♪ Clap, clap, clap like crazy ♪ - [Narrator] Music has a power that goes beyond words.

The pleasure of sharing music builds connections between parents and child as sounds and rhythms surround the child in a world of sensations and feelings.

Music offers a joyful and rewarding learning experience.

Music gives children an easy to enter window into practicing language and deciphering meaning through song, dance, or playing instruments.

♪ Sleep by sleepy sound ♪ ♪ Sleep ♪ Experiencing and playing with sounds, expressions, and gestures helps children learn about language.

The additional step of connecting music with print supports children's early understanding that print carries meaning.

Families can make this connection by reading and singing from books that are based on song lyrics.

Music education nurtures a child's imagination and creativity.

The connection between music and literacy development builds a strong foundation for joyful learning, ♪ Aye, aye, apples and bananas ♪ - [Announcer] Sponsored by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, helping build literacy skills and encouraging parents and children to spend 20 minutes a day reading together.