[Animal Song] Fun nursery rhymes popular with children
Picking out “animal songs” from popular children’s songs!
There are so many kinds of animals—dogs and cats that are popular as pets, and lions and pandas that are symbolic of zoos.
Did you know there are children’s songs that feature a variety of animals?
In this article, we’ll introduce many animal-themed songs, including the famous Inu no Omawari-san (The Dog Policeman) and Mori no Kuma-san (The Bear in the Forest).
There are also lots of finger-play songs you can use in childcare, so be sure to make good use of them.
If children become interested in animals, it might be nice to take a trip to the zoo!
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[Animal Songs] Fun Nursery Rhymes Popular with Children (41–50)
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.
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!
The Bear of the Forest
The lyrics for the first half, from verses 1 to 5, are all from “Forest Bear” (Mori no Kuma-san), which you can sing by echoing like a yodel! Even if you haven’t completely memorized the lyrics, encouraging children with “Try singing after the teacher!” lets them naturally memorize the words as they sing.
Plus, since it has a solid story from beginning to end, it’s fun to learn as a narrative—another great point of this song.
It might be good to have them practice singing in rounds while expanding their imagination by showing a picture book or a paper-theater (kamishibai).
Animal Clock
A charming song notable for its timekeeping rhythm and richly characterized depictions of animals.
The clock’s tones feel like the animals’ heartbeats, giving the piece a warm, inviting quality.
While it teaches about time, its playful melody sparks children’s imaginations.
The song has also been featured on the educational program “Okaasan to Issho,” capturing the hearts of many children.
Singing it with kids who are just learning to read the clock will naturally nurture their interest in time.
Hey, Kaba-kun!sakushi: nakagawa itsuko / sakkyoku: nakagawa hirotaka
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?