Theme Songs
- Printer Friendly PDF Version of leadsheets (431 KB)
- Listen to Song (MP3, 6.7MB)
- Acceptable Use of Theme Song
- Instructions for downloading the song
Catch the Reading Express!
Click here to listen to the song (m3p sound file).
© Words and Music by Susan Elliott and Joe Romano
If you're seeking a break from summer's heat,
You won't have very far to look.
You can always find a cool retreat
In the pages of your favorite book.
On a stormy, wintry afternoon,
When it's too cold to go out to play,
Your imagination can be your cocoon,
And a story can save the day.
Catch the Reading Express!
Your passage to worlds near and far.
The ticket is free and adventure is high,
And it leaves from wherever you are.
Cross Through the Looking Glass and get lost in a maze,
Or zip Around the World in Eighty Days,
From a forest deep, Where the Wild Things Are,
Through A Wrinkle in Time to a distant star.
Oh, the people you'll meet and the places you'll see!
There are infinite possibilities.
Just imagine you'd like to be anywhere,
And the Reading Express can take you there.
Take a ride on the Reading Express!
There's no limit to what you can learn.
On the way, you will find that your curious mind
Is inspired with each page that you turn.
All aboard the Reading Express!
Your passage to worlds near and far,
The ticket is free and adventure is high,
And it leaves from wherever you are… you are!
Catch the Reading Express!
Catch the Reading Express!
Appropriate Use of the Theme Song, “Catch the Reading Express” by Susan Elliott and Joe Ramano
The theme song, "Catch the Reading Express," by Susan Elliott and Joe Romano, may be used by Texas librarians to promote the 2010 Texas Reading Club, Texas libraries, and reading. Librarians may play or perform the song on public library premises in the State of Texas, and in Texas schools and child care centers for the purpose of promoting the Texas Reading Club, and at any free outreach program. Texas librarians who play the audio recording or perform the song must provide credit to Susan Elliott and Joe Romano to all audiences.
The song may be used only for non-profit purposes. Libraries may not reproduce the sound file for distribution or sale. To use the song for broadcast purposes with PSA's, commercials, etc., permission must be obtained from the Performing Vendor. Please contact Susan Elliott at susan@moodindigojazz.com or (713) 660-0356 to request permission.
The song may be uploaded onto individual library websites, provided that the following statement is included.
"Words and Music by Susan Elliott and Joe Romano, ©2009. For more information on Susan Elliott and Joe Romano and their library/school programs, please contact Susan Elliott at (713) 660-0356, or visit their web site at http://www.moodindigojazz.com/.”
For more information about the Appropriate Use of the Theme Song, please contact Christine McNew, Youth Services Consultant, at christine.mcnew@tsl.texas.gov.
Instructions for downloading the song
- Right click on the link to "Listen to the Song".
- Highlight "Save Target As" (in Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As" (in Firefox).
- Select a folder to save the song in. It will save as an MP3 file.
- Click on the file and it will open and play.
Catch the Reading Express!
(Words by Sally Meyers. Sing to the tune “Dry Bones.”)
The music for “Dry Bones,” sometimes referred to as “Dem Bones,” is available from Kididdles, http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/d009.html. The lyrics can also be performed as a rap.
(Clap your hands before you say the last word in each line.)
This train, this train is (clap) MOVING!
The wheels, the wheels keep (clap) GROOVING!
The whistle blows a (clap) SIGNAL,
CATCH THE READING EXPRESS!
The pages of our books just keep on (clap) TURNING!
The wheels in our mind just keep on (clap) CHURNING!
Every page we read just keeps us (clap) LEARNING!
We read and great books is what we’re (clap) YEARNING!
We like books that are happy, sad and (clap) SCARY!
With monsters that have green eyes and are (clap) HAIRY!
We choose as many books as we can (clap) CARRY!
We check out lots of books at our (clap) LIBRARY!
CATCH THE READING EXPRESS!
Pages, Pages keep (clap) TURNING!
Our minds just keep on (clap) CHURNING!
With every page we’re (clap) LEARNING!
CATCH THE READING EXPRESS!
We check out lots of books at our (clap) LIBRARY!
We choose as many books as we can (clap) CARRY!
With monsters that have green eyes and are (clap) HAIRY!
We like books that are happy, sad and (clap) SCARY!
We read and great books is what we’re (clap) YEARNING!
Every page we read just keeps us (clap) LEARNING!
The wheels in our mind just keep on (clap) CHURNING!
The pages of our books just keep on (clap) TURNING!
CATCH THE READING EXPRESS!
This train, this train is (clap) MOVING!
The wheels, the wheels keep (clap) GROOVING!
The whistle blows a (clap) SIGNAL,
CATCH THE READING EXPRESS! Toot! Toot!