Sing for the Earth

This songbook features all 25 songs from award winning New Zealand songwriter Claudia Robin Gunn's 5th family album Sing for the Earth – Little Wild Animals. These original tunes celebrate children's connection to the land and the animals that inhabit this planet around us. Science notes and activity ideas for families to explore with each song have been thoughtfully written by Claudia's sister - Melissa R. Gunn (PhD). These notes are intended as a starting point for families and educators to stimulate further curious exploration.

Artist Elise De Silva has conjured a cast of animal characters and landscapes filled with rainbow colour in her illustrations. You'll find this art all throughout the songbook, and some of the activity ideas promote further artistic exploration in children's own time as well.

Producer Tom Fox's fun and fabulous arrangements elevate these songs on the album across a spectrum from gentle lullabies to americana vibes to funky disco beats.

Echidna Lullaby features the vocals of Sydney children's music artist Angie Who while Love Birds Love and Zoo Hullaballoo feature respectively the Christchurch duos Itty Bitty Beats and Loopy Tunes Preschool Music. Claudia and Melissa's mother Denise Gunn features on harmonies for Loopy the Inchworm and Roly Poly Polar Bear.

Use the QR code to find more resources that support this songbook online including all the music to play along with - you'll find both the full mixes (with vocals and instruments) and instrumentals (sing along backing tracks so you can sing karaoke style) available on streaming services and for download.