Wheels on the Bus

Wheels on the Bus

by Raffi
Illustration by Sylvie Kantorovitz Wickstrom

Singing and reading to your child are considered two of the most vital ways parents can stimulate the development of a child's brain during the earlist years. Raffi's Songs to Read unites the rhythm, rhyme, and repetition that helps to lay the foundation for later speech, listening, and reading skills. here with fresh new cover designs are some of Raffi's best-known songs. With enchanting illustrations they create books that are natural bridges between music and reading.

This simple board book format of the classic children's song, 'The Wheels on the Bus,' is a playful addition to any toddler's library. The brightly colored illustrations are fun while the repetitive song format encourages young ones to sing along. The bus appears to be traveling through a quaint French town in the mid-20th century and the characters add a layer of good ol' fashioned warmth and comfort that children will appreciate, even if they don't understand the background.

Singing this book to your child will not only make him or her smile but will open up a whole new side of books. Preschool-age children who more than likely know the words to the song by heart will gladly join and sing with you, while toddlers will appreciate just hearing your voice and looking at the pages. Perhaps you can even think of extra verses to add to the song.

One of the favorite hobbies of Emily, the little girl I babysit, is singing and the Wheels on the Bus is a song she knows well. We've practiced singing the song on many occasions and added in extra lines like "The doors on the bus go open, shut" or "The headlights on the bus shine at night." We've also changed the title to the "Wheels on the Train" and made up our own song based on the railroad. It's amazing how much one book can open your eyes to a whole new world of rhymes and music.

--Abby