My favorite songbooks for working with children and the ukulele
Many of my ukulele students use the ukulele in their work with children – and I think that's just great! The ukulele is the perfect instrument for working with children because it's small, light, and quick to learn. It immediately creates a cheerful atmosphere, and with just a few chords, you can accompany a variety of songs. So it's no wonder I keep getting asked: "Which children's songbooks can you recommend for the ukulele?"
Here are my three favorites:
1. Alle Lieder sind schon da – Helbling Verlag
This songbook is a true treasure for anyone making music with children! It contains a large selection of traditional and modern children's songs – 185 in total. Especially practical: there's an accompanying CD and a teacher's handbook with many additional ideas for song arrangement. If you prefer digital listening, you'll find a playlist on Spotify with 63 songs from the book. A great collection for everyday use in daycare and school! Click here for the book
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2. Die 100 besten Kinderlieder
This book is a wonderful compilation of 100 of the best-known and most beloved children's songs. What I particularly like about it: For each song, there's a corresponding YouTube video, so you can quickly get the melodies in your head. Perfect for anyone who wants to try out lesser-known songs too! There's also a Spotify playlist with all 100 songs – a real treasure trove for musical work with children. Click here for the book
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3. Schatzkiste Musik – Helbling Verlag
This book is particularly suitable for anyone working with younger children (0–6 years). In addition to many beautiful songs, it also contains plenty of practical tips on how to playfully integrate music into daily educational routines. It's not just about singing, but also about moving, listening, and collectively experiencing music – a real asset for anyone working in daycares or early musical education programs! Click here for the book
My tip: Always have chords at hand!
Unfortunately, these songbooks don't include ukulele chords, but don't worry: I've put together a practical overview of the most important chords for you. You can download them here, print them out, and always have them ready: ➡ Download Chord Overview
I can only encourage you to incorporate the ukulele into your work with children – you'll see that not only you, but also the children will have immense fun with it! And best of all: You'll quickly experience success and won't want to do without the ukulele anymore.
If you're interested in ukulele courses, feel free to sign up for my newsletter – then you'll receive information as soon as a new course is offered.
Have fun making music!
Best regards,
Daniela from UKUlala
