3 Catchy Bible-Based Albums for Kids

Posted on May 12, 2023May 13, 2023 by S. J. Little

Are you feeling bored or stuck when it comes to your Christian kid’s music playlist? Then read on to discover three of my favorite Bible-based children’s albums you’ve probably never heard of. I’ve also included a list of honorable mentions you may like.

Creature Teachers – Amy Essen

If you are looking for high-quality, variety, and Bible-based kid’s music, this is definitely an album you will want to check out.

This album was released in May 2023. This highly professional album contains 14 songs each based on a different animal mentioned in the Bible. Some of the songs are closely tied to one Bible verse while others share multiple Bible stories or emphasize practical Christian principles.

I’ve been privileged to learn some of the behind the scenes stories and processes that went into this incredible album because I know Amy personally.

Each song is in a different genre including classical, celtic, folk, rap, or boogaloo jazz. In the midst of trumpets, percussion, choir, and so much more, the album carries a vibrant fun tone.

My little one and I have thoroughly been enjoying listening to these songs. I’m sure you will too.

Website:

https://amyessen.com/

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1I0CAjuTWX05yKehXE1zz7

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/@amyessenmusic

Proverbs – NIV Kids Club – Stan Blair

Do you prefer word-for-word Scripture songs for your children? Then I highly recommend the NIV Kids Club Albums by Stan Blair.

Each song is catchy and simple enough to easily sing along. The songs are in a variety of genres. Some of the songs include fun explanations about the meaning of the verse. All of the songs sing a verse (or two) in the New International Version Bible translation.

I love these songs so much that I purchased all four albums before I had my own kids. They make Bible memorization effortless. When I get one of them stuck in my head (because they are very catchy), I appreciate knowing that they are words from the Bible.

Website:

https://nivkidsclub.com/

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/@NIVKidsClub

Zone Praise – Awana

Looking for something a little more upbeat? Then this might just be the album for you. I greatly appreciate the meaningful words in these well made songs. I enjoy singing with them even if my little one isn’t around.

Have you heard of the Awana kid’s clubs? They’re a fantastic Christian kid’s group that encourage Bible memorization and well rounded child development.

Did you know they have CDs? Neither did I until a few years ago. When checking out their music, note that the level of quality, style, and target age varies greatly between albums. Some are simple albums aimed to help young children memorize Bible verses. Others, like this one, are high quality Christian kids music.

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/1LYVmucFsBb4zJiGWuNSmS

Website:

https://www.awana.org/

Honorable Mentions (to give you even more variety)

Steve Green Kids – Gentle high quality word-for-word Scripture songs for kids

Seeds Family Worship – Word-for-word Scripture memory songs

Go Fish – Full of energy and Biblical truths

Yancy – Original worship songs for kids

Getty Kids – Hymns chosen for kids

What’s your favorite album of Bible-based kid’s music?

Shine Shine Christmas Lights

Posted on December 8, 2022December 8, 2022 by S. J. Little

Looking for a Christmas song that is simple, fun, and educational? Then this is the song for you.

Sung to the classic tune of Baa Baa Black Sheep, this preschool Christmas song is all about Christmas lights and their colours. Younger children can learn the names of the colours while older children can be challenged to grasp the concept of patterns.

Shine, Shine, Christmas Lights

Tune: Baa Baa Black Sheep

Lyrics by: S. J. Little

Shine, shine, Christmas lights, colours all a-glow.

Red, green, white, blue; pink and yellow too.

Some on the rooftop, some on the tree.

Saying it’s Christmas time, come and see.

Shine, shine, Christmas lights, colours all a-glow.

Red, green, white, blue; pink and yellow too.

Consider adding a visual to this song so that your children can see each colour of light as the song mentions it. To help you out, I’ve created a downloadable printable you can use. It’s free when you sign up for my once a month email list. Check it out below.

There you have it, the Christmas Lights preschool song. Try singing it today with your 2 year old, 3 year old, or 4 year old.

Baby Jesus, Welcome Lord

Posted on December 7, 2020February 10, 2021 by S. J. Little

Hand holding nativity scene picturing Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

New Christmas Song for Preschoolers –

Looking for a new, easy, and Biblical Christmas song to sing with your preschoolers? Then you’re in the right place. While this tune is familiar, the words are new. I came up with them in late November 2020. You are welcome to use this song at your home, church, school, and/or childcare. When you do so, please include my name (S. J. Little) as the author so that you and those around you know where to come for more unique preschool ideas.

At Christmas time, we celebrate Jesus’ coming to earth. That’s why, in the first verse, we sing “Welcome Lord.” For the second two verses, it is the shepherds and the wise men who come and say “Welcome Lord.”

Baby Jesus, Welcome Lord

Words by: S. J. Little

Tune: “Are You Sleeping” aka “Frère Jacques”

Baby Jesus, baby Jesus,

Son of God, Son of God.

You were born to be King, You were born to be King,

Welcome Lord, Welcome Lord.

Baby Jesus, baby Jesus,

Angels praise, angels praise.

Shepherds run to Your side, shepherds run to Your side,

Welcome Lord, Welcome Lord.

Baby Jesus, baby Jesus,

Wise men come, wise men come.

Following the bright star, following the bright star.

Welcome Lord, Welcome Lord.

Actions

Baby Jesus – Pretend to rock an infant in your arms

Son of God – Point up

You were born to be King – Put an imaginary crown on your head

Welcome Lord – Use one hand to beckon towards self

Angels praise – Extend hands above your head and move them side to side

Shepherds run to Your side – Run in place

Wise men come – Pretend to ride a camel

Following the bright star – Shade eyes as though searching. With your other hand, point forward/up towards the star

I hope you and your children enjoy this brand new Christmas song that reminds us of the very first Christmas so long ago.

Merry Christmas!

Looking for another Christmas preschool song? Check out:

My Favorite Preschool Christmas Song

5 Classic Bible Story Songs for Preschoolers

Posted on October 9, 2020March 25, 2022 by S. J. Little

As Christian parents and teachers, we desire to introduce our children to the Bible while they are young. That’s why I’ve compiled this list of songs. These classic Bible story songs will engage your preschoolers in an exciting way while teaching them the Bible. Chances are, you may be familiar with some of these songs. Have you introduced them to your children yet? If not, perhaps today is a good day to start!

Because most of these songs directly correlate with the Bible stories they are telling, I would encourage you to try using visuals to tell the story as you sing it the first time. This helps young children associate meaning with the words they are singing.

Some of these songs have well-defined actions, while others don’t. For some of the songs, I have suggested my favourite actions. For others, I will let the videos show you some possible actions. If the actions don’t suit your fancy, feel free to make up your own!

Please note: The sample videos I have included were chosen for the clarity of the song and actions. I am not associated with any of them and have not done extensive research into the groups who posted them. Also, while I tried to find videos similar to how I prefer to sing these songs, some actions and/or words may vary from the versions I have recommended for you.

1. Arky Arky (Rise and Shine)

I chose this Bible story song about Noah because I appreciate how it includes God. It was God who told Noah to build the ark, and it is God who deserves all the glory. This song also has silly rhyming which is sure to thrill many preschoolers.

Depending on the age of your children, consider repeating the chorus after every verse or after every two verses. I would repeat the chorus more often for younger children.

Genesis 6:8-9:17

The Lord told Noah,

There’s gonna be a floody, floody.

Lord told Noah,

There’s gonna be a floody, floody.

Get those animals out of the muddy, muddy –

Children of the Lord.

(Chorus) So, rise and shine and,

Give God the glory, glory!

Rise and shine and,

Give God the glory, glory!

Rise and shine and,

Give God the glory, glory –

Children of the Lord.

The Lord told Noah,

To build him an arky, arky.

Lord told Noah,

To build him an arky, arky.

Build it out of gopher barky, barky –

Children of the Lord.

(Repeat chorus)

The animals, the animals,

They came in by twosies, twosies.

Animals, the animals,

They came in by twosies, twosies.

Elephants and kangaroosies, roosies –

Children of the Lord.

(Repeat chorus)

It rained and poured,

For forty daysies, daysies.

Rained and poured,

For forty daysies, daysies.

Almost drove those animals crazy crazies –

Children of the Lord.

(Repeat chorus)

The sun came out,

And dried up the landy, landy.

Sun came out,

And dried up the landy, landy.

Everything was fine and dandy, dandy!

Children of the Lord.

(Repeat chorus)

2. Only a Boy Named David

This song, and the Bible story it recounts, are truly classics. I recommend singing it standing so your children can get some energy out spinning and then pretending to fall down like Goliath. Who knows? This one might just become your child’s favourite!

1 Samuel 17

Only a boy named David.

Only a little sling.

Only a boy named David,

But he could pray and sing.

Only a boy named David.

Only a rippling brook.

Only a boy named David,

But five little stones he took.

And one little stone went into the sling,

And the sling went round and round.

And one little stone went into the sling,

And the sling went round and round.

And round and round,

And round and round and round.

And one little stone went into the air,

And the giant came tumbling down.

Suggested actions:

Only a boy named David – hold hand out as though patting the head of a child

Only a little sling – pretend to swing a sling over your head

But he could pray and sing – fold hands in prayer and/or pretend to strum a guitar

Only a rippling brook – wiggle fingers while moving hands from right to left

But five little stones he took – hold up five fingers

One little stone went into the sling – hold up one finger, then put finger into other hand

The sling went round and round – swing imaginary sling around over head

Round and round – if standing, turn around while swinging sling

One little stone went into the air – point one finger as though following path of the flying stone

The giant came tumbling down – fall down

3. Who Did Swallow Jonah

This could be a fun song to get creative with. Try letting individual children take turns singing “who did?” There are 12 “who did” parts per verse, not including the “who did swallow Jo, Jo, Jo, Jo” part which could be sung all together.

Jonah 1-3

Who did? who did?

Who did swallow

Jo, Jo, Jo, Jo?

Who did? who did?

Who did swallow

Jo, Jo, Jo, Jo?

Who did? who did?

Who did swallow

Jo, Jo, Jo, Jo?

Who did swallow Jonah…

Who did swallow Jonah down?

Whale did, whale did,

Whale did swallow

Jo, Jo, Jo, Jo.

Whale did, whale did,

Whale did swallow

Jo, Jo, Jo, Jo.

Whale did, whale did,

Whale did swallow

Jo, Jo, Jo, Jo.

Whale did swallow Jonah…

Whale did swallow Jonah down.

Optional other verses:

Daniel, Daniel, … Daniel in the li, li, li, li.

Daniel in the lion’s, … Daniel in the lion’s den.

Gideon, Gideon… Gideon blow your trump, trump, trump, trump.

Gideon blow your trumpet, … Gideon blow your trumpet loud!

4. Zacchaeus

Another timeless classic Bible story song that has been loved by many! Want proof? Look up “sings Zacchaeus” on Youtube and you’ll find many recordings of young children trying to sing this song. The song and storyline are simple enough for a child to follow. The actions, also, are straight forward. I’ll let the video teach them to you, other than one comment. In order to make the actions more full-body, I recommend walking in place as you sing “And as the Savior passed that way.”

Luke 19:1-10

Zacchaeus was a wee little man,

And a wee little man was he.

He climbed up in a sycamore tree,

For the Lord he wanted to see.

And as the Savior passed that way,

He looked up in the tree,

And said, “Zacchaeus, you come down!

For I’m going to your house today!

For I’m going to your house today!”

Optional Verse:

Zacchaeus was a wee little man,

But a happy man was he.

For he had seen the Lord that day,

And a happy man was he;

And a very happy man was he.

5. Peter and John Went to Pray (Silver and Gold)

This is another fantastic Bible story song in that it has an easy to follow storyline that can correlate well with actions. I especially appreciate how accurately this song tells the story in line with Acts 3:1-10.

Peter and John went to pray;

They met a lame man on the way.

He asked for alms and held out his palms,

And this is what Peter did say:

“Silver and gold have I none,

But such as I have I give you.

In the name of Jesus Christ

Of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

He went walking and leaping and praising God,

Walking and leaping and praising God.

“In the name of Jesus Christ

Of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

6. Bonus!

Here’s a bonus recommendation for you. This song, titled “Stories” by Go Fish, includes both “Only a Boy Named David” and “Zacchaeus” in a catchy, upbeat modern song. I encourage you to take a moment to listen.

What are your favourite classic Bible story songs to sing with your preschoolers?

Other preschool songs on SJLittle.ca:

7 Simple Christian Songs for Preschoolers

Another 7 Simple Christian Songs for Preschoolers

If You Want To Be A… (Action song for almost any animal)

Another 7 Simple Christian Songs for Preschoolers

Posted on April 8, 2020March 25, 2022 by S. J. Little

Last July, I posted “7 Simple Christian Songs for Preschoolers“. So many people enjoyed those songs that I decided to follow it up with this post.

If you haven’t visited my first Christian Songs for Preschoolers post, I would encourage you to check it out here. In that post, I talked about the value of these songs and useful ways to sing them.

For now, I will suffice to say that these songs have been chosen because they are easy to sing (no need for a CD player or music major), and they teach valuable truths about God. In fact, singing these Christian songs not only teaches children these truths, but they provide me with much needed reminders too. Enjoy!

Please note: The sample videos I have included were chosen for the clarity of the song and actions. I am not associated with any of them and have not done extensive research into the groups who posted them. Also, while I tried to find videos similar to how I prefer to sing these songs, some actions and/or words may vary from the versions I have recommended for you.

1. Our God is an Awesome God

You may already know this song, as it is the chorus of a much longer song by the same name. It is essential that we remind ourselves that our God is truly an awesome God, especially now as I write this during a pandemic! This song could be sung several times in a row getting a little faster each time.

Our God is an awesome God,

He reigns from heaven above,

With wisdom, power, and love,

Our God is an awesome God.

Actions:

God – point up

Awesome – thumbs up

Reigns – wiggle fingers like rain coming down

Heaven – point up

Wisdom – point to mind

Power – show muscles

Love – hug self

2. Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

With internet access so readily available, let’s start teaching our children, when they are young, the wisdom of being careful of what we expose ourselves to. I appreciate how this song reminds us that it is out of love for us that God asks us to be careful. He knows it is for our good. Depending on the age of your children, you can do simple actions by only pointing to the body part named, or you can point to the body part and then do the second action for the last part of the line.

Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.

For the Father up above is looking down in love,

So be careful little eyes what you see.

Other Verses:

Ears what you hear
Hands what you do
Feet where you go
Mouth what you say
Heart whom you trust
Mind what you think

Actions:

Eyes, ears, etc. – point to body part

See – hold hand over eyes as though looking far away

Hear – cup hands behind ears

Do – move hands around, perhaps pretend to build something

Go – walk in place

Say – cup hands around mouth, as though yelling

Trust – open hands flat in front of self, as though giving or receiving a gift

Think – tap chin, as though pondering something

3. God is so Good

A classic song, this one is so gentle and sweet to sing. This might be a good song for just before bed or some other slower part of the day.

God is so good,

He’s so good to me.

Other Verses:

God cares for me…

God died for me…

God loves me so…

God answers prayer…

I praise His name…

Actions:

God/He/His – point up

So good – move arms in large circle, starting at top and moving down

Me/I – point to self

Cares – hug self

Loves – cross arms over heart and rock side to side

Prayer – clasp hands in prayer

4. Ho-Ho-Ho-Hosanna

I once was in a choir that used this song as a warm-up during practices. Its repetitive rhythm makes it fun to sing, while its words make it a valuable reminder. Let us never forget the joy of what Jesus did for us!

Ho, ho, ho, hosanna,

Ha, ha, hallelujah,

He, He, He, He saved me,

I’ve got the joy of the Lord!

Actions:

Ho/hosanna – cup hands around mouth

Ha/hallelujah – put hands on tummy and lean back as though laughing

He/Lord – point up

Me – hug self

5. Jesus Loves Me

Chances are, you sang this song as a child. While it is a little more complicated than some of the others in this list, the truths it reminds us of are worth it. Also, don’t limit it to being a child’s song. I know I often need the reminders it offers.

Jesus loves me this I know,

For the Bible tells me so,

Little ones to Him belong,

They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

Yes, Jesus loves me,

The Bible tells me so.

Actions:

Jesus – (for younger children) point up

– (for older children) sign language for Jesus – touch middle finger from one hand to palm of other hand and vice versa

Loves – hug self

Me – point to self

Know – point to brain

Bible – hold hands like book and open

Little ones – pretend to pat young children on the head

Him/He – point up

Weak – slump and hang arms limply

Strong – show muscles

Yes – sign language for yes – make fist and move it up and down

6. I Say L (L-O-V-E)

This song will be better for children who are starting to grasp the concept that letters can be put together to form words. The actions are complicated to learn, but your more advanced preschoolers will enjoy the challenge. Also, this song has three sets of actions. You can choose to use one or all three depending on your children and goals. There are the full-body actions which are great for getting wiggles out. Then there are also the finger actions and the hand actions which can be done sitting. Some children will find the finger actions more challenging, if they have not yet developed strong fine motor muscles and hand-eye coordination.

I say L

I say L-O

L-O-V

L-O-V-E

Everybody needs God’s love,

Everybody needs God’s love.

Actions:

Rather than repeating the L-O-V-E actions after singing “Everybody needs God’s love,” I recommend having the children give themselves a hug. You can also hold “love” rather than making the “ch” sounds portrayed in the video.

This song has three sets of actions: full-body, hand, and finger

Full-body actions:

L – hold right arm up and left arm horizontal

O – connect hands above head, creating circle

V – extend both arms above head at angles

E – use one arm as top of E and the other arm as middle of E, then lift leg to create bottom of E

Hand actions: (using both hands)

L – with wrists touching, hold right hand straight up and left hand horizontal

O – with wrists touching, cup hands to make circle

V – with wrists touching, hold hands vertically forming a V

E – keep hands connected as they are for V, but turn horizontal. Curl fingers slightly for top and bottom of E and connect thumbs for middle of E

Finger actions: (using one hand only)

L – use pointer finger and thumb to make L

O – connect fingers and thumb to make circle

V – make peace sign

E – fully extend thumb, pointer finger and middle finger while tilting so that the thumb is on the bottom

7. Isn’t He Wonderful

Yet another well-loved classic, this catchy tune will stick in your head. Try singing it quiet or loud, while matching the size of your actions to the volume of your voice.

Isn’t He wonderful, wonderful, wonderful,

Isn’t Jesus my Lord wonderful.

Eyes have seen, ears have heard,

It’s recorded in God’s Word.

Isn’t Jesus my Lord wonderful.

Actions:

Note: The actions portrayed in the video are different from the ones I recommend below.

He/Jesus my Lord – point up (or clap rhythm as in video)

Wonderful – move arms in large circle starting in middle

Eyes – point to eyes

Ears – point to ears

God’s Word – hold hands as book and open

I hope you enjoyed these additional Christian songs for preschoolers!

Other preschool songs on SJLittle.ca:

7 Simple Christian Songs for Preschoolers (Original post)

If You Want To Be A… (Action song for almost any animal)

It’s Cold Outside Today (Simple winter song youngsters love)

My Favourite Preschool Christmas Song