Usborne Musical Books: Carnival & Four Seasons

Main idea: Saint-Saëns and Vivaldi under a fingertip: press a button and music meets the picture — children take it in surprisingly naturally.

From Usborne Musical Books we have two volumes at home. The Carnival of the Animals (Fiona Watt / Katie Melrose, music by Camille Saint-Saëns) — press a button and hear arrangements of the famous carnival. We keep it in English; the kids enjoy the music and soak up the language.

The Four Seasons (Fiona Watt / Juliet Oberndorfer, Vivaldi) is another musical book from the same series — four seasons, finger trails and buttons with arrangements of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. At our house it’s one we like to pause with and just listen.

In the series you’ll also find Bach, Beethoven or Tchaikovsky. We chose by the music we love — and I was surprised how naturally a child takes it in when they hear it this way and “see” it at the same time.

• The Carnival of the Animals — Fiona Watt · Katie Melrose · Saint-Saëns
• The Four Seasons — Fiona Watt · Juliet Oberndorfer · Vivaldi