To continue celebrating the release of NYPL Sings!, NYPL’s first album of original children’s songs written and performed by NYPL staff, let's take another deep dive into the method behind the music, with our continuing interview series! Our last interview with Andrew Oppenheimer about the song, "Dealing With Feelings" is available here. 

NYPL Sings!provides parents and caregivers a natural opportunity to help children learn, grow, and become comfortable and confident in their environment. The song "Every Day is a New Day," a track on NYPL Sings!, celebrates the everyday routines of a child.

Early literacy experts know that routine is more than just a way for parents and caregivers to stay on top of the billion-and-one things to do when raising a child. Routines are also important for a child’s brain development and ability to learn about the world around them.  

Transitions, like going from bedtime to bathtime, or from circle time to craft time in a classroom, are crucial parts of a daily routine, and can be tricky for young children to understand. One of the ways we can help children understand transitions is by sharing plans early and often, allowing children to share their feelings, and providing lots of opportunities to try new things! Singing along to "Every Day is a New Day" with your little one is a wonderful way to build transitions, routine, and new activities into your child’s life. 

We spoke with Abilene Castillo, who co-wrote "Every Day is a New Day" with the album's executive producer, Emily Elizabeth Lazio, Leah Labrecque (previously interviewed here), and Chris Ruiz. Castillo also sings the majority of the song's vocals.

What came first with this "Every Day is a New Day," the tune and the melody, or the lyrics? What was the writing process like?

My first thought of the song was the lyrics. Initially, when I spoke with Emily, I wanted it to be about the days of the week. The writing process was challenging but the final result came out pretty good. (Note: Abilene is being modest! The final result is fantastic!)

This song essentially reads like a week in the life of a child. Were you inspired by real-life children you know?

I was inspired by Eric Carle's book Today is Monday. I enjoy singing this book in storytime, and the text gave me the inspiration for the song. (Find a copy of Today is Monday at your local branch.)

This song really has a story arc, with a child going from learning and watching grown-ups to being confident in trying new things. Did you know how you wanted this to go when you started writing or did it turn into a story as you went along?

As we (Emily and I) went along in the writing process, the song became a story of a child experiencing new things throughout their day.

Listen to "Every Day is a New Day" and all the other tracks on the NYPL Sings! album!