From the Preface: This handbook tells you what you need to know to use folksongs with children-in enjoyable and meaningful activities. The simplest activities are perfect for preschoolers; the most complicated will work for 10- or 11-year-olds. Anyone can succeed. Whether or not you're experienced with children or with music, this book will give you the necessary concepts and practical suggestions to become a confident leader of musical activities. If you're a "nonsinger" facing the idea of using music with children for the first time, you will be led step-by-step through the process of matching musical activities with the needs of particular children. If you're already an experienced music teacher, you'll find many new songs, activities, and variations on what you know-arranged so that you can find activities when you need them. If you're a classroom or other teacher looking to enliven the curriculum with music, you'll find all the historical and cultural background you need, cross-referenced to enjoyable activities that build social, physical, and cognitive skills. If you can't read music, don't worry! The melodies in this book are written out for the convenience of those who can read them. If you can't you have other options for learning the songs-it's the activities that are crucial. Just turn to the section "What if I can't ready music?" Whatever your experience, this sourcebook will give you the songs, activities, ideas, and hints that you need to make musical activities successful and pleasurable. This book contains 30 folksongs-high quality, lively songs from our folk traditions-with over 140 accompanying activities. The songs represent African-American, Anglo-American, and Hispanic-American folk cultures. Songs are also included from Bulgaria, England, Ghana, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, and Korea. Stressing the educational value of folk music, Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly called it the "musical mother tongue."--Page VII.