What We Do
The Band Books brings children’s literature alive. We aim to inspire our audiences to read (more) by bringing the words and images off the page using music.
We’re made up of musicians, fathers, music educators and authors. We use the text and images of children’s book classics — as well as some new classics — as a starting point to delve deeper into the music in language, the basics of rhythm, and the joy of reading.
We work with schools and teachers to develop activities that encourage writing and then showcase those efforts in song and images in live performance.
Come for the books. Stay for the rock.
Joshua David Stein
VOCALS
Joshua David Stein is a writer, a journalist and the editor-at-large at Fatherly. He is the author of the children’s books, “Can I Eat That?”; “What’s Cooking?” “Brick: Who Found Herself in Architecture,” “Can You Eat?” and “The Ball Book.” He is the co-author of “Notes from a Young Black CheF” with Kwame Onwuachi and the forthcoming book of essays, To Me He Was Just Dad. He lives In Brooklyn with his two sons.
Kyle Forester
BASS / PIANO / GUITAR
Kyle Forester is a New York-based musician and music educator and member of the bands Crystal Stilts, The Ladybug Transistor, and People. He also records and performs as a solo artist, and is the founder and musical director of Kyle's Karaoke Korner Orchestra.
Sam Kulik
BASS / GUITAR / TROMBONE
Sam Kulik's dedication to making creative music has brought him on stage with many of his idols such as David Byrne, Anthony Braxton, and Levon Helm, and into the spotlight of many important halls and galleries such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Louvre. Known as a trombonist, Sam also performs on the tuba, the guitar, and the bass, and his preternatural bass voice has twice gotten him recruited to sing in the chorus of Mahler's 2nd Symphony (which goes stupidly low). He also regularly performs on trash, that is, the repurposed materials used as instruments by the group Bash The Trash, an environmental arts organization that Sam joined in 2015.
Hampus Öhman-Frölund
DRUMS
Drummer (b. 1986) based in Brooklyn, NY and Sweden. Work includes live performances (Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Australia), recordings, and teaching in various genres such as pop, rock, jazz, free improv, klezmer and more...
Live at the Brooklyn Public Library
August 28, 2018
Swimmy
BY LEO LIONNI
Lionni’s 1964 Caldecott-award winning tale of a courageous mussel-black fish pairs who organizes his fellow fish pairs well with an emotive brooding but ultimately uplifting original composition.
Moon Man
BY TOMI UNGERER
Tomi Ungerer’s classic 1966 tale of a curious lunar visitor comes alive with threads of French chanson, heavy metal, a waltz and, of course, a bit of David Bowie.
Where The Wild Things Are?
BY MAURICE SENDAK
We perform this crowd-pleasing classic by Maurice Sendak to a rumba with a lively dance break for the Wild Rumpus.
What’s Cooking?
BY JOSHUA DAVID STEIN
Since I wrote this book to be read aloud, we’ve turned What’s Cooking?, my second children’s book, into a raucous call-and-response.
• Purchase “What’s Cooking?” here
Live from the Dunkin’ DOnuts Lounge
November 9, 2017
CAN I EAT THAT?
BY JOSHUA DAVID STEIN
With Adi Meyerson on double bass and Dan Dzula on drums, we performed my first book as a jazz tune during a guest appearance on the Fatherly podcast on iHeart Media. Since I am the host, we were my own musical guest.
WHAT’S COOKING?
BY JOSHUA DAVID STEIN
With Adi Meyerson on double bass and Dan Dzula on drums, we performed my first book as a jazz tune during a guest appearance on the Fatherly podcast on iHeart Media. Since I am the host, we were my own musical guest.
Book Us
The Band Books are available for school assemblies, library and bookstore readiings, baller librarian conferences, birthday parties and traditional rock shows. We are certified DOE vendors in New York City. If you’re interested in having The Band Books play for you, please use the form below.