National Recording Registry: Children's

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. - James Baldwin

Children's culture has been around a long time, but it is very hard to chronicle, as much of the most famous of it - skipping-rope rhymes and superstitions and such - emerged anonymously on playgrounds without a publication date. Children's literature, and children's television, may be easier to put into histories, but the National Recording Registry takes a motley selection of children's music and a few non-musical recordings that don't describe the evolution of any genre.

EntryTrackComposer(s)Performer(s) DurationRecorded (Compiled)InductedGenre 🎧
otherSt. Louis tinfoil recording"Mary Had a Little Lamb / Old Mother Hubbard" and moreTraditionalThomas Edison1 min, 18 sec 18782020Children's❌✅
otherEdison Talking Doll cylinder“”unknown2 min, 45 sec 18882011Children's❌✅
albumBubble Book (the first Bubble Book)“Tom the Piper's Son”traditionalRalph Mayhew0 min, 30 sec 19172003Children's❌❌
albumBubble Book (the first Bubble Book)“Mary Had a Little Lamb”Sarah Josepha HaleRalph Mayhew0 min, 30 sec 19172003Children's❌❌
albumBubble Book (the first Bubble Book)“Jack and Jill”traditionalRalph Mayhew0 min, 30 sec 19172003Children's❌❌
albumPeter and the Wolf“My Dear Children”Sergei ProkofievSerge Koussevitzky, Richard Hale, et al.4 min, 52 sec 19392004Children's❌✅
albumPeter and the Wolf“Soon a Duck”Sergei ProkofievSerge Koussevitzky, Richard Hale, et al.3 min, 57 sec 19392004Children's❌✅
albumPeter and the Wolf“All At Once Grandpa”Sergei ProkofievSerge Koussevitzky, Richard Hale, et al.4 min, 20 sec 19392004Children's❌✅
albumPeter and the Wolf“And Now This Is”Sergei ProkofievSerge Koussevitzky, Richard Hale, et al.4 min, 11 sec 19392004Children's❌✅
albumPeter and the Wolf“Meanwhile Peter Had”Sergei ProkofievSerge Koussevitzky, Richard Hale, et al.4 min, 0 sec 19392004Children's❌✅
albumPeter and the Wolf“And There They Go”Sergei ProkofievSerge Koussevitzky, Richard Hale, et al.3 min, 47 sec 19392004Children's❌✅
single“Tubby the Tuba”“Tubby the Tuba”George Kleinsinger, Paul TrippDanny Kaye10 min, 0 sec 19462005Children's✅✅
single“The Churkendoose”“The Churkendoose”Ben Ross BerenbergRay Bolger9 min, 19 sec 19472008Children's❌✅
albumThe Little Engine That Could“The Little Engine That Could”traditionalPaul Wing12 min, 40 sec 19492009Children's✅✅
albumThe Little Engine That Could“Winnie the Pooh and the Heffalump”A. A. MilneJames Stewart5 min, 45 sec 19492009Children's✅✅
albumThe Little Engine That Could“Kanga and Baby Roo”A. A. MilneJames Stewart6 min, 22 sec 19492009Children's✅✅
albumThe Little Engine That Could“Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore”A. A. MilneJames Stewart6 min, 18 sec 19492009Children's✅✅
albumThe Little Engine That Could“Winnie the Pooh and Tigger”A. A. MilneJames Stewart7 min, 12 sec 19492009Children's✅✅
single“It's a Small World”“It's a Small World”Richard B. and Robert M. ShermanThe Disneyland Boys' Choir3 min, 2 sec 19642022Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“You'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song”Ella JenkinsElla Jenkins4 min, 20 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“Shabot Shalom”traditionalElla Jenkins0 min, 46 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“Cadima”traditionalElla Jenkins1 min, 37 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“This Train”traditionalElla Jenkins3 min, 2 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“Did You Feed My Cow?”traditionalElla Jenkins3 min, 12 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“Miss Mary Mack”traditionalElla Jenkins1 min, 56 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“May-Ree Mack”Ella Jenkins, TraditionalElla Jenkins2 min, 11 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“You'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song (Review)”Ella JenkinsElla Jenkins2 min, 41 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“Dulce, Dulce”Ella JenkinsElla Jenkins1 min, 16 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“May-Ree Mack (Review)”traditionalElla Jenkins2 min, 18 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“Maori Indian Battle Chant”traditionalElla Jenkins0 min, 31 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“Did You Feed My Cow? (Review)”traditionalElla Jenkins2 min, 33 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“I Saw”Ella JenkinsElla Jenkins2 min, 20 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“Sifting in the Sand”traditionalElla Jenkins1 min, 10 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumYou'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song“Guide Me”traditionalElla Jenkins3 min, 2 sec 19662007Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“Sesame Street Theme”Bruce Hart, Joe Raposo, Jon StoneSesame Street1 min, 48 sec 1969 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“The People in Your Neighborhood”Jon MossBob and the Anything People, Bob McGrath, Sesame Street2 min, 3 sec 1969 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“ABC-Def-Ghi”Joe Raposo, Jon StoneBig Bird, Carroll Spinney, Sesame Street1 min, 47 sec 1970 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“Rubber Duckie”Jeffrey MossErnie, Jim Henson, Sesame Street2 min, 25 sec 1970 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“Bein' Green”Joe RaposoKermit the Frog, Jim Henson, Sesame Street2 min, 21 sec 1970 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“I Love Trash”Jeffrey MossOscar the Grouch, Carroll Spinney, Sesame Street2 min, 52 sec 1970 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“'C' is for Cookie”Joe RaposoCookie Monster, Frank Oz, Sesame Street1 min, 29 sec 1971 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“Sing”Joe RaposoSesame Street3 min, 5 sec 1971 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“What Do I Do When I'm Alone?”Jon MossGrover, Frank Oz, Sesame Street2 min, 30 sec 1971 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“Little Things”Joe RaposoFran Brill, Prairie Dawn, Sesame Street1 min, 37 sec 1972 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Free to Be … You and Me”Bruce Hart, Stephen LawrenceMarlo Thomas, the New Seekers3 min, 15 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Boy Meets Girl”Carl Reiner, Peter StoneMarlo Thomas, Mel Brooks2 min, 30 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“When We Grow Up”Stephen Lawrence, Shelley MillerDiana Ross, Marlo Thomas2 min, 6 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Don't Dress Your Cat in an Apron”Dan GreenburgBilly DeWolfe, Marlo Thomas0 min, 33 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Parents Are People”Carol HallHarry Belafonte, Marlo Thomas3 min, 15 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Housework”Sheldon Harnick, Robert PalmerCarol Channing, Marlo Thomas2 min, 58 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Helping”Shel SilversteinTom Smothers, Marlo Thomas0 min, 48 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Ladies First”Shane Harbin Farber, Mark James, Simone Antoinette Johnson, Dana Owens, Anthony PeaksMarlo Thomas3 min, 30 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Dudley Pippin and the Principal”Phil RessnerBilly DeWolfe, Marlo Thomas, Bob Morse2 min, 5 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“It's All Right to Cry”Carol HallBilly DeWolfe, Marlo Thomas2 min, 20 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Sisters and Brothers”Bruce Hart, Stephen LawrenceSisters and Brothers, Marlo Thomas2 min, 33 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“My Dog Is a Plumber”Dan GreenburgDick Cavett, Marlo Thomas0 min, 30 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“William's Doll”Sheldon Harnick, Mary RodgersAlan Alda, Marlo Thomas3 min, 30 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Atalanta”Betty MilesAlan Alda, Marlo Thomas7 min, 13 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Grandma”Carole HartDiana Sands, Marlo Thomas2 min, 45 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Girl Land”Bruce Hart, Mary RodgersJack Cassidy, Shirley Jones, Marlo Thomas2 min, 40 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Dudley Pippin and His No-Friend”Phil RessnerBob Morse, Marlo Thomas1 min, 28 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Glad to Have a Friend Like You”Carol HallMarlo Thomas2 min, 15 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumFree to Be...You and Me“Free to Be … You and Me (Reprise)”Bruce Hart, Stephen LawrenceMarlo Thomas0 min, 33 sec 19722020Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“Doin' the Pigeon”Tony GeissBert, Frank Oz, Sesame Street2 min, 12 sec 1973 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“Schoolhouse Rocky”Bob DoroughBob Dorough and Friends0 min, 13 sec 1973 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“Three Is a Magic Number”Bob DoroughBob Dorough / Schoolhouse Rock3 min, 15 sec 1973 (1996)2018Children's✅✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“My Hero, Zero”Bob DoroughBob Dorough / Schoolhouse Rock3 min, 16 sec 1973 (1996)2018Children's✅✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“Figure Eight”Bob DoroughBlossom Dearie / Schoolhouse Rock3 min, 1 sec 1973 (1996)2018Children's✅✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“Conjunction Junction”Bob DoroughTerry Morel / Schoolhouse Rock / Jack Sheldon2 min, 59 sec 1973 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“Won't You Be My Neighbor?”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa1 min, 30 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“It's You I Like”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa2 min, 31 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“Sometimes People Are Good”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa2 min, 20 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“Let's Be Together Today”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa2 min, 17 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“I'm Taking Care of You”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa1 min, 13 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“Look and Listen”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa4 min, 14 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“Please Don't Think It's Funny”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa4 min, 20 sec 19732019Children's❌✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“You Are Special”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa1 min, 8 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“I Did Too”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa0 min, 0 sec 19732019Children's❌✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“Everybody's Fancy”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa2 min, 42 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“I Like to Take My Time”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa2 min, 12 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“When a Baby Comes”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa0 min, 0 sec 19732019Children's❌✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“Be Brave”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa0 min, 0 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“Wishes Don't Make Things Come True”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa1 min, 44 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“What Do You Do”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa0 min, 0 sec 19732019Children's❌✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“You're Growing”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa2 min, 57 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“I'm Proud of You”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa1 min, 4 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“I Like to Be Told”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa1 min, 52 sec 19732019Children's❌✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“The Clown In Me”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa2 min, 16 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“Just for Once”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa2 min, 8 sec 19732019Children's❌✅
albumMister Rogers Sings: 21 Favorite Songs from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”“It's Such a Good Feeling”Fred RogersFred Rogers, Johnny Costa1 min, 2 sec 19732019Children's✅✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“Unpack Your Adjectives”George NewallBlossom Dearie / Schoolhouse Rock3 min, 0 sec 1974 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“Interjections!”Lynn AhrensEssra Mohawk / Schoolhouse Rock3 min, 1 sec 1974 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“No More Kings”Lynn AhrensLynn Ahrens / Schoolhouse Rock3 min, 0 sec 1975 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“The Preamble”Lynn AhrensLynn Ahrens / Schoolhouse Rock2 min, 59 sec 1975 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“I'm Just a Bill”Dave FrishbergSchoolhouse Rock / Jack Sheldon2 min, 59 sec 1976 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“I Don't Want to Live on the Moon”Jeffrey MossErnie, Jim Henson, Sesame Street2 min, 24 sec 1978 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“Interplanet Janet”Lynn AhrensLynn Ahrens / Schoolhouse Rock3 min, 0 sec 1978 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“The Body Machine”Lynn AhrensBob Dorough / Schoolhouse Rock / Jack Sheldon2 min, 59 sec 1979 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“Telegraph Line”Lynn AhrensJaime Aff / Christine Langner / Schoolhouse Rock2 min, 59 sec 1979 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“Fuzzy and Blue (and Orange)”Stephen LawrenceFrazzle, Grover, Cookie Monster, Herry Monster, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, Sesame Street2 min, 33 sec 1981 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“One Fine Face”Jon MossElmo, Clifford Kevin Clash, Ernie, Jim Henson, Sesame Street2 min, 10 sec 1985 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“Put Down the Duckie”Christopher Cerf, Norman StilesHoots the Owl, Clifford Kevin Clash, Ernie, Jim Henson, Sesame Street2 min, 15 sec 1986 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“Elmo's Song”Tony GeissBig Bird, Carroll Spinney, Elmo, Marty Robinson, Snuffleupagus, Clifford Kevin Clash, Sesame Street2 min, 29 sec 1989 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“The Monster in the Mirror”Christopher Cerf, Norman StilesGrover, Frank Oz, Sesame Street2 min, 46 sec 1989 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“Happy Tappin' with Elmo”Christopher CerfElmo, Clifford Kevin Clash, Sesame Street1 min, 31 sec 1990 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“Lambaba!”Tony GeissThe Count, The Singing, Dancing Lambs, Jerry Nelson, Sesame Street2 min, 36 sec 1990 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumSeasame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites“We Are All Earthlings”Jon MossThe Anything Muppet Animals, Jerry Nelson, Sesame Street2 min, 27 sec 1990 (1995)2014Children's✅✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“Walkin' on Wall Street”Dave FrishbergDave Frishberg / Schoolhouse Rock3 min, 1 sec 1996 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“This for That”Bob DoroughBob Dorough / Schoolhouse Rock3 min, 2 sec 1996 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“Tyrannasaurus Debt”Robert KalibanBob Dorough / Robert Kaliban / Schoolhouse Rock3 min, 2 sec 1996 (1996)2018Children's❌✅
albumThe Best of Schoolhouse Rock“The Check's in the Mail”Luther RixLuther Rix / Schoolhouse Rock3 min, 0 sec 1996 (1996)2018Children's❌✅