Probably not one of the books that comes to mind when you think of Eric Carle, but his book I See a Song is my favorite!
“Ladies & Gentleman! I see a song. I paint music. I hear color …. Come, listen, and let your imagination see your own song.” says the violinist illustrated in a monochromatic black. But as he begins to play, colors begin to fill the pages. Pictures begin to form and the song begins to tell a colorful story.
When I was teaching, I would read the introduction to my class, then, I would play music – different types of music. Some days it would be light classical while others, it might be slow jazz. I would ask my learners if the illustrations matched the music as I turned the pages. Did they feel the pictures were telling the story of the music they were hearing? Why or why not? I enjoyed hearing their explanations. I loved watching them feel and connect to the music.
Many times, as an extension to the book, I would provide blank paper with crayons or paint, and I would play different types of music; again, it varied day-to-day. I encouraged the children to turn the songs they were hearing, and feeling, into pictures. I wanted them to interpret the songs on to paper and make the music come alive. I loved their descriptions when I asked them to tell me about their drawings. What an amazing experience to watch the children connect to the music and “see a song”.