Vance Bollinger - Puff the Magic Dragon

By Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton

Illustrated by Eric Puybaret

Singing this growing up with my parents was one of my first musical memories, and for some reason, those experiences have always stuck with me.  Because its melody is in a narrow enough range, about a major sixth, it would accommodate children’s singing voices.  I like the recording on the play along too, because it’s high enough to lead children to sing in their head voices, rather than belting out lower tones, which can be really damaging for developing voices in young people.

Along with the music and recording, the illustrations are greatly done.  I think they would really draw in an elementary-aged student in a music class setting.  Finally, I think this book is relevant due to the fact that it’s a musical “coming-of-age” story about a boy who outgrows his pet.  This is finding of one’s self is something that everyone has to go to, so it’s a valuable thing to sing about and discuss in the classroom.