flor Ada
Las jirafas gemelas — Alma Flor Ada
Flores y caracoles — Alma Flor Ada
Clotilde — Alma Flor Ada
Mambrú – Folklore
Dragones y cocodrilos — Alma Flor Ada
El reloj de mi bisabuelo – Folklore
La vilanela – Folklore
Familia – F. Isabel Campoy
La playa – F. Isabel Campoy

Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
[There is much joy and humor in this book/CD combination. The ballad of El señor don Gato has enchanted many generations of children. Oficios is a poem/song filled with humor that will delight readers and listeners of any age. La lluvia one of Alma Flor’s favorites. Isabel’s three poems/songs in this title will elicit smiles and invite you to sing along.]

El señor don Gato — Folklore
Los días de la semana — Folklore
Oficios – Alma Flor Ada
La lluvia – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón y el gato — Folklore
A dormir — Folklore
Pizpirigaña – Folklore
La pastora – Folklore
El trencito – Folklore
El lápiz de Guillermo — F. Isabel Campoy
Ramón y su perro — F. Isabel Campoy
La nube y la ballena — F. Isabel Campoy

El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
[This title includes the work of some very well respected poets, José Martí, Mirta Aguirre and Jaime Ferrán. It also includes two of Alma Flor’s best known poems/songs, Mi amiga, la sombra and the inspiring Hagamos caminos. Isabel contributes four poems/songs, one dedicated to mothers, Día de las madres, another to fathers, Un beso de papá.]

La rosa blanca – José Marí
Lo que vamos a ser – Alma Flor Ada
Los loros – Jaime Ferrán
Aventura – Mirta Aguirre
Ronda de farolas – Folklore
Los pollitos Fernán — Silva Valdés
Mi amiga, la sombra — Alma Flor Ada
Hagamos caminos — Alma Flor Ada
Día de las madres — F. Isabel Campoy
Un beso de papá — F. Isabel Campoy
Estaba una sirena — F. Isabel Campoy
Alto, bien alto — F. Isabel Campoy

El son del sol — Música amiga 10
[This title completes the series with poems of some of the best poets in the Spanish language, masterfully turned into songs by Suni Paz. Her renditions of Fernando Luján’s Cigarras, of Mirta Aguirre’s Caballito, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Doraba la luna el río and Jaime Ferrán Las gacelas are evocative and hauntingly beautiful. For Un son para niños antillanos by Nicolás Guillén and Canción de todos los niños del mundo she has created lively music that invites you to sing along. Four excellent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy make this a necessary title in every classroom. Isabel leads children in the reflection of what it is to think in ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar!, she brings the awareness of how vast knowledge is in La maestra tampoco lo sabe, and she invites all to take responsibility in taking care of life, Cuida la vida. Finally, she offers the most poignant song about the importance of retaining our own language in No te olvides, no, a song that has become a true inspiration for bilingual educators.

Un son para niños antillanos – Nicolás Guillén
Cigarras – Fernando Luján
Doraba la luna el río – Juan Ramón Jiménez
Baile de la caña – David Chericián
Las gacelas – Jaime Ferrán
Caballito – Mirta Aguirre
Los zapaticos de rosa – José Martí
Canción de todos los niños del mundo – Alma Flor Ada
Cuida la vida — F. Isabel Campoy
No te olvides, no — F. Isabel Campoy
¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar! — F. Isabel Campoy
La maestra tampoco lo sabe — F. Isabel Campoy

READERS’ RESPONSES

If you have enjoyed reading or sharing this book, I would very much like to hear from you. Please click here to send your comments.

Teacher’s Resource Book: Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción

Book and CD Description

Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values. This volume contains a number of selections from the folklore, particularly suited for vocabulary enrichment. Los elefantes and Sapitos will reinforce numbers in a joyful way. Uno de enero facilitates the practice of the months of the year. Some of the songs will be excellent for movement coordination like La bella hortelana.

La cigarra guitarrista is a different approach to the old fable of the ant and the grasshoper. In this version I have wanted to invite children to look at things from a different perspective, to recognize the role of artists and musicians in society, and to see the value of solidarity and collaboration.

As usual Isabel Campoy provides beautiful poems to reflect and enjoy. El beso is an excellent introduction to the idea of metaphor. Mi historia and Aquí vivimos celebrate our cultural identity.

Suni Paz musical creations draw from her extensive knowledge of Latin American and Spanish musical tradition making this CD and all CDs in the series a powerful introduction to the Hispanic musical heritage.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

• Los elefantes — Folklore
• Sapitos – Alma Flor Ada
• El barco chiquitito – Folklore
• En el puente de San Juan – Folkore
• Uno de enero – Folklore
• La cigarra guitarrista – Alma Flor Ada
• La bella hortelana – Folklore
• En alta mar – Folklore
• El beso – F Isabel Campoy
• Lluvia – F Isabel Campoy
• Mi historia – F Isabel Campoy
• Aquí vivimos — F Isabel Campoy

Teacher’s Resource Book Description

Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel campoy

This handbook, inspired in the Transformative Education process developed by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, explores the use of songs in the classroom and provides specific suggestions to be applied with Música amiga.

It is divided in two major parts. The first, Aprender cantando, explores the uses of songs in topics like:

• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones para eliminar la ansiedad y facilitar el aprendizaje
• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones como base para la expresión corporal o dramática
• Las canciones en la adquisición de las habilidades lingüísticas
• Las canciones en la integración entre la escuela y el hogar
• Las canciones y los valores transformadores

The second part offers specific suggestions for each of the 120 songs contained in the Música amiga program.

Author’s Note

The production of the Música amiga series has been one the highlights of my life as an author. Although these books may have a much humbler physical appearance than many other of my books, this program combines the creativity of three extraordinary artists and human beings: Isabel Campoy, Suni Paz and Ulises Wensell. Furthermore the product was originally published by my son Alfonso Zubizarreta and its production was one more expression of his support for my work.

Many of the poems/songs that appear in Música amiga were originally part of the Reading Program Hagamos caminos, and signify the first time that Suni Paz and I collaborated. I have mentioned in many occasions that having such an excellent musician create music for my poems has been one of my greatest satisfaction.

Isabel Campoy brought her sensitivity, humor, and creativity to Música amiga, creating a number of original poems for this program, which were also put to music by Suni. The value of family, the treasure of culture, the importance of maintaining our language, the appreciation for learning and reasoning, and the joy of celebrating life in all its forms are some of the topics in Isabel’s contributions to Música amiga.

The art in these books was originally created by Ulises Wensell for Hagamos caminos. Ulises is a most talented artist and has been a true inspiration for my writing. I truly wanted to write children’s books because I dreamt that Ulises could create for my text art of the quality of his illustrations for El emperador y los pájaros or El retorno de la primavera, which I continue to consider absolute masterpieces.

As life would have it, I was able to demand, in order to accept the request to create Hagamos caminos that Ulises would be the illustrator.

And he created, for that reading series, art appropriate for any quality literature book.

When developing Música amiga we were delighted to be able to draw from the Hagamos caminos art to illustrate this collection of poems/songs.

And an extraordinary combination of talents have given life and light to these books and CDs that can enrich all and every classroom with the gift of poetry, songs, and art.

Música amiga program description

There are ten books to this series, each with an accompanying CD.

Each book includes 12 carefully selected poems. All 120 poems are presented as songs in the CD collection. Some of the poems are from folklore, a number of them have been originally written by Alma Flor Ada and by F. Isabel Campoy. A few are from other renown poets.

The books have magnificent illustrations from internationally acclaimed illustrator Ulises Wensell.

All of these poems and songs can be enjoyed by children from Pre-K to 6th grade. As a matter of fact, many can be enjoyed even by older students.

The first five volumes are particularly suited for helping develop specific literacy skills and for the reinforcement of specific syllabic combinations as well as overall language development. The last five volumes support sustained language development, a deepened appreciation for literature and an ongoing love for independent reading.

The titles are:

• ¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
• Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
• Canción y alegría — Música amiga 3
• Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
• Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
• Caracolí — Música amiga 6
• Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
• Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
• El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
• El son del sol — Música amiga 10

Themes, Values and Vocabulary

The information on this page includes not only the list of poems in the books and songs in the CDs but also an indication of the Themes and Values presented in them.

Initial Reading in Spanish

For teachers or parents interested in teaching or strengthening initial reading skills with songs, there is also a chart to indicate the syllables that are reinforced through these poems and songs as well as a correlation with the initial reading series Hagamos caminos since many of these poems and songs are included in the Hagamos caminos books.

Música amiga Guide

The Música amiga Teacher’s Guide offers general suggestions for the use of music in the classroom for vocabulary, concepts and values development, and specific suggestions for the use of each song.

Aprender cantando, set of 2 cassettes. These cassettes explore how songs can facilitate learning in a variety of ways. Recorded in Spanish by Alma Flor Ada with numerous examples of songs performed by Suni Paz.

Significance of the Use of Songs in the Classroom

The importance of songs in the classroom cannot be overly emphasized. Songs are a vehicle for both teachers and students to develop fluency in the language, improve pronunciation and intonation, build vocabulary, and develop their understanding of Hispanic culture. Learning the traditional folklore cherished by families and communities will strengthen Latino children’s sense of identity; for English-speakers learning Spanish, songs and folklore will deepen their appreciation of the Spanish language.

The content of the ten Música amiga volumes are:

¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
[While every one of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the joy of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for language and vocabulary development as well as family and identity values.]

Los elefantes — Folklore
Sapitos – Alma Flor Ada
El barco chiquitito – Folklore
En el puente de San Juan – Folkore
Uno de enero – Folklore
La cigarra guitarrista – Alma Flor Ada
La bella hortelana – Folklore
En alta mar – Folklore
El beso – F Isabel Campoy
Lluvia – F Isabel Campoy
Mi historia – F Isabel Campoy
Aquí vivimos — F Isabel Campoy

Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
[While everyone of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for phonemic awareness and the practice of the five vowels as well as family values.]

Una mosca – Folklore
A, a, a, mi abuelita me dará – Alma Flor Ada
Yo te daré – Folklore
La i minúscula – Alma Flor Ada
La mar estaba serena – Folklore
Un… en un… — Alma Flor Ada
Las cinco vocales – Folklore
Color hermoso – F Isabel Campoy
Mi abuelo – F Isabel Campoy
¡Qué miedo! – F Isabel Campoy
Arre, arre — F Isabel Campoy

Canción y alegría – Música amiga 3
[This volume contains stories in verse by Alma Flor Ada. These stories w introduce charming characters like La gallina Picotina, El loro Ala de Oro and La ratita Roequeso as well as three charming poems by Isabel Campoy. The poems and songs are particularly suited to allow children with initial reading skills to read the lyrics independently.]

Perrito color de café – Alma Flor Ada
Fa, fe, fi – Alma Flor Ada
El gato del mago — Alma Flor Ada
La gallina Picotina – Alma Flor Ada
La ranita – Alma Flor Ada
La burrita – Alma Flor Ada
El loro Ala de Oro – Alma Flor Ada
La ratita Roequeso – Alma Flor Ada
Mi oso de papel – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi mapa – F. Isabel Campoy
Canta — F. Isabel Campoy

Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
[Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values. All the poems in this volume have been written by either Alma Flor Ada or Isabel Campoy. The CD offers a combination of diverse music, lyric songs like El hada Hadaluna, lively songs like Jarabe tapatío and Sube y baja and whimsical invitations to reflect like Mi backpack, La cama de mi maestro y Soñar palabras.]

El ciempiés y la cigarra – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón Botón – Alma Flor Ada
El hada Hadaluna – Alma Flor Ada
Los ocho chivitos – Alma Flor Ada
Josefina y sus amigos – Alma Flor Ada
Jarabe tapatío – Alma Flor Ada
Y va de cuento – Alma Flor Ada
Sube y baja – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi backpack – F. Isabel Campoy
Bolsillo de pantalón – F. Isabel Campoy
La cama de mi maestra – F. Isabel Campoy
Soñar palabras — F. Isabel Campoy

Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
[A combination of well known tradicional songs, like Las mañanitas and Tengo una muñeca and songs that emphasize the value of family.]

Las mañanitas – Folklore
Del… al… — Alma Flor Ada
Tato, Anita y Titino — Alma Flor Ada
Tengo una muñeca – Folklore
La paloma – Folklore
Tengo, tengo, tengo – Folklore
En una bella ciudad – Folklore
Origami — Alma Flor Ada
En el kiosko — Alma Flor Ada
¡Adelante! – F. Isabel Campoy
Mamá – F. Isabel Campoy
Mis manos – F. Isabel Campoy

Caracolí — Música amiga 6
[A combination of songs from folklore, including the beloved De colores, original poems/songs by Alma Flor Ada and magnificent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy that stress the importance of language continuation, Hablar como tú, as well as the values of family and culture, Tú eres muy rico]

De colores – Folklore
Primavera — Alma Flor Ada
Salta la tablita – Folklore
Cri-crí — Alma Flor Ada
Caballito blanco – Folklore
Pimpón – Folklore
Las marionetas – Folklore
Juanito – Folklore
Juega conmigo – F. Isabel Campoy
Hablar como tú – F. Isabel Campoy
Caracola – F. Isabel Campoy
Tú eres muy rico – F. Isabel Campoy

Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
[Well known songs from folklore like He perdido el do and Mambrú, accompany some original poems/songs. La Cucarachita Martina is an exceptional dramatization by Suni Paz of the well-known tale. Isabel Campoy’s poem/song Familia celebrates the richness of family.]

He perdido el do – Folklore
Antón Pirulero – Folklore
La Cucarachita Martina — Alma Flor Ada
Las jirafas gemelas — Alma Flor Ada
Flores y caracoles — Alma Flor Ada
Clotilde — Alma Flor Ada
Mambrú – Folklore
Dragones y cocodrilos — Alma Flor Ada
El reloj de mi bisabuelo – Folklore
La vilanela – Folklore
Familia – F. Isabel Campoy
La playa – F. Isabel Campoy

Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
[There is much joy and humor in this book/CD combination. The ballad of El señor don Gato has enchanted many generations of children. Oficios is a poem/song filled with humor that will delight readers and listeners of any age. La lluvia one of Alma Flor’s favorites. Isabel’s three poems/songs in this title will elicit smiles and invite you to sing along.]

El señor don Gato — Folklore
Los días de la semana — Folklore
Oficios – Alma Flor Ada
La lluvia – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón y el gato — Folklore
A dormir — Folklore
Pizpirigaña – Folklore
La pastora – Folklore
El trencito – Folklore
El lápiz de Guillermo — F. Isabel Campoy
Ramón y su perro — F. Isabel Campoy
La nube y la ballena — F. Isabel Campoy

El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
[This title includes the work of some very well respected poets, José Martí, Mirta Aguirre and Jaime Ferrán. It also includes two of Alma Flor’s best known poems/songs, Mi amiga, la sombra and the inspiring Hagamos caminos. Isabel contributes four poems/songs, one dedicated to mothers, Día de las madres, another to fathers, Un beso de papá.]

La rosa blanca – José Marí
Lo que vamos a ser – Alma Flor Ada
Los loros – Jaime Ferrán
Aventura – Mirta Aguirre
Ronda de farolas – Folklore
Los pollitos Fernán — Silva Valdés
Mi amiga, la sombra — Alma Flor Ada
Hagamos caminos — Alma Flor Ada
Día de las madres — F. Isabel Campoy
Un beso de papá — F. Isabel Campoy
Estaba una sirena — F. Isabel Campoy
Alto, bien alto — F. Isabel Campoy

El son del sol — Música amiga 10
[This title completes the series with poems of some of the best poets in the Spanish language, masterfully turned into songs by Suni Paz. Her renditions of Fernando Luján’s Cigarras, of Mirta Aguirre’s Caballito, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Doraba la luna el río and Jaime Ferrán Las gacelas are evocative and hauntingly beautiful. For Un son para niños antillanos by Nicolás Guillén and Canción de todos los niños del mundo she has created lively music that invites you to sing along. Four excellent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy make this a necessary title in every classroom. Isabel leads children in the reflection of what it is to think in ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar!, she brings the awareness of how vast knowledge is in La maestra tampoco lo sabe, and she invites all to take responsibility in taking care of life, Cuida la vida. Finally, she offers the most poignant song about the importance of retaining our own language in No te olvides, no, a song that has become a true inspiration for bilingual educators.

Un son para niños antillanos – Nicolás Guillén
Cigarras – Fernando Luján
Doraba la luna el río – Juan Ramón Jiménez
Baile de la caña – David Chericián
Las gacelas – Jaime Ferrán
Caballito – Mirta Aguirre
Los zapaticos de rosa – José Martí
Canción de todos los niños del mundo – Alma Flor Ada
Cuida la vida — F. Isabel Campoy
No te olvides, no — F. Isabel Campoy
¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar! — F. Isabel Campoy
La maestra tampoco lo sabe — F. Isabel Campoy

READERS’ RESPONSES

If you have enjoyed reading or sharing this book, I would very much like to hear from you. Please click here to send your comments.

Teacher’s Resource Book: Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción

Discover the power of music and poetry to build literacy! Infuse culture into your curriculum with this indispensible collection of poetry and songs in Spanish. This program is an excellent vehicle for developing phonemic awareness and supporting language acquisition, basic foundations for reading success.

The musical compilations include traditional folklore, selected works by a wide range of Latin American authors, and original material written by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy. All of the songs are arranged and sung by Suni Paz, and many are her original compositions. The books contain magnificent color illustrations by Ulises Wensell.

The importance of songs in the classroom cannot be overly emphasized. Songs are a vehicle for both teachers and students to develop fluency in the language, improve pronunciation and intonation, build vocabulary, and develop their understanding of Hispanic culture. Learning the traditional folklore cherished by families and communities will strengthen Latino children’s sense of identity; for English-speakers learning Spanish, songs and folklore will deepen their appreciation of the Spanish language.

Each of the accompanying books includes the corresponding lyrics for all of the songs. All of these songs and poems can be used from kindergarten to grade six for oral language development and cultural enrichment. The first five compilations are particularly suited for helping develop specific literacy skills, as indicated. The last five support sustained language development, a deepened appreciation for literature, and an ongoing love for independent reading.

Música amiga program description

There are ten books to this series, each with an accompanying CD.

Each book includes 12 carefully selected poems. All 120 poems are presented as songs in the CD collection. Some of the poems are from folklore, a number of them have been originally written by Alma Flor Ada and by F. Isabel Campoy. A few are from other renown poets.

The books have magnificent illustrations from internationally acclaimed illustrator Ulises Wensell.

All of these poems and songs can be enjoyed by children from Pre-K to 6th grade. As a matter of fact, many can be enjoyed even by older students.

The first five volumes are particularly suited for helping develop specific literacy skills and for the reinforcement of specific syllabic combinations as well as overall language development. The last five volumes support sustained language development, a deepened appreciation for literature and an ongoing love for independent reading.

The titles are:

• ¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
• Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
• Canción y alegría — Música amiga 3
• Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
• Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
• Caracolí — Música amiga 6
• Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
• Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
• El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
• El son del sol — Música amiga 10

Themes, Values and Vocabulary

The information on this page includes not only the list of poems in the books and songs in the CDs but also an indication of the Themes and Values presented in them.

Initial Reading in Spanish

For teachers or parents interested in teaching or strengthening initial reading skills with songs, there is also a chart to indicate the syllables that are reinforced through these poems and songs as well as a correlation with the initial reading series Hagamos caminos since many of these poems and songs are included in the Hagamos caminos books.

Música amiga Guide

The Música amiga Teacher’s Guide offers general suggestions for the use of music in the classroom for vocabulary, concepts and values development, and specific suggestions for the use of each song.

Aprender cantando, set of 2 cassettes. These cassettes explore how songs can facilitate learning in a variety of ways. Recorded in Spanish by Alma Flor Ada with numerous examples of songs performed by Suni Paz.

Significance of the Use of Songs in the Classroom

The importance of songs in the classroom cannot be overly emphasized. Songs are a vehicle for both teachers and students to develop fluency in the language, improve pronunciation and intonation, build vocabulary, and develop their understanding of Hispanic culture. Learning the traditional folklore cherished by families and communities will strengthen Latino children’s sense of identity; for English-speakers learning Spanish, songs and folklore will deepen their appreciation of the Spanish language.

The content of the ten Música amiga volumes are:

¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
[While every one of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the joy of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for language and vocabulary development as well as family and identity values.]

Los elefantes — Folklore
Sapitos – Alma Flor Ada
El barco chiquitito – Folklore
En el puente de San Juan – Folkore
Uno de enero – Folklore
La cigarra guitarrista – Alma Flor Ada
La bella hortelana – Folklore
En alta mar – Folklore
El beso – F Isabel Campoy
Lluvia – F Isabel Campoy
Mi historia – F Isabel Campoy
Aquí vivimos — F Isabel Campoy

Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
[While everyone of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for phonemic awareness and the practice of the five vowels as well as family values.]

Una mosca – Folklore
A, a, a, mi abuelita me dará – Alma Flor Ada
Yo te daré – Folklore
La i minúscula – Alma Flor Ada
La mar estaba serena – Folklore
Un… en un… — Alma Flor Ada
Las cinco vocales – Folklore
Color hermoso – F Isabel Campoy
Mi abuelo – F Isabel Campoy
¡Qué miedo! – F Isabel Campoy
Arre, arre — F Isabel Campoy

Canción y alegría – Música amiga 3
[This volume contains stories in verse by Alma Flor Ada. These stories w introduce charming characters like La gallina Picotina, El loro Ala de Oro and La ratita Roequeso as well as three charming poems by Isabel Campoy. The poems and songs are particularly suited to allow children with initial reading skills to read the lyrics independently.]

Perrito color de café – Alma Flor Ada
Fa, fe, fi – Alma Flor Ada
El gato del mago — Alma Flor Ada
La gallina Picotina – Alma Flor Ada
La ranita – Alma Flor Ada
La burrita – Alma Flor Ada
El loro Ala de Oro – Alma Flor Ada
La ratita Roequeso – Alma Flor Ada
Mi oso de papel – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi mapa – F. Isabel Campoy
Canta — F. Isabel Campoy

Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
[Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values. All the poems in this volume have been written by either Alma Flor Ada or Isabel Campoy. The CD offers a combination of diverse music, lyric songs like El hada Hadaluna, lively songs like Jarabe tapatío and Sube y baja and whimsical invitations to reflect like Mi backpack, La cama de mi maestro y Soñar palabras.]

El ciempiés y la cigarra – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón Botón – Alma Flor Ada
El hada Hadaluna – Alma Flor Ada
Los ocho chivitos – Alma Flor Ada
Josefina y sus amigos – Alma Flor Ada
Jarabe tapatío – Alma Flor Ada
Y va de cuento – Alma Flor Ada
Sube y baja – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi backpack – F. Isabel Campoy
Bolsillo de pantalón – F. Isabel Campoy
La cama de mi maestra – F. Isabel Campoy
Soñar palabras — F. Isabel Campoy

Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
[A combination of well known tradicional songs, like Las mañanitas and Tengo una muñeca and songs that emphasize the value of family.]

Las mañanitas – Folklore
Del… al… — Alma Flor Ada
Tato, Anita y Titino — Alma Flor Ada
Tengo una muñeca – Folklore
La paloma – Folklore
Tengo, tengo, tengo – Folklore
En una bella ciudad – Folklore
Origami — Alma Flor Ada
En el kiosko — Alma Flor Ada
¡Adelante! – F. Isabel Campoy
Mamá – F. Isabel Campoy
Mis manos – F. Isabel Campoy

Caracolí — Música amiga 6
[A combination of songs from folklore, including the beloved De colores, original poems/songs by Alma Flor Ada and magnificent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy that stress the importance of language continuation, Hablar como tú, as well as the values of family and culture, Tú eres muy rico]

De colores – Folklore
Primavera — Alma Flor Ada
Salta la tablita – Folklore
Cri-crí — Alma Flor Ada
Caballito blanco – Folklore
Pimpón – Folklore
Las marionetas – Folklore
Juanito – Folklore
Juega conmigo – F. Isabel Campoy
Hablar como tú – F. Isabel Campoy
Caracola – F. Isabel Campoy
Tú eres muy rico – F. Isabel Campoy

Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
[Well known songs from folklore like He perdido el do and Mambrú, accompany some original poems/songs. La Cucarachita Martina is an exceptional dramatization by Suni Paz of the well-known tale. Isabel Campoy’s poem/song Familia celebrates the richness of family.]

He perdido el do – Folklore
Antón Pirulero – Folklore
La Cucarachita Martina — Alma Flor Ada
Las jirafas gemelas — Alma Flor Ada
Flores y caracoles — Alma Flor Ada
Clotilde — Alma Flor Ada
Mambrú – Folklore
Dragones y cocodrilos — Alma Flor Ada
El reloj de mi bisabuelo – Folklore
La vilanela – Folklore
Familia – F. Isabel Campoy
La playa – F. Isabel Campoy

Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
[There is much joy and humor in this book/CD combination. The ballad of El señor don Gato has enchanted many generations of children. Oficios is a poem/song filled with humor that will delight readers and listeners of any age. La lluvia one of Alma Flor’s favorites. Isabel’s three poems/songs in this title will elicit smiles and invite you to sing along.]

El señor don Gato — Folklore
Los días de la semana — Folklore
Oficios – Alma Flor Ada
La lluvia – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón y el gato — Folklore
A dormir — Folklore
Pizpirigaña – Folklore
La pastora – Folklore
El trencito – Folklore
El lápiz de Guillermo — F. Isabel Campoy
Ramón y su perro — F. Isabel Campoy
La nube y la ballena — F. Isabel Campoy

El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
[This title includes the work of some very well respected poets, José Martí, Mirta Aguirre and Jaime Ferrán. It also includes two of Alma Flor’s best known poems/songs, Mi amiga, la sombra and the inspiring Hagamos caminos. Isabel contributes four poems/songs, one dedicated to mothers, Día de las madres, another to fathers, Un beso de papá.]

La rosa blanca – José Marí
Lo que vamos a ser – Alma Flor Ada
Los loros – Jaime Ferrán
Aventura – Mirta Aguirre
Ronda de farolas – Folklore
Los pollitos Fernán — Silva Valdés
Mi amiga, la sombra — Alma Flor Ada
Hagamos caminos — Alma Flor Ada
Día de las madres — F. Isabel Campoy
Un beso de papá — F. Isabel Campoy
Estaba una sirena — F. Isabel Campoy
Alto, bien alto — F. Isabel Campoy

El son del sol — Música amiga 10
[This title completes the series with poems of some of the best poets in the Spanish language, masterfully turned into songs by Suni Paz. Her renditions of Fernando Luján’s Cigarras, of Mirta Aguirre’s Caballito, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Doraba la luna el río and Jaime Ferrán Las gacelas are evocative and hauntingly beautiful. For Un son para niños antillanos by Nicolás Guillén and Canción de todos los niños del mundo she has created lively music that invites you to sing along. Four excellent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy make this a necessary title in every classroom. Isabel leads children in the reflection of what it is to think in ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar!, she brings the awareness of how vast knowledge is in La maestra tampoco lo sabe, and she invites all to take responsibility in taking care of life, Cuida la vida. Finally, she offers the most poignant song about the importance of retaining our own language in No te olvides, no, a song that has become a true inspiration for bilingual educators.

Un son para niños antillanos – Nicolás Guillén
Cigarras – Fernando Luján
Doraba la luna el río – Juan Ramón Jiménez
Baile de la caña – David Chericián
Las gacelas – Jaime Ferrán
Caballito – Mirta Aguirre
Los zapaticos de rosa – José Martí
Canción de todos los niños del mundo – Alma Flor Ada
Cuida la vida — F. Isabel Campoy
No te olvides, no — F. Isabel Campoy
¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar! — F. Isabel Campoy
La maestra tampoco lo sabe — F. Isabel Campoy

READERS’ RESPONSES

If you have enjoyed reading or sharing this book, I would very much like to hear from you. Please click here to send your comments.

Teacher’s Resource Book: Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción

Book and CD Description

Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values.

This title completes the series with poems of some of the best poets in the Spanish language, masterfully turned into songs by Suni Paz. Her renditions of Fernando Luján’s Cigarras, of Mirta Aguirre’s Caballito, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Doraba la luna el río and Jaime Ferrán Las gacelas are evocative and hauntingly beautiful. For Un son para niños antillanos by Nicolás Guillén and Canción de todos los niños del mundo by Alma Flor Ada she has created lively music that invites you to sing along.

Four excellent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy make this a necessary title in every classroom. Isabel leads children in the reflection of what it is to think in ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar!, she brings the awareness of how vast knowledge is in La maestra tampoco lo sabe, and she invites all to take responsibility in taking care of life, Cuida la vida. Finally, she offers the most poignant song about the importance of retaining our own language in No te olvides, no, a song that has become a true inspiration for bilingual educators.

Suni Paz musical creations draw from her extensive knowledge of Latin American and Spanish musical tradition making this CD and all CDs in the series a powerful introduction to the Hispanic musical heritage.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

• Un son para niños antillanos – Nicolás Guillén
• Cigarras – Fernando Luján
• Doraba la luna el río – Juan Ramón Jiménez
• Baile de la caña – David Chericián
• Las gacelas – Jaime Ferrán
• Caballito – Mirta Aguirre
• Los zapaticos de rosa – José Martí
• Canción de todos los niños del mundo – Alma Flor Ada
• Cuida la vida — F. Isabel Campoy
• No te olvides, no — F. Isabel Campoy
• ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar! — F. Isabel Campoy
• La maestra tampoco lo sabe — F. Isabel Campoy

Teacher’s Resource Book Description

Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel campoy

This handbook, inspired in the Transformative Education process developed by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, explores the use of songs in the classroom and provides specific suggestions to be applied with Música amiga.

It is divided in two major parts. The first, Aprender cantando, explores the uses of songs in topics like:

• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones para eliminar la ansiedad y facilitar el aprendizaje
• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones como base para la expresión corporal o dramática
• Las canciones en la adquisición de las habilidades lingüísticas
• Las canciones en la integración entre la escuela y el hogar
• Las canciones y los valores transformadores

The second part offers specific suggestions for each of the 120 songs contained in the Música amiga program.

Author’s Note

The production of the Música amiga series has been one the highlights of my life as an author. Although these books may have a much humbler physical appearance than many other of my books, this program combines the creativity of three extraordinary artists and human beings: Isabel Campoy, Suni Paz and Ulises Wensell. Furthermore the product was originally published by my son Alfonso Zubizarreta and its production was one more expression of his support for my work.

Many of the poems/songs that appear in Música amiga were originally part of the Reading Program Hagamos caminos, and signify the first time that Suni Paz and I collaborated. I have mentioned in many occasions that having such an excellent musician create music for my poems has been one of my greatest satisfaction.

Isabel Campoy brought her sensitivity, humor, and creativity to Música amiga, creating a number of original poems for this program, which were also put to music by Suni. The value of family, the treasure of culture, the importance of maintaining our language, the appreciation for learning and reasoning, and the joy of celebrating life in all its forms are some of the topics in Isabel’s contributions to Música amiga.

The art in these books was originally created by Ulises Wensell for Hagamos caminos. Ulises is a most talented artist and has been a true inspiration for my writing. I truly wanted to write children’s books because I dreamt that Ulises could create for my text art of the quality of his illustrations for El emperador y los pájaros or El retorno de la primavera, which I continue to consider absolute masterpieces.

As life would have it, I was able to demand, in order to accept the request to create Hagamos caminos that Ulises would be the illustrator.

And he created, for that reading series, art appropriate for any quality literature book.

When developing Música amiga we were delighted to be able to draw from the Hagamos caminos art to illustrate this collection of poems/songs.

And an extraordinary combination of talents have given life and light to these books and CDs that can enrich all and every classroom with the gift of poetry, songs, and art.

Música amiga program description

There are ten books to this series, each with an accompanying CD.

Each book includes 12 carefully selected poems. All 120 poems are presented as songs in the CD collection. Some of the poems are from folklore, a number of them have been originally written by Alma Flor Ada and by F. Isabel Campoy. A few are from other renown poets.

The books have magnificent illustrations from internationally acclaimed illustrator Ulises Wensell.

All of these poems and songs can be enjoyed by children from Pre-K to 6th grade. As a matter of fact, many can be enjoyed even by older students.

The first five volumes are particularly suited for helping develop specific literacy skills and for the reinforcement of specific syllabic combinations as well as overall language development. The last five volumes support sustained language development, a deepened appreciation for literature and an ongoing love for independent reading.

The titles are:

• ¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
• Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
• Canción y alegría — Música amiga 3
• Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
• Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
• Caracolí — Música amiga 6
• Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
• Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
• El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
• El son del sol — Música amiga 10

Themes, Values and Vocabulary

The information on this page includes not only the list of poems in the books and songs in the CDs but also an indication of the Themes and Values presented in them.

Initial Reading in Spanish

For teachers or parents interested in teaching or strengthening initial reading skills with songs, there is also a chart to indicate the syllables that are reinforced through these poems and songs as well as a correlation with the initial reading series Hagamos caminos since many of these poems and songs are included in the Hagamos caminos books.

Música amiga Guide

The Música amiga Teacher’s Guide offers general suggestions for the use of music in the classroom for vocabulary, concepts and values development, and specific suggestions for the use of each song.

Aprender cantando, set of 2 cassettes. These cassettes explore how songs can facilitate learning in a variety of ways. Recorded in Spanish by Alma Flor Ada with numerous examples of songs performed by Suni Paz.

Significance of the Use of Songs in the Classroom

The importance of songs in the classroom cannot be overly emphasized. Songs are a vehicle for both teachers and students to develop fluency in the language, improve pronunciation and intonation, build vocabulary, and develop their understanding of Hispanic culture. Learning the traditional folklore cherished by families and communities will strengthen Latino children’s sense of identity; for English-speakers learning Spanish, songs and folklore will deepen their appreciation of the Spanish language.

The content of the ten Música amiga volumes are:

¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
[While every one of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the joy of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for language and vocabulary development as well as family and identity values.]

Los elefantes — Folklore
Sapitos – Alma Flor Ada
El barco chiquitito – Folklore
En el puente de San Juan – Folkore
Uno de enero – Folklore
La cigarra guitarrista – Alma Flor Ada
La bella hortelana – Folklore
En alta mar – Folklore
El beso – F Isabel Campoy
Lluvia – F Isabel Campoy
Mi historia – F Isabel Campoy
Aquí vivimos — F Isabel Campoy

Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
[While everyone of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for phonemic awareness and the practice of the five vowels as well as family values.]

Una mosca – Folklore
A, a, a, mi abuelita me dará – Alma Flor Ada
Yo te daré – Folklore
La i minúscula – Alma Flor Ada
La mar estaba serena – Folklore
Un… en un… — Alma Flor Ada
Las cinco vocales – Folklore
Color hermoso – F Isabel Campoy
Mi abuelo – F Isabel Campoy
¡Qué miedo! – F Isabel Campoy
Arre, arre — F Isabel Campoy

Canción y alegría – Música amiga 3
[This volume contains stories in verse by Alma Flor Ada. These stories w introduce charming characters like La gallina Picotina, El loro Ala de Oro and La ratita Roequeso as well as three charming poems by Isabel Campoy. The poems and songs are particularly suited to allow children with initial reading skills to read the lyrics independently.]

Perrito color de café – Alma Flor Ada
Fa, fe, fi – Alma Flor Ada
El gato del mago — Alma Flor Ada
La gallina Picotina – Alma Flor Ada
La ranita – Alma Flor Ada
La burrita – Alma Flor Ada
El loro Ala de Oro – Alma Flor Ada
La ratita Roequeso – Alma Flor Ada
Mi oso de papel – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi mapa – F. Isabel Campoy
Canta — F. Isabel Campoy

Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
[Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values. All the poems in this volume have been written by either Alma Flor Ada or Isabel Campoy. The CD offers a combination of diverse music, lyric songs like El hada Hadaluna, lively songs like Jarabe tapatío and Sube y baja and whimsical invitations to reflect like Mi backpack, La cama de mi maestro y Soñar palabras.]

El ciempiés y la cigarra – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón Botón – Alma Flor Ada
El hada Hadaluna – Alma Flor Ada
Los ocho chivitos – Alma Flor Ada
Josefina y sus amigos – Alma Flor Ada
Jarabe tapatío – Alma Flor Ada
Y va de cuento – Alma Flor Ada
Sube y baja – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi backpack – F. Isabel Campoy
Bolsillo de pantalón – F. Isabel Campoy
La cama de mi maestra – F. Isabel Campoy
Soñar palabras — F. Isabel Campoy

Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
[A combination of well known tradicional songs, like Las mañanitas and Tengo una muñeca and songs that emphasize the value of family.]

Las mañanitas – Folklore
Del… al… — Alma Flor Ada
Tato, Anita y Titino — Alma Flor Ada
Tengo una muñeca – Folklore
La paloma – Folklore
Tengo, tengo, tengo – Folklore
En una bella ciudad – Folklore
Origami — Alma Flor Ada
En el kiosko — Alma Flor Ada
¡Adelante! – F. Isabel Campoy
Mamá – F. Isabel Campoy
Mis manos – F. Isabel Campoy

Caracolí — Música amiga 6
[A combination of songs from folklore, including the beloved De colores, original poems/songs by Alma Flor Ada and magnificent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy that stress the importance of language continuation, Hablar como tú, as well as the values of family and culture, Tú eres muy rico]

De colores – Folklore
Primavera — Alma Flor Ada
Salta la tablita – Folklore
Cri-crí — Alma Flor Ada
Caballito blanco – Folklore
Pimpón – Folklore
Las marionetas – Folklore
Juanito – Folklore
Juega conmigo – F. Isabel Campoy
Hablar como tú – F. Isabel Campoy
Caracola – F. Isabel Campoy
Tú eres muy rico – F. Isabel Campoy

Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
[Well known songs from folklore like He perdido el do and Mambrú, accompany some original poems/songs. La Cucarachita Martina is an exceptional dramatization by Suni Paz of the well-known tale. Isabel Campoy’s poem/song Familia celebrates the richness of family.]

He perdido el do – Folklore
Antón Pirulero – Folklore
La Cucarachita Martina — Alma Flor Ada
Las jirafas gemelas — Alma Flor Ada
Flores y caracoles — Alma Flor Ada
Clotilde — Alma Flor Ada
Mambrú – Folklore
Dragones y cocodrilos — Alma Flor Ada
El reloj de mi bisabuelo – Folklore
La vilanela – Folklore
Familia – F. Isabel Campoy
La playa – F. Isabel Campoy

Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
[There is much joy and humor in this book/CD combination. The ballad of El señor don Gato has enchanted many generations of children. Oficios is a poem/song filled with humor that will delight readers and listeners of any age. La lluvia one of Alma Flor’s favorites. Isabel’s three poems/songs in this title will elicit smiles and invite you to sing along.]

El señor don Gato — Folklore
Los días de la semana — Folklore
Oficios – Alma Flor Ada
La lluvia – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón y el gato — Folklore
A dormir — Folklore
Pizpirigaña – Folklore
La pastora – Folklore
El trencito – Folklore
El lápiz de Guillermo — F. Isabel Campoy
Ramón y su perro — F. Isabel Campoy
La nube y la ballena — F. Isabel Campoy

El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
[This title includes the work of some very well respected poets, José Martí, Mirta Aguirre and Jaime Ferrán. It also includes two of Alma Flor’s best known poems/songs, Mi amiga, la sombra and the inspiring Hagamos caminos. Isabel contributes four poems/songs, one dedicated to mothers, Día de las madres, another to fathers, Un beso de papá.]

La rosa blanca – José Marí
Lo que vamos a ser – Alma Flor Ada
Los loros – Jaime Ferrán
Aventura – Mirta Aguirre
Ronda de farolas – Folklore
Los pollitos Fernán — Silva Valdés
Mi amiga, la sombra — Alma Flor Ada
Hagamos caminos — Alma Flor Ada
Día de las madres — F. Isabel Campoy
Un beso de papá — F. Isabel Campoy
Estaba una sirena — F. Isabel Campoy
Alto, bien alto — F. Isabel Campoy

El son del sol — Música amiga 10
[This title completes the series with poems of some of the best poets in the Spanish language, masterfully turned into songs by Suni Paz. Her renditions of Fernando Luján’s Cigarras, of Mirta Aguirre’s Caballito, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Doraba la luna el río and Jaime Ferrán Las gacelas are evocative and hauntingly beautiful. For Un son para niños antillanos by Nicolás Guillén and Canción de todos los niños del mundo she has created lively music that invites you to sing along. Four excellent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy make this a necessary title in every classroom. Isabel leads children in the reflection of what it is to think in ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar!, she brings the awareness of how vast knowledge is in La maestra tampoco lo sabe, and she invites all to take responsibility in taking care of life, Cuida la vida. Finally, she offers the most poignant song about the importance of retaining our own language in No te olvides, no, a song that has become a true inspiration for bilingual educators.

Un son para niños antillanos – Nicolás Guillén
Cigarras – Fernando Luján
Doraba la luna el río – Juan Ramón Jiménez
Baile de la caña – David Chericián
Las gacelas – Jaime Ferrán
Caballito – Mirta Aguirre
Los zapaticos de rosa – José Martí
Canción de todos los niños del mundo – Alma Flor Ada
Cuida la vida — F. Isabel Campoy
No te olvides, no — F. Isabel Campoy
¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar! — F. Isabel Campoy
La maestra tampoco lo sabe — F. Isabel Campoy

READERS’ RESPONSES

If you have enjoyed reading or sharing this book, I would very much like to hear from you. Please click here to send your comments.

Teacher’s Resource Book: Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción

Book and CD Description

Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values.

There is much joy and humor in this book/CD combination. The ballad of El señor don Gato has enchanted many generations of children. Oficios is a poem/song filled with humor that will delight readers and listeners of any age. La lluvia one of Alma Flor’s favorites. Isabel’s three poems/songs in this title will elicit smiles and invite you to sing along.

Suni Paz musical creations draw from her extensive knowledge of Latin American and Spanish musical tradition making this CD and all CDs in the series a powerful introduction to the Hispanic musical heritage.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

• El señor don Gato — Folklore
• Los días de la semana — Folklore
• Oficios – Alma Flor Ada
• La lluvia – Alma Flor Ada
• El ratón y el gato — Folklore
• A dormir — Folklore
• Pizpirigaña – Folklore
• La pastora – Folklore
• El trencito – Folklore
• El lápiz de Guillermo — F. Isabel Campoy
• Ramón y su perro — F. Isabel Campoy
• La nube y la ballena — F. Isabel Campoy

Teacher’s Resource Book Description

Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel campoy

This handbook, inspired in the Transformative Education process developed by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, explores the use of songs in the classroom and provides specific suggestions to be applied with Música amiga.

It is divided in two major parts. The first, Aprender cantando, explores the uses of songs in topics like:

• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones para eliminar la ansiedad y facilitar el aprendizaje
• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones como base para la expresión corporal o dramática
• Las canciones en la adquisición de las habilidades lingüísticas
• Las canciones en la integración entre la escuela y el hogar
• Las canciones y los valores transformadores

The second part offers specific suggestions for each of the 120 songs contained in the Música amiga program.

Author’s Note

The production of the Música amiga series has been one the highlights of my life as an author. Although these books may have a much humbler physical appearance than many other of my books, this program combines the creativity of three extraordinary artists and human beings: Isabel Campoy, Suni Paz and Ulises Wensell. Furthermore the product was originally published by my son Alfonso Zubizarreta and its production was one more expression of his support for my work.

Many of the poems/songs that appear in Música amiga were originally part of the Reading Program Hagamos caminos, and signify the first time that Suni Paz and I collaborated. I have mentioned in many occasions that having such an excellent musician create music for my poems has been one of my greatest satisfaction.

Isabel Campoy brought her sensitivity, humor, and creativity to Música amiga, creating a number of original poems for this program, which were also put to music by Suni. The value of family, the treasure of culture, the importance of maintaining our language, the appreciation for learning and reasoning, and the joy of celebrating life in all its forms are some of the topics in Isabel’s contributions to Música amiga.

The art in these books was originally created by Ulises Wensell for Hagamos caminos. Ulises is a most talented artist and has been a true inspiration for my writing. I truly wanted to write children’s books because I dreamt that Ulises could create for my text art of the quality of his illustrations for El emperador y los pájaros or El retorno de la primavera, which I continue to consider absolute masterpieces.

As life would have it, I was able to demand, in order to accept the request to create Hagamos caminos that Ulises would be the illustrator.

And he created, for that reading series, art appropriate for any quality literature book.

When developing Música amiga we were delighted to be able to draw from the Hagamos caminos art to illustrate this collection of poems/songs.

And an extraordinary combination of talents have given life and light to these books and CDs that can enrich all and every classroom with the gift of poetry, songs, and art.

Música amiga program description

There are ten books to this series, each with an accompanying CD.

Each book includes 12 carefully selected poems. All 120 poems are presented as songs in the CD collection. Some of the poems are from folklore, a number of them have been originally written by Alma Flor Ada and by F. Isabel Campoy. A few are from other renown poets.

The books have magnificent illustrations from internationally acclaimed illustrator Ulises Wensell.

All of these poems and songs can be enjoyed by children from Pre-K to 6th grade. As a matter of fact, many can be enjoyed even by older students.

The first five volumes are particularly suited for helping develop specific literacy skills and for the reinforcement of specific syllabic combinations as well as overall language development. The last five volumes support sustained language development, a deepened appreciation for literature and an ongoing love for independent reading.

The titles are:

• ¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
• Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
• Canción y alegría — Música amiga 3
• Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
• Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
• Caracolí — Música amiga 6
• Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
• Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
• El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
• El son del sol — Música amiga 10

Themes, Values and Vocabulary

The information on this page includes not only the list of poems in the books and songs in the CDs but also an indication of the Themes and Values presented in them.

Initial Reading in Spanish

For teachers or parents interested in teaching or strengthening initial reading skills with songs, there is also a chart to indicate the syllables that are reinforced through these poems and songs as well as a correlation with the initial reading series Hagamos caminos since many of these poems and songs are included in the Hagamos caminos books.

Música amiga Guide

The Música amiga Teacher’s Guide offers general suggestions for the use of music in the classroom for vocabulary, concepts and values development, and specific suggestions for the use of each song.

Aprender cantando, set of 2 cassettes. These cassettes explore how songs can facilitate learning in a variety of ways. Recorded in Spanish by Alma Flor Ada with numerous examples of songs performed by Suni Paz.

Significance of the Use of Songs in the Classroom

The importance of songs in the classroom cannot be overly emphasized. Songs are a vehicle for both teachers and students to develop fluency in the language, improve pronunciation and intonation, build vocabulary, and develop their understanding of Hispanic culture. Learning the traditional folklore cherished by families and communities will strengthen Latino children’s sense of identity; for English-speakers learning Spanish, songs and folklore will deepen their appreciation of the Spanish language.

The content of the ten Música amiga volumes are:

¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
[While every one of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the joy of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for language and vocabulary development as well as family and identity values.]

Los elefantes — Folklore
Sapitos – Alma Flor Ada
El barco chiquitito – Folklore
En el puente de San Juan – Folkore
Uno de enero – Folklore
La cigarra guitarrista – Alma Flor Ada
La bella hortelana – Folklore
En alta mar – Folklore
El beso – F Isabel Campoy
Lluvia – F Isabel Campoy
Mi historia – F Isabel Campoy
Aquí vivimos — F Isabel Campoy

Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
[While everyone of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for phonemic awareness and the practice of the five vowels as well as family values.]

Una mosca – Folklore
A, a, a, mi abuelita me dará – Alma Flor Ada
Yo te daré – Folklore
La i minúscula – Alma Flor Ada
La mar estaba serena – Folklore
Un… en un… — Alma Flor Ada
Las cinco vocales – Folklore
Color hermoso – F Isabel Campoy
Mi abuelo – F Isabel Campoy
¡Qué miedo! – F Isabel Campoy
Arre, arre — F Isabel Campoy

Canción y alegría – Música amiga 3
[This volume contains stories in verse by Alma Flor Ada. These stories w introduce charming characters like La gallina Picotina, El loro Ala de Oro and La ratita Roequeso as well as three charming poems by Isabel Campoy. The poems and songs are particularly suited to allow children with initial reading skills to read the lyrics independently.]

Perrito color de café – Alma Flor Ada
Fa, fe, fi – Alma Flor Ada
El gato del mago — Alma Flor Ada
La gallina Picotina – Alma Flor Ada
La ranita – Alma Flor Ada
La burrita – Alma Flor Ada
El loro Ala de Oro – Alma Flor Ada
La ratita Roequeso – Alma Flor Ada
Mi oso de papel – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi mapa – F. Isabel Campoy
Canta — F. Isabel Campoy

Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
[Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values. All the poems in this volume have been written by either Alma Flor Ada or Isabel Campoy. The CD offers a combination of diverse music, lyric songs like El hada Hadaluna, lively songs like Jarabe tapatío and Sube y baja and whimsical invitations to reflect like Mi backpack, La cama de mi maestro y Soñar palabras.]

El ciempiés y la cigarra – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón Botón – Alma Flor Ada
El hada Hadaluna – Alma Flor Ada
Los ocho chivitos – Alma Flor Ada
Josefina y sus amigos – Alma Flor Ada
Jarabe tapatío – Alma Flor Ada
Y va de cuento – Alma Flor Ada
Sube y baja – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi backpack – F. Isabel Campoy
Bolsillo de pantalón – F. Isabel Campoy
La cama de mi maestra – F. Isabel Campoy
Soñar palabras — F. Isabel Campoy

Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
[A combination of well known tradicional songs, like Las mañanitas and Tengo una muñeca and songs that emphasize the value of family.]

Las mañanitas – Folklore
Del… al… — Alma Flor Ada
Tato, Anita y Titino — Alma Flor Ada
Tengo una muñeca – Folklore
La paloma – Folklore
Tengo, tengo, tengo – Folklore
En una bella ciudad – Folklore
Origami — Alma Flor Ada
En el kiosko — Alma Flor Ada
¡Adelante! – F. Isabel Campoy
Mamá – F. Isabel Campoy
Mis manos – F. Isabel Campoy

Caracolí — Música amiga 6
[A combination of songs from folklore, including the beloved De colores, original poems/songs by Alma Flor Ada and magnificent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy that stress the importance of language continuation, Hablar como tú, as well as the values of family and culture, Tú eres muy rico]

De colores – Folklore
Primavera — Alma Flor Ada
Salta la tablita – Folklore
Cri-crí — Alma Flor Ada
Caballito blanco – Folklore
Pimpón – Folklore
Las marionetas – Folklore
Juanito – Folklore
Juega conmigo – F. Isabel Campoy
Hablar como tú – F. Isabel Campoy
Caracola – F. Isabel Campoy
Tú eres muy rico – F. Isabel Campoy

Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
[Well known songs from folklore like He perdido el do and Mambrú, accompany some original poems/songs. La Cucarachita Martina is an exceptional dramatization by Suni Paz of the well-known tale. Isabel Campoy’s poem/song Familia celebrates the richness of family.]

He perdido el do – Folklore
Antón Pirulero – Folklore
La Cucarachita Martina — Alma Flor Ada
Las jirafas gemelas — Alma Flor Ada
Flores y caracoles — Alma Flor Ada
Clotilde — Alma Flor Ada
Mambrú – Folklore
Dragones y cocodrilos — Alma Flor Ada
El reloj de mi bisabuelo – Folklore
La vilanela – Folklore
Familia – F. Isabel Campoy
La playa – F. Isabel Campoy

Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
[There is much joy and humor in this book/CD combination. The ballad of El señor don Gato has enchanted many generations of children. Oficios is a poem/song filled with humor that will delight readers and listeners of any age. La lluvia one of Alma Flor’s favorites. Isabel’s three poems/songs in this title will elicit smiles and invite you to sing along.]

El señor don Gato — Folklore
Los días de la semana — Folklore
Oficios – Alma Flor Ada
La lluvia – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón y el gato — Folklore
A dormir — Folklore
Pizpirigaña – Folklore
La pastora – Folklore
El trencito – Folklore
El lápiz de Guillermo — F. Isabel Campoy
Ramón y su perro — F. Isabel Campoy
La nube y la ballena — F. Isabel Campoy

El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
[This title includes the work of some very well respected poets, José Martí, Mirta Aguirre and Jaime Ferrán. It also includes two of Alma Flor’s best known poems/songs, Mi amiga, la sombra and the inspiring Hagamos caminos. Isabel contributes four poems/songs, one dedicated to mothers, Día de las madres, another to fathers, Un beso de papá.]

La rosa blanca – José Marí
Lo que vamos a ser – Alma Flor Ada
Los loros – Jaime Ferrán
Aventura – Mirta Aguirre
Ronda de farolas – Folklore
Los pollitos Fernán — Silva Valdés
Mi amiga, la sombra — Alma Flor Ada
Hagamos caminos — Alma Flor Ada
Día de las madres — F. Isabel Campoy
Un beso de papá — F. Isabel Campoy
Estaba una sirena — F. Isabel Campoy
Alto, bien alto — F. Isabel Campoy

El son del sol — Música amiga 10
[This title completes the series with poems of some of the best poets in the Spanish language, masterfully turned into songs by Suni Paz. Her renditions of Fernando Luján’s Cigarras, of Mirta Aguirre’s Caballito, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Doraba la luna el río and Jaime Ferrán Las gacelas are evocative and hauntingly beautiful. For Un son para niños antillanos by Nicolás Guillén and Canción de todos los niños del mundo she has created lively music that invites you to sing along. Four excellent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy make this a necessary title in every classroom. Isabel leads children in the reflection of what it is to think in ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar!, she brings the awareness of how vast knowledge is in La maestra tampoco lo sabe, and she invites all to take responsibility in taking care of life, Cuida la vida. Finally, she offers the most poignant song about the importance of retaining our own language in No te olvides, no, a song that has become a true inspiration for bilingual educators.

Un son para niños antillanos – Nicolás Guillén
Cigarras – Fernando Luján
Doraba la luna el río – Juan Ramón Jiménez
Baile de la caña – David Chericián
Las gacelas – Jaime Ferrán
Caballito – Mirta Aguirre
Los zapaticos de rosa – José Martí
Canción de todos los niños del mundo – Alma Flor Ada
Cuida la vida — F. Isabel Campoy
No te olvides, no — F. Isabel Campoy
¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar! — F. Isabel Campoy
La maestra tampoco lo sabe — F. Isabel Campoy

READERS’ RESPONSES

If you have enjoyed reading or sharing this book, I would very much like to hear from you. Please click here to send your comments.

Teacher’s Resource Book: Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción

Book and CD Description

Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values.

In this volume all the poems have been written by either Alma Flor Ada or Isabel Campoy. The CD offers a combination of diverse music, lyric songs like El hada Hadaluna, lively songs like Jarabe tapatío and Sube y baja and whimsical invitations to reflect like Mi backpack, La cama de mi maestro y Soñar palabras.

Suni Paz musical creations draw from her extensive knowledge of Latin American and Spanish musical tradition making this CD and all CDs in the series a powerful introduction to the Hispanic musical heritage.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

• El ciempiés y la cigarra – Alma Flor Ada
• El ratón Botón – Alma Flor Ada
• El hada Hadaluna – Alma Flor Ada
• Los ocho chivitos – Alma Flor Ada
• Josefina y sus amigos – Alma Flor Ada
• Jarabe tapatío – Alma Flor Ada
• Y va de cuento – Alma Flor Ada
• Sube y baja – F. Isabel Campoy
• Mi backpack – F. Isabel Campoy
• Bolsillo de pantalón – F. Isabel Campoy
• La cama de mi maestra – F. Isabel Campoy

Teacher’s Resource Book Description

Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel campoy

This handbook, inspired in the Transformative Education process developed by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, explores the use of songs in the classroom and provides specific suggestions to be applied with Música amiga.

It is divided in two major parts. The first, Aprender cantando, explores the uses of songs in topics like:

• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones para eliminar la ansiedad y facilitar el aprendizaje
• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones como base para la expresión corporal o dramática
• Las canciones en la adquisición de las habilidades lingüísticas
• Las canciones en la integración entre la escuela y el hogar
• Las canciones y los valores transformadores

The second part offers specific suggestions for each of the 120 songs contained in the Música amiga program.

Author’s Note

The production of the Música amiga series has been one the highlights of my life as an author. Although these books may have a much humbler physical appearance than many other of my books, this program combines the creativity of three extraordinary artists and human beings: Isabel Campoy, Suni Paz and Ulises Wensell. Furthermore the product was originally published by my son Alfonso Zubizarreta and its production was one more expression of his support for my work.

Many of the poems/songs that appear in Música amiga were originally part of the Reading Program Hagamos caminos, and signify the first time that Suni Paz and I collaborated. I have mentioned in many occasions that having such an excellent musician create music for my poems has been one of my greatest satisfaction.

Isabel Campoy brought her sensitivity, humor, and creativity to Música amiga, creating a number of original poems for this program, which were also put to music by Suni. The value of family, the treasure of culture, the importance of maintaining our language, the appreciation for learning and reasoning, and the joy of celebrating life in all its forms are some of the topics in Isabel’s contributions to Música amiga.

The art in these books was originally created by Ulises Wensell for Hagamos caminos. Ulises is a most talented artist and has been a true inspiration for my writing. I truly wanted to write children’s books because I dreamt that Ulises could create for my text art of the quality of his illustrations for El emperador y los pájaros or El retorno de la primavera, which I continue to consider absolute masterpieces.

As life would have it, I was able to demand, in order to accept the request to create Hagamos caminos that Ulises would be the illustrator.

And he created, for that reading series, art appropriate for any quality literature book.

When developing Música amiga we were delighted to be able to draw from the Hagamos caminos art to illustrate this collection of poems/songs.

And an extraordinary combination of talents have given life and light to these books and CDs that can enrich all and every classroom with the gift of poetry, songs, and art.

Música amiga program description

There are ten books to this series, each with an accompanying CD.

Each book includes 12 carefully selected poems. All 120 poems are presented as songs in the CD collection. Some of the poems are from folklore, a number of them have been originally written by Alma Flor Ada and by F. Isabel Campoy. A few are from other renown poets.

The books have magnificent illustrations from internationally acclaimed illustrator Ulises Wensell.

All of these poems and songs can be enjoyed by children from Pre-K to 6th grade. As a matter of fact, many can be enjoyed even by older students.

The first five volumes are particularly suited for helping develop specific literacy skills and for the reinforcement of specific syllabic combinations as well as overall language development. The last five volumes support sustained language development, a deepened appreciation for literature and an ongoing love for independent reading.

The titles are:

• ¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
• Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
• Canción y alegría — Música amiga 3
• Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
• Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
• Caracolí — Música amiga 6
• Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
• Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
• El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
• El son del sol — Música amiga 10

Themes, Values and Vocabulary

The information on this page includes not only the list of poems in the books and songs in the CDs but also an indication of the Themes and Values presented in them.

Initial Reading in Spanish

For teachers or parents interested in teaching or strengthening initial reading skills with songs, there is also a chart to indicate the syllables that are reinforced through these poems and songs as well as a correlation with the initial reading series Hagamos caminos since many of these poems and songs are included in the Hagamos caminos books.

Música amiga Guide

The Música amiga Teacher’s Guide offers general suggestions for the use of music in the classroom for vocabulary, concepts and values development, and specific suggestions for the use of each song.

Aprender cantando, set of 2 cassettes. These cassettes explore how songs can facilitate learning in a variety of ways. Recorded in Spanish by Alma Flor Ada with numerous examples of songs performed by Suni Paz.

Significance of the Use of Songs in the Classroom

The importance of songs in the classroom cannot be overly emphasized. Songs are a vehicle for both teachers and students to develop fluency in the language, improve pronunciation and intonation, build vocabulary, and develop their understanding of Hispanic culture. Learning the traditional folklore cherished by families and communities will strengthen Latino children’s sense of identity; for English-speakers learning Spanish, songs and folklore will deepen their appreciation of the Spanish language.

The content of the ten Música amiga volumes are:

¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
[While every one of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the joy of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for language and vocabulary development as well as family and identity values.]

Los elefantes — Folklore
Sapitos – Alma Flor Ada
El barco chiquitito – Folklore
En el puente de San Juan – Folkore
Uno de enero – Folklore
La cigarra guitarrista – Alma Flor Ada
La bella hortelana – Folklore
En alta mar – Folklore
El beso – F Isabel Campoy
Lluvia – F Isabel Campoy
Mi historia – F Isabel Campoy
Aquí vivimos — F Isabel Campoy

Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
[While everyone of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for phonemic awareness and the practice of the five vowels as well as family values.]

Una mosca – Folklore
A, a, a, mi abuelita me dará – Alma Flor Ada
Yo te daré – Folklore
La i minúscula – Alma Flor Ada
La mar estaba serena – Folklore
Un… en un… — Alma Flor Ada
Las cinco vocales – Folklore
Color hermoso – F Isabel Campoy
Mi abuelo – F Isabel Campoy
¡Qué miedo! – F Isabel Campoy
Arre, arre — F Isabel Campoy

Canción y alegría – Música amiga 3
[This volume contains stories in verse by Alma Flor Ada. These stories w introduce charming characters like La gallina Picotina, El loro Ala de Oro and La ratita Roequeso as well as three charming poems by Isabel Campoy. The poems and songs are particularly suited to allow children with initial reading skills to read the lyrics independently.]

Perrito color de café – Alma Flor Ada
Fa, fe, fi – Alma Flor Ada
El gato del mago — Alma Flor Ada
La gallina Picotina – Alma Flor Ada
La ranita – Alma Flor Ada
La burrita – Alma Flor Ada
El loro Ala de Oro – Alma Flor Ada
La ratita Roequeso – Alma Flor Ada
Mi oso de papel – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi mapa – F. Isabel Campoy
Canta — F. Isabel Campoy

Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
[Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values. All the poems in this volume have been written by either Alma Flor Ada or Isabel Campoy. The CD offers a combination of diverse music, lyric songs like El hada Hadaluna, lively songs like Jarabe tapatío and Sube y baja and whimsical invitations to reflect like Mi backpack, La cama de mi maestro y Soñar palabras.]

El ciempiés y la cigarra – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón Botón – Alma Flor Ada
El hada Hadaluna – Alma Flor Ada
Los ocho chivitos – Alma Flor Ada
Josefina y sus amigos – Alma Flor Ada
Jarabe tapatío – Alma Flor Ada
Y va de cuento – Alma Flor Ada
Sube y baja – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi backpack – F. Isabel Campoy
Bolsillo de pantalón – F. Isabel Campoy
La cama de mi maestra – F. Isabel Campoy
Soñar palabras — F. Isabel Campoy

Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
[A combination of well known tradicional songs, like Las mañanitas and Tengo una muñeca and songs that emphasize the value of family.]

Las mañanitas – Folklore
Del… al… — Alma Flor Ada
Tato, Anita y Titino — Alma Flor Ada
Tengo una muñeca – Folklore
La paloma – Folklore
Tengo, tengo, tengo – Folklore
En una bella ciudad – Folklore
Origami — Alma Flor Ada
En el kiosko — Alma Flor Ada
¡Adelante! – F. Isabel Campoy
Mamá – F. Isabel Campoy
Mis manos – F. Isabel Campoy

Caracolí — Música amiga 6
[A combination of songs from folklore, including the beloved De colores, original poems/songs by Alma Flor Ada and magnificent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy that stress the importance of language continuation, Hablar como tú, as well as the values of family and culture, Tú eres muy rico]

De colores – Folklore
Primavera — Alma Flor Ada
Salta la tablita – Folklore
Cri-crí — Alma Flor Ada
Caballito blanco – Folklore
Pimpón – Folklore
Las marionetas – Folklore
Juanito – Folklore
Juega conmigo – F. Isabel Campoy
Hablar como tú – F. Isabel Campoy
Caracola – F. Isabel Campoy
Tú eres muy rico – F. Isabel Campoy

Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
[Well known songs from folklore like He perdido el do and Mambrú, accompany some original poems/songs. La Cucarachita Martina is an exceptional dramatization by Suni Paz of the well-known tale. Isabel Campoy’s poem/song Familia celebrates the richness of family.]

He perdido el do – Folklore
Antón Pirulero – Folklore
La Cucarachita Martina — Alma Flor Ada
Las jirafas gemelas — Alma Flor Ada
Flores y caracoles — Alma Flor Ada
Clotilde — Alma Flor Ada
Mambrú – Folklore
Dragones y cocodrilos — Alma Flor Ada
El reloj de mi bisabuelo – Folklore
La vilanela – Folklore
Familia – F. Isabel Campoy
La playa – F. Isabel Campoy

Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
[There is much joy and humor in this book/CD combination. The ballad of El señor don Gato has enchanted many generations of children. Oficios is a poem/song filled with humor that will delight readers and listeners of any age. La lluvia one of Alma Flor’s favorites. Isabel’s three poems/songs in this title will elicit smiles and invite you to sing along.]

El señor don Gato — Folklore
Los días de la semana — Folklore
Oficios – Alma Flor Ada
La lluvia – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón y el gato — Folklore
A dormir — Folklore
Pizpirigaña – Folklore
La pastora – Folklore
El trencito – Folklore
El lápiz de Guillermo — F. Isabel Campoy
Ramón y su perro — F. Isabel Campoy
La nube y la ballena — F. Isabel Campoy

El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
[This title includes the work of some very well respected poets, José Martí, Mirta Aguirre and Jaime Ferrán. It also includes two of Alma Flor’s best known poems/songs, Mi amiga, la sombra and the inspiring Hagamos caminos. Isabel contributes four poems/songs, one dedicated to mothers, Día de las madres, another to fathers, Un beso de papá.]

La rosa blanca – José Marí
Lo que vamos a ser – Alma Flor Ada
Los loros – Jaime Ferrán
Aventura – Mirta Aguirre
Ronda de farolas – Folklore
Los pollitos Fernán — Silva Valdés
Mi amiga, la sombra — Alma Flor Ada
Hagamos caminos — Alma Flor Ada
Día de las madres — F. Isabel Campoy
Un beso de papá — F. Isabel Campoy
Estaba una sirena — F. Isabel Campoy
Alto, bien alto — F. Isabel Campoy

El son del sol — Música amiga 10
[This title completes the series with poems of some of the best poets in the Spanish language, masterfully turned into songs by Suni Paz. Her renditions of Fernando Luján’s Cigarras, of Mirta Aguirre’s Caballito, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Doraba la luna el río and Jaime Ferrán Las gacelas are evocative and hauntingly beautiful. For Un son para niños antillanos by Nicolás Guillén and Canción de todos los niños del mundo she has created lively music that invites you to sing along. Four excellent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy make this a necessary title in every classroom. Isabel leads children in the reflection of what it is to think in ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar!, she brings the awareness of how vast knowledge is in La maestra tampoco lo sabe, and she invites all to take responsibility in taking care of life, Cuida la vida. Finally, she offers the most poignant song about the importance of retaining our own language in No te olvides, no, a song that has become a true inspiration for bilingual educators.

Un son para niños antillanos – Nicolás Guillén
Cigarras – Fernando Luján
Doraba la luna el río – Juan Ramón Jiménez
Baile de la caña – David Chericián
Las gacelas – Jaime Ferrán
Caballito – Mirta Aguirre
Los zapaticos de rosa – José Martí
Canción de todos los niños del mundo – Alma Flor Ada
Cuida la vida — F. Isabel Campoy
No te olvides, no — F. Isabel Campoy
¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar! — F. Isabel Campoy
La maestra tampoco lo sabe — F. Isabel Campoy

READERS’ RESPONSES

If you have enjoyed reading or sharing this book, I would very much like to hear from you. Please click here to send your comments.

Teacher’s Resource Book: Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción

Book and CD Description

Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values.

This volume contains many well known traditional songs like Las mañanitas and Tengo una muñeca and songs that emphasize the value of family like Isabel Campoy’s Mamá and offer an inspirational message to children like ¡Adelante! and Mis manos.

Suni Paz musical creations draw from her extensive knowledge of Latin American and Spanish musical tradition making this CD and all CDs in the series a powerful introduction to the Hispanic musical heritage.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

• Las mañanitas – Folklore
• Del… al… — Alma Flor Ada
• Tato, Anita y Titino — Alma Flor Ada
• Tengo una muñeca – Folklore
• La paloma – Folklore
• Tengo, tengo, tengo – Folklore
• En una bella ciudad – Folklore
• Origami — Alma Flor Ada
• En el kiosko — Alma Flor Ada
• ¡Adelante! – F. Isabel Campoy
• Mamá – F. Isabel Campoy
• Mis manos – F. Isabel Campoy

Teacher’s Resource Book Description

Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel campoy

This handbook, inspired in the Transformative Education process developed by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, explores the use of songs in the classroom and provides specific suggestions to be applied with Música amiga.

It is divided in two major parts. The first, Aprender cantando, explores the uses of songs in topics like:

• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones para eliminar la ansiedad y facilitar el aprendizaje
• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones como base para la expresión corporal o dramática
• Las canciones en la adquisición de las habilidades lingüísticas
• Las canciones en la integración entre la escuela y el hogar
• Las canciones y los valores transformadores

The second part offers specific suggestions for each of the 120 songs contained in the Música amiga program.

Author’s Note

The production of the Música amiga series has been one the highlights of my life as an author. Although these books may have a much humbler physical appearance than many other of my books, this program combines the creativity of three extraordinary artists and human beings: Isabel Campoy, Suni Paz and Ulises Wensell. Furthermore the product was originally published by my son Alfonso Zubizarreta and its production was one more expression of his support for my work.

Many of the poems/songs that appear in Música amiga were originally part of the Reading Program Hagamos caminos, and signify the first time that Suni Paz and I collaborated. I have mentioned in many occasions that having such an excellent musician create music for my poems has been one of my greatest satisfaction.

Isabel Campoy brought her sensitivity, humor, and creativity to Música amiga, creating a number of original poems for this program, which were also put to music by Suni. The value of family, the treasure of culture, the importance of maintaining our language, the appreciation for learning and reasoning, and the joy of celebrating life in all its forms are some of the topics in Isabel’s contributions to Música amiga.

The art in these books was originally created by Ulises Wensell for Hagamos caminos. Ulises is a most talented artist and has been a true inspiration for my writing. I truly wanted to write children’s books because I dreamt that Ulises could create for my text art of the quality of his illustrations for El emperador y los pájaros or El retorno de la primavera, which I continue to consider absolute masterpieces.

As life would have it, I was able to demand, in order to accept the request to create Hagamos caminos that Ulises would be the illustrator.

And he created, for that reading series, art appropriate for any quality literature book.

When developing Música amiga we were delighted to be able to draw from the Hagamos caminos art to illustrate this collection of poems/songs.

And an extraordinary combination of talents have given life and light to these books and CDs that can enrich all and every classroom with the gift of poetry, songs, and art.

Música amiga program description

There are ten books to this series, each with an accompanying CD.

Each book includes 12 carefully selected poems. All 120 poems are presented as songs in the CD collection. Some of the poems are from folklore, a number of them have been originally written by Alma Flor Ada and by F. Isabel Campoy. A few are from other renown poets.

The books have magnificent illustrations from internationally acclaimed illustrator Ulises Wensell.

All of these poems and songs can be enjoyed by children from Pre-K to 6th grade. As a matter of fact, many can be enjoyed even by older students.

The first five volumes are particularly suited for helping develop specific literacy skills and for the reinforcement of specific syllabic combinations as well as overall language development. The last five volumes support sustained language development, a deepened appreciation for literature and an ongoing love for independent reading.

The titles are:

• ¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
• Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
• Canción y alegría — Música amiga 3
• Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
• Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
• Caracolí — Música amiga 6
• Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
• Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
• El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
• El son del sol — Música amiga 10

Themes, Values and Vocabulary

The information on this page includes not only the list of poems in the books and songs in the CDs but also an indication of the Themes and Values presented in them.

Initial Reading in Spanish

For teachers or parents interested in teaching or strengthening initial reading skills with songs, there is also a chart to indicate the syllables that are reinforced through these poems and songs as well as a correlation with the initial reading series Hagamos caminos since many of these poems and songs are included in the Hagamos caminos books.

Música amiga Guide

The Música amiga Teacher’s Guide offers general suggestions for the use of music in the classroom for vocabulary, concepts and values development, and specific suggestions for the use of each song.

Aprender cantando, set of 2 cassettes. These cassettes explore how songs can facilitate learning in a variety of ways. Recorded in Spanish by Alma Flor Ada with numerous examples of songs performed by Suni Paz.

Significance of the Use of Songs in the Classroom

The importance of songs in the classroom cannot be overly emphasized. Songs are a vehicle for both teachers and students to develop fluency in the language, improve pronunciation and intonation, build vocabulary, and develop their understanding of Hispanic culture. Learning the traditional folklore cherished by families and communities will strengthen Latino children’s sense of identity; for English-speakers learning Spanish, songs and folklore will deepen their appreciation of the Spanish language.

The content of the ten Música amiga volumes are:

¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
[While every one of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the joy of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for language and vocabulary development as well as family and identity values.]

Los elefantes — Folklore
Sapitos – Alma Flor Ada
El barco chiquitito – Folklore
En el puente de San Juan – Folkore
Uno de enero – Folklore
La cigarra guitarrista – Alma Flor Ada
La bella hortelana – Folklore
En alta mar – Folklore
El beso – F Isabel Campoy
Lluvia – F Isabel Campoy
Mi historia – F Isabel Campoy
Aquí vivimos — F Isabel Campoy

Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
[While everyone of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for phonemic awareness and the practice of the five vowels as well as family values.]

Una mosca – Folklore
A, a, a, mi abuelita me dará – Alma Flor Ada
Yo te daré – Folklore
La i minúscula – Alma Flor Ada
La mar estaba serena – Folklore
Un… en un… — Alma Flor Ada
Las cinco vocales – Folklore
Color hermoso – F Isabel Campoy
Mi abuelo – F Isabel Campoy
¡Qué miedo! – F Isabel Campoy
Arre, arre — F Isabel Campoy

Canción y alegría – Música amiga 3
[This volume contains stories in verse by Alma Flor Ada. These stories w introduce charming characters like La gallina Picotina, El loro Ala de Oro and La ratita Roequeso as well as three charming poems by Isabel Campoy. The poems and songs are particularly suited to allow children with initial reading skills to read the lyrics independently.]

Perrito color de café – Alma Flor Ada
Fa, fe, fi – Alma Flor Ada
El gato del mago — Alma Flor Ada
La gallina Picotina – Alma Flor Ada
La ranita – Alma Flor Ada
La burrita – Alma Flor Ada
El loro Ala de Oro – Alma Flor Ada
La ratita Roequeso – Alma Flor Ada
Mi oso de papel – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi mapa – F. Isabel Campoy
Canta — F. Isabel Campoy

Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
[Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values. All the poems in this volume have been written by either Alma Flor Ada or Isabel Campoy. The CD offers a combination of diverse music, lyric songs like El hada Hadaluna, lively songs like Jarabe tapatío and Sube y baja and whimsical invitations to reflect like Mi backpack, La cama de mi maestro y Soñar palabras.]

El ciempiés y la cigarra – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón Botón – Alma Flor Ada
El hada Hadaluna – Alma Flor Ada
Los ocho chivitos – Alma Flor Ada
Josefina y sus amigos – Alma Flor Ada
Jarabe tapatío – Alma Flor Ada
Y va de cuento – Alma Flor Ada
Sube y baja – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi backpack – F. Isabel Campoy
Bolsillo de pantalón – F. Isabel Campoy
La cama de mi maestra – F. Isabel Campoy
Soñar palabras — F. Isabel Campoy

Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
[A combination of well known tradicional songs, like Las mañanitas and Tengo una muñeca and songs that emphasize the value of family.]

Las mañanitas – Folklore
Del… al… — Alma Flor Ada
Tato, Anita y Titino — Alma Flor Ada
Tengo una muñeca – Folklore
La paloma – Folklore
Tengo, tengo, tengo – Folklore
En una bella ciudad – Folklore
Origami — Alma Flor Ada
En el kiosko — Alma Flor Ada
¡Adelante! – F. Isabel Campoy
Mamá – F. Isabel Campoy
Mis manos – F. Isabel Campoy

Caracolí — Música amiga 6
[A combination of songs from folklore, including the beloved De colores, original poems/songs by Alma Flor Ada and magnificent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy that stress the importance of language continuation, Hablar como tú, as well as the values of family and culture, Tú eres muy rico]

De colores – Folklore
Primavera — Alma Flor Ada
Salta la tablita – Folklore
Cri-crí — Alma Flor Ada
Caballito blanco – Folklore
Pimpón – Folklore
Las marionetas – Folklore
Juanito – Folklore
Juega conmigo – F. Isabel Campoy
Hablar como tú – F. Isabel Campoy
Caracola – F. Isabel Campoy
Tú eres muy rico – F. Isabel Campoy

Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
[Well known songs from folklore like He perdido el do and Mambrú, accompany some original poems/songs. La Cucarachita Martina is an exceptional dramatization by Suni Paz of the well-known tale. Isabel Campoy’s poem/song Familia celebrates the richness of family.]

He perdido el do – Folklore
Antón Pirulero – Folklore
La Cucarachita Martina — Alma Flor Ada
Las jirafas gemelas — Alma Flor Ada
Flores y caracoles — Alma Flor Ada
Clotilde — Alma Flor Ada
Mambrú – Folklore
Dragones y cocodrilos — Alma Flor Ada
El reloj de mi bisabuelo – Folklore
La vilanela – Folklore
Familia – F. Isabel Campoy
La playa – F. Isabel Campoy

Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
[There is much joy and humor in this book/CD combination. The ballad of El señor don Gato has enchanted many generations of children. Oficios is a poem/song filled with humor that will delight readers and listeners of any age. La lluvia one of Alma Flor’s favorites. Isabel’s three poems/songs in this title will elicit smiles and invite you to sing along.]

El señor don Gato — Folklore
Los días de la semana — Folklore
Oficios – Alma Flor Ada
La lluvia – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón y el gato — Folklore
A dormir — Folklore
Pizpirigaña – Folklore
La pastora – Folklore
El trencito – Folklore
El lápiz de Guillermo — F. Isabel Campoy
Ramón y su perro — F. Isabel Campoy
La nube y la ballena — F. Isabel Campoy

El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
[This title includes the work of some very well respected poets, José Martí, Mirta Aguirre and Jaime Ferrán. It also includes two of Alma Flor’s best known poems/songs, Mi amiga, la sombra and the inspiring Hagamos caminos. Isabel contributes four poems/songs, one dedicated to mothers, Día de las madres, another to fathers, Un beso de papá.]

La rosa blanca – José Marí
Lo que vamos a ser – Alma Flor Ada
Los loros – Jaime Ferrán
Aventura – Mirta Aguirre
Ronda de farolas – Folklore
Los pollitos Fernán — Silva Valdés
Mi amiga, la sombra — Alma Flor Ada
Hagamos caminos — Alma Flor Ada
Día de las madres — F. Isabel Campoy
Un beso de papá — F. Isabel Campoy
Estaba una sirena — F. Isabel Campoy
Alto, bien alto — F. Isabel Campoy

El son del sol — Música amiga 10
[This title completes the series with poems of some of the best poets in the Spanish language, masterfully turned into songs by Suni Paz. Her renditions of Fernando Luján’s Cigarras, of Mirta Aguirre’s Caballito, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Doraba la luna el río and Jaime Ferrán Las gacelas are evocative and hauntingly beautiful. For Un son para niños antillanos by Nicolás Guillén and Canción de todos los niños del mundo she has created lively music that invites you to sing along. Four excellent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy make this a necessary title in every classroom. Isabel leads children in the reflection of what it is to think in ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar!, she brings the awareness of how vast knowledge is in La maestra tampoco lo sabe, and she invites all to take responsibility in taking care of life, Cuida la vida. Finally, she offers the most poignant song about the importance of retaining our own language in No te olvides, no, a song that has become a true inspiration for bilingual educators.

Un son para niños antillanos – Nicolás Guillén
Cigarras – Fernando Luján
Doraba la luna el río – Juan Ramón Jiménez
Baile de la caña – David Chericián
Las gacelas – Jaime Ferrán
Caballito – Mirta Aguirre
Los zapaticos de rosa – José Martí
Canción de todos los niños del mundo – Alma Flor Ada
Cuida la vida — F. Isabel Campoy
No te olvides, no — F. Isabel Campoy
¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar! — F. Isabel Campoy
La maestra tampoco lo sabe — F. Isabel Campoy

READERS’ RESPONSES

If you have enjoyed reading or sharing this book, I would very much like to hear from you. Please click here to send your comments.

Teacher’s Resource Book: Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción

Book and CD Description

Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values.

This book and CD contain a combination of songs from folklore, including the beloved De colores, Pimpón and Caballito blanco. It also includes original poems/songs by Alma Flor Ada, like the well known Primavera and Cri-crí and magnificent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy that stress the importance of language continuation, Hablar como tú, as well as the values of family and culture, Tú eres muy rico.

Suni Paz musical creations draw from her extensive knowledge of Latin American and Spanish musical tradition making this CD and all CDs in the series a powerful introduction to the Hispanic musical heritage.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

• De colores – Folklore
• Primavera — Alma Flor Ada
• Salta la tablita – Folklore
• Cri-crí — Alma Flor Ada
• Caballito blanco – Folklore
• Pimpón – Folklore
• Las marionetas – Folklore
• Juanito – Folklore
• Juega conmigo – F. Isabel Campoy
• Hablar como tú – F. Isabel Campoy
• Caracola – F. Isabel Campoy
• Tú eres muy rico – F. Isabel Campoy

Teacher’s Resource Book Description

Música amiga: Pedagogía creadora a través de la canción by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel campoy

This handbook, inspired in the Transformative Education process developed by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, explores the use of songs in the classroom and provides specific suggestions to be applied with Música amiga.

It is divided in two major parts. The first, Aprender cantando, explores the uses of songs in topics like:

• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones para eliminar la ansiedad y facilitar el aprendizaje
• Las canciones y la cultura
• Las canciones como base para la expresión corporal o dramática
• Las canciones en la adquisición de las habilidades lingüísticas
• Las canciones en la integración entre la escuela y el hogar
• Las canciones y los valores transformadores

The second part offers specific suggestions for each of the 120 songs contained in the Música amiga program.

Author’s Note

The production of the Música amiga series has been one the highlights of my life as an author. Although these books may have a much humbler physical appearance than many other of my books, this program combines the creativity of three extraordinary artists and human beings: Isabel Campoy, Suni Paz and Ulises Wensell. Furthermore the product was originally published by my son Alfonso Zubizarreta and its production was one more expression of his support for my work.

Many of the poems/songs that appear in Música amiga were originally part of the Reading Program Hagamos caminos, and signify the first time that Suni Paz and I collaborated. I have mentioned in many occasions that having such an excellent musician create music for my poems has been one of my greatest satisfaction.

Isabel Campoy brought her sensitivity, humor, and creativity to Música amiga, creating a number of original poems for this program, which were also put to music by Suni. The value of family, the treasure of culture, the importance of maintaining our language, the appreciation for learning and reasoning, and the joy of celebrating life in all its forms are some of the topics in Isabel’s contributions to Música amiga.

The art in these books was originally created by Ulises Wensell for Hagamos caminos. Ulises is a most talented artist and has been a true inspiration for my writing. I truly wanted to write children’s books because I dreamt that Ulises could create for my text art of the quality of his illustrations for El emperador y los pájaros or El retorno de la primavera, which I continue to consider absolute masterpieces.

As life would have it, I was able to demand, in order to accept the request to create Hagamos caminos that Ulises would be the illustrator.

And he created, for that reading series, art appropriate for any quality literature book.

When developing Música amiga we were delighted to be able to draw from the Hagamos caminos art to illustrate this collection of poems/songs.

And an extraordinary combination of talents have given life and light to these books and CDs that can enrich all and every classroom with the gift of poetry, songs, and art.

Música amiga program description

There are ten books to this series, each with an accompanying CD.

Each book includes 12 carefully selected poems. All 120 poems are presented as songs in the CD collection. Some of the poems are from folklore, a number of them have been originally written by Alma Flor Ada and by F. Isabel Campoy. A few are from other renown poets.

The books have magnificent illustrations from internationally acclaimed illustrator Ulises Wensell.

All of these poems and songs can be enjoyed by children from Pre-K to 6th grade. As a matter of fact, many can be enjoyed even by older students.

The first five volumes are particularly suited for helping develop specific literacy skills and for the reinforcement of specific syllabic combinations as well as overall language development. The last five volumes support sustained language development, a deepened appreciation for literature and an ongoing love for independent reading.

The titles are:

• ¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
• Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
• Canción y alegría — Música amiga 3
• Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
• Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
• Caracolí — Música amiga 6
• Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
• Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
• El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
• El son del sol — Música amiga 10

Themes, Values and Vocabulary

The information on this page includes not only the list of poems in the books and songs in the CDs but also an indication of the Themes and Values presented in them.

Initial Reading in Spanish

For teachers or parents interested in teaching or strengthening initial reading skills with songs, there is also a chart to indicate the syllables that are reinforced through these poems and songs as well as a correlation with the initial reading series Hagamos caminos since many of these poems and songs are included in the Hagamos caminos books.

Música amiga Guide

The Música amiga Teacher’s Guide offers general suggestions for the use of music in the classroom for vocabulary, concepts and values development, and specific suggestions for the use of each song.

Aprender cantando, set of 2 cassettes. These cassettes explore how songs can facilitate learning in a variety of ways. Recorded in Spanish by Alma Flor Ada with numerous examples of songs performed by Suni Paz.

Significance of the Use of Songs in the Classroom

The importance of songs in the classroom cannot be overly emphasized. Songs are a vehicle for both teachers and students to develop fluency in the language, improve pronunciation and intonation, build vocabulary, and develop their understanding of Hispanic culture. Learning the traditional folklore cherished by families and communities will strengthen Latino children’s sense of identity; for English-speakers learning Spanish, songs and folklore will deepen their appreciation of the Spanish language.

The content of the ten Música amiga volumes are:

¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
[While every one of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the joy of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for language and vocabulary development as well as family and identity values.]

Los elefantes — Folklore
Sapitos – Alma Flor Ada
El barco chiquitito – Folklore
En el puente de San Juan – Folkore
Uno de enero – Folklore
La cigarra guitarrista – Alma Flor Ada
La bella hortelana – Folklore
En alta mar – Folklore
El beso – F Isabel Campoy
Lluvia – F Isabel Campoy
Mi historia – F Isabel Campoy
Aquí vivimos — F Isabel Campoy

Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
[While everyone of these volumes can be used for general purposes with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, this volume is particularly suited for phonemic awareness and the practice of the five vowels as well as family values.]

Una mosca – Folklore
A, a, a, mi abuelita me dará – Alma Flor Ada
Yo te daré – Folklore
La i minúscula – Alma Flor Ada
La mar estaba serena – Folklore
Un… en un… — Alma Flor Ada
Las cinco vocales – Folklore
Color hermoso – F Isabel Campoy
Mi abuelo – F Isabel Campoy
¡Qué miedo! – F Isabel Campoy
Arre, arre — F Isabel Campoy

Canción y alegría – Música amiga 3
[This volume contains stories in verse by Alma Flor Ada. These stories w introduce charming characters like La gallina Picotina, El loro Ala de Oro and La ratita Roequeso as well as three charming poems by Isabel Campoy. The poems and songs are particularly suited to allow children with initial reading skills to read the lyrics independently.]

Perrito color de café – Alma Flor Ada
Fa, fe, fi – Alma Flor Ada
El gato del mago — Alma Flor Ada
La gallina Picotina – Alma Flor Ada
La ranita – Alma Flor Ada
La burrita – Alma Flor Ada
El loro Ala de Oro – Alma Flor Ada
La ratita Roequeso – Alma Flor Ada
Mi oso de papel – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi mapa – F. Isabel Campoy
Canta — F. Isabel Campoy

Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
[Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values. All the poems in this volume have been written by either Alma Flor Ada or Isabel Campoy. The CD offers a combination of diverse music, lyric songs like El hada Hadaluna, lively songs like Jarabe tapatío and Sube y baja and whimsical invitations to reflect like Mi backpack, La cama de mi maestro y Soñar palabras.]

El ciempiés y la cigarra – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón Botón – Alma Flor Ada
El hada Hadaluna – Alma Flor Ada
Los ocho chivitos – Alma Flor Ada
Josefina y sus amigos – Alma Flor Ada
Jarabe tapatío – Alma Flor Ada
Y va de cuento – Alma Flor Ada
Sube y baja – F. Isabel Campoy
Mi backpack – F. Isabel Campoy
Bolsillo de pantalón – F. Isabel Campoy
La cama de mi maestra – F. Isabel Campoy
Soñar palabras — F. Isabel Campoy

Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
[A combination of well known tradicional songs, like Las mañanitas and Tengo una muñeca and songs that emphasize the value of family.]

Las mañanitas – Folklore
Del… al… — Alma Flor Ada
Tato, Anita y Titino — Alma Flor Ada
Tengo una muñeca – Folklore
La paloma – Folklore
Tengo, tengo, tengo – Folklore
En una bella ciudad – Folklore
Origami — Alma Flor Ada
En el kiosko — Alma Flor Ada
¡Adelante! – F. Isabel Campoy
Mamá – F. Isabel Campoy
Mis manos – F. Isabel Campoy

Caracolí — Música amiga 6
[A combination of songs from folklore, including the beloved De colores, original poems/songs by Alma Flor Ada and magnificent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy that stress the importance of language continuation, Hablar como tú, as well as the values of family and culture, Tú eres muy rico]

De colores – Folklore
Primavera — Alma Flor Ada
Salta la tablita – Folklore
Cri-crí — Alma Flor Ada
Caballito blanco – Folklore
Pimpón – Folklore
Las marionetas – Folklore
Juanito – Folklore
Juega conmigo – F. Isabel Campoy
Hablar como tú – F. Isabel Campoy
Caracola – F. Isabel Campoy
Tú eres muy rico – F. Isabel Campoy

Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
[Well known songs from folklore like He perdido el do and Mambrú, accompany some original poems/songs. La Cucarachita Martina is an exceptional dramatization by Suni Paz of the well-known tale. Isabel Campoy’s poem/song Familia celebrates the richness of family.]

He perdido el do – Folklore
Antón Pirulero – Folklore
La Cucarachita Martina — Alma Flor Ada
Las jirafas gemelas — Alma Flor Ada
Flores y caracoles — Alma Flor Ada
Clotilde — Alma Flor Ada
Mambrú – Folklore
Dragones y cocodrilos — Alma Flor Ada
El reloj de mi bisabuelo – Folklore
La vilanela – Folklore
Familia – F. Isabel Campoy
La playa – F. Isabel Campoy

Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
[There is much joy and humor in this book/CD combination. The ballad of El señor don Gato has enchanted many generations of children. Oficios is a poem/song filled with humor that will delight readers and listeners of any age. La lluvia one of Alma Flor’s favorites. Isabel’s three poems/songs in this title will elicit smiles and invite you to sing along.]

El señor don Gato — Folklore
Los días de la semana — Folklore
Oficios – Alma Flor Ada
La lluvia – Alma Flor Ada
El ratón y el gato — Folklore
A dormir — Folklore
Pizpirigaña – Folklore
La pastora – Folklore
El trencito – Folklore
El lápiz de Guillermo — F. Isabel Campoy
Ramón y su perro — F. Isabel Campoy
La nube y la ballena — F. Isabel Campoy

El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
[This title includes the work of some very well respected poets, José Martí, Mirta Aguirre and Jaime Ferrán. It also includes two of Alma Flor’s best known poems/songs, Mi amiga, la sombra and the inspiring Hagamos caminos. Isabel contributes four poems/songs, one dedicated to mothers, Día de las madres, another to fathers, Un beso de papá.]

La rosa blanca – José Marí
Lo que vamos a ser – Alma Flor Ada
Los loros – Jaime Ferrán
Aventura – Mirta Aguirre
Ronda de farolas – Folklore
Los pollitos Fernán — Silva Valdés
Mi amiga, la sombra — Alma Flor Ada
Hagamos caminos — Alma Flor Ada
Día de las madres — F. Isabel Campoy
Un beso de papá — F. Isabel Campoy
Estaba una sirena — F. Isabel Campoy
Alto, bien alto — F. Isabel Campoy

El son del sol — Música amiga 10
[This title completes the series with poems of some of the best poets in the Spanish language, masterfully turned into songs by Suni Paz. Her renditions of Fernando Luján’s Cigarras, of Mirta Aguirre’s Caballito, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Doraba la luna el río and Jaime Ferrán Las gacelas are evocative and hauntingly beautiful. For Un son para niños antillanos by Nicolás Guillén and Canción de todos los niños del mundo she has created lively music that invites you to sing along. Four excellent poems/songs by Isabel Campoy make this a necessary title in every classroom. Isabel leads children in the reflection of what it is to think in ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar!, she brings the awareness of how vast knowledge is in La maestra tampoco lo sabe, and she invites all to take responsibility in taking care of life, Cuida la vida. Finally, she offers the most poignant song about the importance of retaining our own language in No te olvides, no, a song that has become a true inspiration for bilingual educators.

Un son para niños antillanos – Nicolás Guillén
Cigarras – Fernando Luján
Doraba la luna el río – Juan Ramón Jiménez
Baile de la caña – David Chericián
Las gacelas – Jaime Ferrán
Caballito – Mirta Aguirre
Los zapaticos de rosa – José Martí
Canción de todos los niños del mundo – Alma Flor Ada
Cuida la vida — F. Isabel Campoy
No te olvides, no — F. Isabel Campoy
¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar! — F. Isabel Campoy
La maestra tampoco lo sabe — F. Isabel Campoy

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