Don't Worry, Be Happy: Picture Book

How can anyone with even a few years of teaching under his/her musical belt forget Bobby McFerrin's '80s hit, "Don't Worry, Be Happy"? Match up an edited version of his lyrics with the art of modern master Alexander Calder (1898-1976), and you have a beautiful picture book. (Welcome Books pub.)

If you're not up to playing the full McFerrin recording for your students, just add the basic melodic themes to the lyrics, and the class can help sing the whole thing. If you've been looking for a way to address National Music Standard 8: Students understand relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts, this might work for you. Other standards could also be addressed in singing, adding instruments, and discussing both the song and Calder's art.

I received this delightful book as a gift from a list friend, but it has a 2001 copyright, so I'm sure it's available from various sources.