Music for Kidlit
Tara collaborates with authors, illustrators, and publishing teams to create custom theme songs for children’s books. She’s worked with publishers including Random House Studio, Chronicle, Bloomsbury, Macmillan, Feiwel and Friends, Kids Can Press, and Spork on picture books and a YA novel. Tara writes and records original songs based on the book and creates lyric videos and reels for use in social media, author/illustrator visits, and communications to schools and libraries. Tara is currently booking custom song slots for 2024 (limited availability!) and 2025 releases.
Help Is On The Way! The Boo-Boos of Bluebell Elementary Theme Song
Based on the book by Chelsea Lin Wallace, illustrated by Alison Farrell (Chronicle Books)
KABOOM! A Volcano Erupts Theme Song
Based on the book written by Jessica Kulekjian, illustrated by Zoe Si (Kids Can Press)
Ode To A Bad Day Theme Song
Inspired by the picture book ODE TO A BAD DAY, written by Chelsea Lin Wallace, illustrated by Hyewon Yum (Chronicle Books)
A Home Named Walter: A Song Named Walter
Original theme song written by Tara Trudel, inspired by the picture book A HOME NAMED WALTER written by Chelsea Lin Wallace and illustrated by Ginnie Hsu. Video by Tara Trudel
Find Your Band: First Notes of Spring Theme Song
Original song written by Tara Trudel, inspired by the picture book FIRST NOTES OF SPRING, written by Jessica Kulekjian and illustrated by Jennifer Bower (Bloomsbury). Video edited by Tara Trudel.
Uni the Unicorn Theme Song
Original song written by Tara Trudel and Nick Gage, based on the New York Times bestselling children's book, "Uni the Unicorn" by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Random House Kids).
We Toot! Theme Song
Original theme song for We Toot!, a picture book by Ashley Wheelock and Arwen Evans, illustrated by Sandie Sonkie (House of Tomorrow)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Warrior Spirit
Tara worked as a CSO Teaching Artist at the University of Chicago Charter School Woodlawn Campus, where she worked with a group of students to create a new school song. At its premiere, the song was performed by students from UCW, accompanied by Tara on piano, musicians from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and special guest Yo-Yo Ma on cello. The following videos were created several months later, after Tara returned to UCW to coach a group of students to prepare them for a recording of “Warrior Spirit”.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - The Making of Warrior Spirit
A short documentary about the making of "Warrior Spirit"
written and performed by Tara Trudel