Why Do We Sing?

by Sam Tsui and Casey Breves, Sam Tsui (Illustrator), Casey Breves

Overview

From YouTube creators and married musicians Sam Tsui and Casey Breves comes an adventure around the world to celebrate the role of music throughout cultures after one girl asks, Why do we sing?

Lullabies, love songs, caroling, karaoke—

have you ever wondered . . . why do we sing?

Travel the world and learn about the reasons we sing—to have fun and share our stories; to pass the time and remember times past; and to come together and celebrate!

With gentle rhyming text, this musical adventure around the globe is the perfect introduction to the magical world of singing—from Bollywood to Broadway to your own backyard.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063305946
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/09/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.90(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sam Tsui and Casey Breves are married singers, composers, and content creators who live in Los Angeles with their daughter, Elaia, and cat, Alfie. They are graduates of Yale University, where they met singing in an a cappella group together. With original songs and covers that have been viewed and streamed over a billion times (and counting!), they’ve connected with fans around the world both online and on tour—and they are now thrilled to be sharing their love of music with you!

Sam Tsui and Casey Breves are married singers, composers, and content creators who live in Los Angeles with their daughter, Elaia, and cat, Alfie. They are graduates of Yale University, where they met singing in an a cappella group together. With original songs and covers that have been viewed and streamed over a billion times (and counting!), they’ve connected with fans around the world both online and on tour—and they are now thrilled to be sharing their love of music with you!

Sam Tsui and Casey Breves are married singers, composers, and content creators who live in Los Angeles with their daughter, Elaia, and cat, Alfie. They are graduates of Yale University, where they met singing in an a cappella group together. With original songs and covers that have been viewed and streamed over a billion times (and counting!), they’ve connected with fans around the world both online and on tour—and they are now thrilled to be sharing their love of music with you!

Editorial Reviews

"The authors pose the titular question and, in bouncy, lilting verse, provide brief, thought-provoking answers. It’s a simple enough query but a meaningful one. This spirited offering delivers good answers. Following a read-aloud, children should be strongly encouraged to give their vocal chops a hearty workout. We’re singing the praises of this joyful charmer." — Kirkus Reviews

"Rhyming text lists ways music can express and share emotions. Amplifying the text’s joyful tenor, Tsui’s illustrations feature smiling characters. Concluding with a call to action (“What will YOU sing?”), this sampling of visually suggested styles [is] inspirational." — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2024-02-03
YouTubers, singers/composers, and married couple Tsui and Breves urge readers to let their voices ring out.

The authors pose the titular question and, in bouncy, lilting verse, provide brief, thought-provoking answers. Tsui’s colorful, energetic digital illustrations depict two men (one appears white, the other presents Asian), a young Black child, and a cat—likely stand-ins for the authors and their family—in scenes that take them all over the world. It’s obvious that singing has a universal appeal; ability isn’t mentioned as a prerequisite. From the outset, Tsui and Breves make it clear that the titular we doesn’t necessarily refer only to themselves, but to a collective group—i.e., everyone everywhere—and that the word do can also mean should. Perhaps the book is a response to a question asked by an actual child (the authors’ or another); it’s a simple enough query but a meaningful one. This spirited offering delivers good answers. The book affirms that singing, whether performed individually or in a group, can convey feelings of love, happiness, strength, belonging, remembrance, prayer, fun, and much more. We can sing old and new songs indoors, outdoors, even in the shower. The authors conclude by declaring that not only is every song important, but they can’t wait to hear from YOU! Following a read-aloud, children should be strongly encouraged to give their vocal chops a hearty workout. Background characters are racially and culturally diverse.

We’re singing the praises of this joyful charmer. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews