Classical Music Books for Babies & Toddlers
Introduce your baby or toddler to classical music in a fun way with the help of these musical books, all of which are suitable for the 0-3 age range. All books are available within our musical bookshop hosted on Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookshops around the UK. Get more ideas for children’s musical books in our full list of over 50 titles, which cover lots of ages.
By Mary Richards (author), Khoa Le (illustrator), publishing in September 2024
Bookshop.org / Waterstones
Covering 10 different, beloved orchestral instruments, from different pieces from around the world, readers hear music composed and can press them to hear clips of musical masterpieces. From Elgar's Cello Concerto to a violin sonata by Beethoven, this book will teach children about cultural history, famous musicians and musical genres. Each of the 10 composers throughout the story tells children about their favourite instrument, how it makes them feel, and what animals or moods they thought of as they were writing the piece of music.
By Jessica Courtney-Tickle (illustrator), publishing in November 2024
Bookshop.org / Waterstones
This board book with six sounds is the perfect introduction for babies and toddlers to classical music. Discover the spellbinding magic of Swan Lake in this retelling of the classic ballet story about a swan who transforms into a graceful dancer. Children will love pressing the button on every page to hear the exceptional quality music as the story unfolds.
Also available from the My First Story Orchestra Series: The Nutcracker.
By Sam Taplin (author) & Ag Jatkowska (illustrator), published in September 2022
Bookshop.org / Waterstones
Children can discover the magic of JS Bach's music by hearing the five beautiful tunes in this enchanting sound book. The animal orchestra travels around, playing Bach's music and telling us a little bit about his life as they go.
Also available in this series: The Animal Orchestra Plays… Beethoven / Mozart / Vivaldi / Tchaikovsky
By Jessica Courtney Tickle (illustrator), published in October 2022
Bookshop.org / Waterstones
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. Discover the spellbinding magic of The Mountain King in this musical retelling of Peer Gynt—push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Grieg’s score.
Also available in this series: Four Seasons in One Day / Peter and the Wolf / The Nutcracker / Sleeping Beauty / Swan Lake / Carnival of the Animals / The Planets / The Magic Flute / A Midsummer Night’s Dream /
By Sam Taplin (author), Gareth Lucas & Katherine Lucas (illustrators), published in February 2013
Bookshop.org / Waterstones
From gentle woodwind to crashing drums, this book is a perfect introduction to the world of classical music for young children. Join the animal orchestra as they rehearse for their concert. From hamster on the triangle to Hippo on the tuba, listen to all the animals’ instruments by pressing the sound buttons, before hearing the entire orchestra playing together at the end. Music specially written and produced by Anthony Marks.
Frances Lincoln Children's Books (author), Jessica Courtney-Tickle (illustrator), publishing in October 2024
Bookshop.org / Waterstones
In this new Story Orchestra format, young readers can now play the tunes themselves! Colour and shape codes correspond to the 14 keys, so kids can learn easy 8-bar, one-finger melodies, so even the youngest child can learn to play music with this simple method. Each song includes an enchanting illustration and description of the part of the story that the music is telling, along with playing tips. All the favourite characters from The Nutcracker story are there to encourage young musicians as they play their first notes with the sound of a piano.
Also available in this series: Story Orchestra: I Can Play (8 famous classical tunes)
By James Mayhew, published in September 2021
Bookshop.org / Waterstones
Six wonderful stories from many lands, all of which inspired great music. You can battle trolls with Peer Gynt if you go In The Hall of the Mountain King; grapple with a magic broom in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, meet the evil Witch of the North in The Swan of Tuonela, sail the seven seas with Sinbad the Sailor in Scheherazade; be a prince disguised as a bee in The Flight of the Bumblebee and become a fearless hero in William Tell. The stories are excitingly told and stunningly illustrated by James Mayhew, who is famous for bringing live classical music, art and storytelling to families across the UK.
By Marion Billet (illustrator), published in October 2023
Bookshop.org / Waterstones
Aimed at babies and toddlers, this interactive board book has a button on every spread, which plays one of five different exceptional quality sound effects. What do Vivaldi's Four Seasons sound like? Push the buttons to find out!
Hannah Fiddy is a creative entrepreneur, developing new audiences for classical music. She has created and promoted numerous concerts outside of traditional spaces, including warehouses, pubs, clubs, museums, hospitals, prisons and even in Primark. Hannah is also an interviewer, writer and guest lecturer, and runs the Avon Chamber Choir in Bristol. In a past life she founded London Flashmob, producing quirky events from wedding proposals to cultural pranks for up to 1,000 people.