Summer 2010
My Friends,
Now that summer is here and the kids are out of school, I got to thinking about earlier summers I shared with my two daughters and my husband. Back then, we used to spend our days swimming at Lake Michigan, taking bike rides and nature walks in local parks, playing sports, sharing laughter, and sometimes, just plain acting silly. My daughters also spent time in arts and crafts classes, as well as attending summer day camps.
It got me to thinking about the music I have written over the years, and how much of it relates to summer and summer activities. I sat down and made up a list of summer songs that I think you and your children might enjoy. Each of these songs is available on iTunes, but I wanted to give you a FREE download of “I Think You Dropped This” as a way of saying thank you for visiting my website!
I Think You Dropped This
This is an eco-friendly song about picking up after yourself AND others, when possible, and not being a litterbug. After listening to the song, you might consider walking around the outside of your home or around the block with a friend or one of your parents, picking up litter. It’s a great, neighbor friendly activity and it reinforces your shared concern for the earth. Click here for a FREE download of “I Think You Dropped This.”
Skip to My Lou
Summertime and skipping go together, don’t you think? In this classic children’s song, listen closely to all the movements I sing about. When I perform this in concert, I often stop singing at various points and have the children “freeze” or stay still, until I resume the singing.
The Ice Cream Truck Song
Here in Chicago during the summer we still have ice cream trucks and ice cream carts! What about where you live? For many years, our neighborhood ice cream truck played the song “Do Your Ears Hang Low” as is trolled the streets looking for customers. When my children heard that melody, they rushed around the house looking for loose change to buy ice cream treats. My husband Jay and my oldest daughter Hope penned new words for this old, traditional song.
Color Me Singing
A great song when you’re sitting around the house with a box of crayons and a little bit of time on your hands. Have your child send me a drawing of whatever they’d like (make sure they sign it) and I’ll put it on my website photo gallery. Send pictures to me at ssalidor@aol.com
At the Resale Shop
This is a song about my favorite activity in the whole wide world, shopping for resale items. One great activity is going to a local resale shop, and giving your child a dollar or two to spend on whatever he or she wants. It’s like an inexpensive treasure hunt.
The Boo Boo Blues
Summertime’s a blast, but every once in a while, a knee or two gets scraped. This song lets children know that we all get boos boos, and it’s written in a traditional blues style that is so popular here in Chicago.
The Boo Boo Gets better by and By
I wrote this song to help little ones understand that as bad as their newest boo boo may be, it will get better over time. .
The Flicky Flacky Song
Summertime, like any time, is a great time to make up stories. This one’s full of make believe characters in a make believe place who learn that working together makes solving problems easier.
I Love My Sister
Summertime is a wonderful time to hang out with family, whether you’re on vacation or on the back deck. When things are going well between siblings, it’s easy to sing. When children aren’t getting along as well, it’s good to have this song on hand to remind them of their true feelings for one another!
Tap Your Toe and Follow Me
My most often downloaded song, “Tap Your Toe and Follow Me” is a fun “copycat” song. Don’t feel as if you have to stick with my examples (tap your toe, clap your hands, bob your head, waggle your tongue) – make up your own or ask your young one to take lead.
I’ve Got Peace in My Fingers
This song can be helpful when you’re trying to resolve a conflict among children. Better still to practice the song when everyone is in harmony with one another. Check out the YouTube video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZHV2YasXxI
Mommy, Be My Baby.
My daughter Hannah used to love to pretend that I was the baby and she was the mommy. This song was born out of my desire to immortalize those precious moments in song.
When I Only Have a Minute
This song is literally one minute long! I co-wrote it with Matt Yanny-Tillar, a wonderful guitarist, songwriter and teacher who often accompanies me in concert. This song is a fun one to memorize. Good luck!
I Went to France
I wrote this song after I have was invited to sing in Paris, a number of years ago. It’s fun to imagine Paris at any time of the year, but I think of it especially in the summertime when many people take a vacation. Whether you are fortunate enough to travel inside or outside of the United States, it’s often an adventure trying new foods, learning a different language or enjoying new customs.
Viva L’Amour
While I have you thinking and dreaming of France, here’s another song you may know. It’s a great song of community and friendship.
Give Me a Little Beso
My husband, our friend Peter Buttitta and I wrote this song. “Beso” means kiss in Spanish. “Beso” is virtually the only Spanish word in the song, but the rhymes are fun to listen to, and children enjoy the latin rhythms of the song.
I Saw Five Fish
A sweet little ditty about counting (and subtracting) fish. Perhaps this summer you’ll visit an aquarium or go fishing!
A Little Help is All I Need
This song reminds us all that little ones can do a lot, especially if they get a little help. The song encourages a spirit of self-reliance, as well as an understanding that it’s always nice to get help from mom or dad.
Mighty Fine Road
I wrote this song while I was driving to a gig. I use it in concert to get children thinking about the name of the street on which they live, but it also works as a “road trip” song to encourage children to read street signs. By inserting your own street name in the lyrics, your child will learn what street he or she lives on.
The ABC Song
No matter where I go to sing with children, this song is always a favorite. In this version, I’ve taken the familiar melody of “The ABC Song” and jazzed it up a bit.
Pick a Bale of Cotton
This is a great dancing song. In concert, I often pick two dads from the crowd and have them mime the actions of the lyrics for the crowd. By the end of the song they’re exhausted, but not the children who have been dancing along in the audience. Cotton is a crop that loves the sun and warm weather. On our annual summer trip to the beaches of North Carolina, we often see fields of cotton and tobacco stretching over many acres of farmland.
I hope you enjoy these summer songs and all of your time together with your children. As for me, I’ll be outside in the Chicago sunshine as much as I can this summer, sharing moments with my husband and daughters, singing these and other great tunes.

