Nursery rhymes perfect for April: A collection of classic spring songs that capture the season

The Little Train from the Land of FlowersSakushi: Kobayashi Junichi / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao

The Little Train from the Land of Flowers

This lively and energetic piece is an intriguing song titled “Hana no Okuni no Kisha Poppo” (The Choo-Choo Train of the Flower Country).

It has quite a sophisticated musicality, and although it’s aimed at children, I think adults can enjoy it too.

It’s a song parents and children can sing and dance to together.

You can also enjoy the interesting instrumental sounds and the sense of rhythm!

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Murakami Shinpei

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Hey, Kaba-kun!sakushi: nakagawa itsuko / sakkyoku: nakagawa hirotaka

Hey, Mr. Hippo | Children's Song [Ponkikki Song]

With its calm and gentle atmosphere, this song was released in April 2007 as a picture book with a CD, and together with illustrations by Hiroshi Abe, a former zookeeper at Asahiyama Zoo, it became a tune rooted in children’s daily lives.

Created by Hirotaka Nakagawa and Itsuko Nakagawa, the work also encourages children’s curiosity about animals through its focus on hippos.

It was featured on the TV program Hirake! Ponkikki and has long been loved by many children.

Its relaxed tempo and melody perfectly match the laid-back image of hippos, making it great for singing along with your child.

Why not hum it happily on a spring field trip or during a visit to the zoo?

Tonton FriendsSakushi: Satou Hachirou／Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao

COCX 34142 18. Ton-ton Friends

The lyrics are by Hachirō Satō and the music by Yoshinao Nakada; it’s a children’s song that has been sung for many years.

With plenty of humor, it celebrates the strength of friendship among companions.

It features nine children labeled with the numbers 1 through 9, and their names are in an old-fashioned style.

It’s also fun to make a parody by substituting your classmates’ names.

Bamboo shoots are sprouting.warabeuta

[KBS Children's Songs] The Bamboo Shoot Sprouted

Through a traditional Japanese play song that evokes the arrival of spring, it gently wraps children’s hearts in warmth.

The key is choreography that engages the whole body—pressing both hands together above the head to show a sprout pushing up from the ground, or spreading both arms wide to mimic a flower in bloom.

The way it’s played varies slightly by region and has been passed down from parents to children.

It can be enjoyed not only as a hand game but also as a rock–paper–scissors game, making it popular among children in nursery schools and kindergartens.

Keeping rhythm while moving their hands and bodies, children naturally break into smiles.

This piece is a friendly song that eases the worries of children who feel anxious in new environments.

It is truly a perfect number for fostering children’s healthy growth and emotional richness.

What is your name?Indoneshia min’yō

Your Name (a hand-play song for two people)

This is a hand-play song rooted in a traditional Indonesian folk tune, widely beloved in early childhood education settings.

It helps children become familiar with their own names and those of their friends, fostering communication while they enjoy learning names.

The melody is bright and approachable, designed so children can sing along happily.

It is often sung at the start of activities or during morning gatherings and is used as a hand-play song in preschool environments.

The piece is included mainly in piano collections for educators, such as “Songs for Children: Easy Piano Accompaniment You Can Play—Perfect for Nursery Schools and Kindergartens.” Recommended for childcare settings, it has a warm atmosphere that eases anxiety in new environments and helps children build relationships with friends.

Japanese bush warblerSakushi: Hayashi Ryūha / Sakkyoku: Inoue Takeshi

Uguisu (Japanese bush warbler) - Children's Song ♪ Spring Song ♪ With Dance Moves ♪

This children’s song weaves the beautiful chirping of the bush warbler, which heralds the arrival of spring, into a gentle melody and story.

Created by Yanagiha Hayashi and Takeshi Inoue, it tenderly portrays the bird perched on a plum branch announcing spring, as well as its descent from snow-laden mountains to the village, in a way that resonates with children.

Its calm triple meter and phrases that imitate the warbler’s call are distinctive, offering a cheerful, singable melody line that evokes the warmth of spring.

Beloved in schools and homes alike, it has also been covered by artists such as Saori Yuki and Shoko Yasuda.

It’s a perfect song to enjoy singing with children during spring, a season rich with opportunities to connect with nature.

Horsetail shoots are poking up.

Nursery rhyme: Tsukushi wa tsun-tsun

A masterpiece of children’s song that lets you feel the breath of nature.

Within its simple wordplay, it deftly weaves in the moment when plants sprout, offering the delight of a stroll through spring fields and hills.

More than lofty musical artistry, it’s the easy singability that has kept it beloved for many years.

It’s also enjoyed with hand motions and is widely used in early childhood education settings.

This work beautifully expresses the Japanese sense of the seasons and a heartfelt reverence for nature, making it enjoyable across generations, from children to adults.

Why not sing it together with family and friends, feeling the arrival of a nature-rich spring?