Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs about animals
We’ve put together a collection of children’s songs that almost everyone has heard at least once, like “Elephant,” “The Policeman Dog,” and “Aye-Aye.” Because they’re made for little kids, looking at the lyrics again really shows their pleasing sound, easy-to-follow stories, and skillful word choices.
Famous nursery rhymes that have been sung for generations are perfect for parents and children to sing together.
This time, we’ve also selected many songs that you can do hand motions with, so be sure to enjoy singing along together!
- [Animal Song] Fun nursery rhymes popular with children
- Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs about animals
- December children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes: fun winter hand-play songs
- [Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes collection
- [Hand Play] Popular with kids! A collection of trendy hand-play songs and nostalgic traditional children’s songs
- [Sky-Themed Nursery Rhymes and Songs] Children’s Songs Loved Across Generations
- [Warabe-uta] Beloved Classic Songs Passed Down Through Generations
- Japanese counting songs: nostalgic temari (handball) songs and children’s folk songs
- Get pumped with kids’ favorite songs! A memorable collection of classics that will make you want to sing along
- [Children's Songs] Cute songs recommended for childcare. List of popular nursery rhymes.
- [Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
- [Year of the Rat] Songs about mice. Masterpieces related to rats
- Nursery rhymes to sing to your baby! Recommended songs enjoyable from 0 months
Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes about animals (51–60)
Piglet-raccoon dog-fox-catsakushi sakkyoku/yamamoto naozumi
An adorable children’s song where four familiar animals are linked together in a word-chain (shiritori).
It’s also popular as a hand-play song.
Written and composed by Naosumi Yamamoto, it was broadcast on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” and has continued to be loved by many children.
In August 1999, a version by Masako Saito and the Suginami Children’s Choir was released, and various artists have covered it since.
Its simple, easy-to-remember melody and the animals’ distinctive sounds make it perfect for hand-play time in kindergartens and preschools!
Mountain Musicianssakushi: mizuta shisen / sakkyoku: doitsu min’yō
The song “Mountain Musicians” is delightful for its depictions of various animals playing instruments.
Even if you’ve never seen those instruments in real life, you can really sense how much the animals enjoy performing.
When singing with children, try miming playing the violin or blowing the flute.
The lyrics are a bit long for two-year-olds, so it’s best to take your time and help them learn the words little by little.
It’s also fun to fully get into character as each animal and make it a pretend play activity!
A Rainy Day on the Ranch
Set on a rainy day at a farm, this friendly song portrays the animals having fun.
Cows, sheep, and chickens play in the rain and stroll under umbrellas, all depicted with a bright and charming melody.
Released in September 2024 as an original song on the YouTube channel “LiaChaCha,” this piece is perfect for June, when indoor play increases during the rainy season, and is a tune kids can sing and enjoy together.
It’s sure to blow away those rainy-day blues.
carp in a pond
This is a familiar children’s song about feeding koi swimming in a pond.
It’s interesting how the lyrics use rhyme.
The hornwort that appears in the first verse is a type of aquatic plant found in many places across Japan and is also known as water milfoil.
Little Sumo Bear
The little sumo bear and the bear cub are having a sumo match.
It looks like they’re competing to see who’s stronger.
Don’t you think children will want to try sumo themselves after hearing this song? It’s a gentle nursery rhyme that’s suitable even for babies.
A tadpole is the child of a frog.
It’s a children’s song based on the American folk tune “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Doesn’t the melody sound familiar? In fact, Yodobashi Camera’s commercial jingle uses the same melody.
There are also several other parody songs that use this tune.
Come, firefly
The children’s song “Hotaru Koi,” with its memorable calls that evoke the gentle glow of fireflies, allows entrances at any timing—one beat late, half a measure late, a full measure late, and so on—so you can enjoy the many ways the lyrics overlap.
However, the tricky part of this round is that when the “ho, ho” calls overlap, it’s easy to lose track of your own timing.
Start by entering at a point where the calls don’t overlap, and as you get used to it, gradually bring your entrance closer.
With a bit of creativity, have fun challenging yourself with the round.
bug-catching game
Even if you feel like you could never touch bugs now, many people probably enjoyed catching them as a matter of course when they were kids.
This song, “Mushitori Asobi,” is a recommended summer tune that lets children—and adults, too—enjoy bug-catching within the song and recapture a childlike spirit.
It was used on the popular TV program “Okaasan to Issho,” but since it’s an older song, you might try looking for the CD at a rental shop.
Only three bugs appear—dragonflies, butterflies, and a praying mantis—so it’s easy to remember, and as long as you can mimic gestures like searching for bugs and react when you spot and catch them, you can have fun dancing to it!
Dona Dona
This song, which sings about a calf being sold from the ranch to the market, is one many people likely sang in school music classes.
Its melancholy melody is unforgettable.
Originally a song from Jewish culture, it was sung in Japan by The Peanuts in 1965, and a version sung by Yoko Kishi was broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1966.
It can be called a timeless classic that transcends generations.
Panda, rabbit, koala
This is a song featuring animals that children love.
The lyrics are very simple, and it’s also popular as a hand-play song where you use your hands to show the characteristics of the animals mentioned in the title.
Once you’ve learned the tune, try speeding up the rhythm and have fun with it!