Learning to read standard notation can be slow going at first, but it's worth it.
After re-learning to read music in standard notation---I hadn't read music since high school band class in the late 80s---I gained a better understanding of how melody and harmony (that's singing and chords, respectively) work together. I also gained access to an amazing amount of terrific music (folk song collections, sheet music, old uke method books, old collections of Hawaiian music, etc.) that has greatly enriched my life.
I started out with Ukulele Song Book In Notation and Tablature by Ron Middlebrook. This collection of folk, country, Hawaiian, and popular music has tablature below standard notation for every melody, perfect for learn which note is which on the staff. Another great resource is James Hill and J. Chalmers Doane's Ukulele in the Classroom series.
Whatever you do, have fun.