Years back, metro Detroit writer and teacher Julie Stitt wrote a story about her kids who loved playing hide-and-seek. What was originally a thoughtful gift to her children is now a picture book, emblematic of Stitt’s devotion to her family and dedication to educating young children.
Now with her own business, Stitt has published children’s books and is an educational content creator on YouTube. Her two published books, Hide and Seek and Alphabet Rhymes for Halloween Times, pair with songs featured on Stitt’s YouTube channel, Julie Rae’s Songs for Growing.
With other books on their way, and YouTube videos regularly uploaded to her channel, Stitt continues to promote youth education through reading and song.
“Having kids act, dance or sing to the songs or stories, I think is very valuable for their brains,” Stitt says. “On my YouTube channel, I try to write songs that teach lessons about how they interact with each other, as well as encouraging learning new things.”
A lifetime of dedication to education
Stitt’s love for making elementary education fun traces back to her time as a babysitter and camp counselor during her youth in North Carolina. From there, she continued to Michigan, where she supervised parks and recreation programs for women and and girls, which included dance and art classes before focusing in on elementary education.
Once she became a teacher, Stitt acted as a guiding light for both the youth she instructed and for her fellow teachers. From workshops to the classroom, she championed the value of combining musical entertainment and education.
Today, Stitt remains a source of children’s education with her own YouTube channel — and a free one at that.
“I really want teachers to use the channel as a resource for teaching lessons about how to interact with other people in healthy ways,” Stitt says. “Sharing music is a wonderful way for us to experience things together.”
Where books and songs come together
On Stitt’s YouTube channel, you can find songs like “The Get-Along Song” and “Hungries in my Tummy,” along with musical read-alongs of her two picture books. Stitt highlights the value of lesson-lined songs for younger kids and encourages teachers to use them as a brain break before explaining the importance of life skills.
“To me, songs are my favorite way of creating habits I’ve got songs like, ‘Cooperation,’ ‘Making Friends’ and ‘Taking Care of Me,’” Stitt says. “I’m trying to do topics that are useful to kids.”
Music and song have been an integral part of Stitt’s life since she can remember. “My parents taught us harmony when we were knee high to a grasshopper,” says Stitt. This musical upbringing explains how naturally her children’s songs come to her.
“I’ll take a song from a musical and ‘make brush your teeth’ words,” Stitt says about her creative process. “I kind of do that in my life, just naturally.”
Alphabet Rhymes for Halloween Times: A playful twist on learning the ABCs
Julie Stitt’s Alphabet Rhymes for Halloween Times transforms spooky fun into an educational adventure.
Each page pairs whimsical rhymes with festive Halloween imagery — from “A is for apples at Halloween time, when they’re covered with carmel” to “Z is for zombies, to give you a fright.”
The book’s lighthearted tone helps children build early literacy skills while celebrating the season’s magic. Stitt’s own grandchildren make cameo appearances in costume, giving the story an extra touch of family warmth.
On her YouTube channel, “Julie Rae’s Songs for Growing,” Stitt brings the rhymes to life through catchy, classroom-friendly sing-alongs that encourage rhythm, language and laughter.
Try this with your kids or class: Pair the book with Julie’s musical videos for an interactive alphabet activity — sing, move and rhyme your way through Halloween fun.
Hide and Seek: A heartfelt story inspired by family playtime
Originally written as a gift for Stitt’s children, Hide and Seek captures the timeless joy of a favorite childhood game. The story follows a playful kid as she sneaks, giggles and searches — blending rhythm and repetition to engage early readers.
Illustrated by Stitt’s artist sister, Cynthia Goodman Brantley, the book is as much a family project as it is a teaching tool. Its simple language and musical cadence make it ideal for storytime, circle time or reading aloud in early learning settings.
The book also has a companion song on “Julie Rae’s Songs for Growing,” where Stitt turns her written words into music, helping kids connect reading with listening and movement.
Try this with your kids or class: Use the Hide and Seek read-along video to practice turn-taking, listening and following directions — perfect for preschool or kindergarten classrooms.
Both Stitt’s picture books and YouTube channel are examples of how dedication and family support can turn a lifelong passion into an impactful project. Accessible to anyone, “Julie Rae’s Songs for Growing” have the potential to spread that impact to educators everywhere.
This content is sponsored by Julie Stitt and AA Quality Works LLC. You can buy her books, Hide and Seek and Alphabet Rhymes for Halloween Times, and pair them with songs on her YouTube channel, Julie Rae’s Songs for Growing.
