Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Juvenile Nonfiction    4. Nursery rhymes    5. Poetry - Mother Goose    6. Poetry - Nursery Rhymes   

Reviews (5)

What if Mother Goose lived in the ghetto?
I first heard Eve Merriam's "The Inner City Mother Goose" in 1971, when it was part of the Oral Interpretation performed by Richard Quezada that won the New Mexico State Speech contest.Rick had a wonderful deep voice, the sort that radio DJs would die for, and he made these poems really come alive.Today people get all excited by politically correct fairy tales, but for our generation it was Merriam turning nursery rhymes on their head to reflect the realities of the urban ghetto that were a sign of the times.These are not parodies, but telling satires that take beloved nursery rhymes as their point of departure.Most of the time her starting points are perfectly clear, as with "Simple Simon, "Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick," and "If."Besides, not all of her reference points are nursery rhymes, because you will also see the echoes of Christmas carols (e.g., "Twelve Rooftops Leaping").Other poems simply are in the general style of children's rhymes, albeit with more serious intent (but then remember, "Ring Around the Rosie" was about the Black Death). Inner City Mother Goose
I enjoyed and recommend this book because Merriam writes from the point of veiw of a person living in the situation, not of one looking down on it. She portrayed things the way they were then, and sadly, the way they are now.

Food for Thought
Dubbed a "powder keg" by LIBRARY JOURNAL when it was first published in 1969, THE INNER CITY MOTHER GOOSE is probably Eve Merriam's most influential, provocative, and controversial book. It was the source of two musical plays, INNER CITY, which opened on Broadway in 1971, and STREET DREAMS, which opened in 1982, the same year a new edition of the book was released. A third edition, with an introduction by poet Nikki Giovanni, was published in 1996.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Children's poetry, American    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. City and town life    6. Inner cities    7. Juvenile poetry    8. Mother Goose    9. Parodies, imitations, etc    10. Poetry - Mother Goose    11. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Collections by a Single Author   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Concepts - General    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Poetry - Mother Goose    6. Poetry - Nursery Rhymes    7. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / General    8. Young Children's, Early Learning & Special Book Types   

Editorial Review

From "Humpty Dumpty" to "Old Mother Hubbard" to "HeyDiddle, Diddle," Mother Goose rhymes have tickled our fancy,generation after generation. It's hard to imagine a world withoutthese classics of childhood. This big, sturdy board book boasts 15favorites, whimsically and colorfully illustrated by StevenHaskamp to capture the magic of the cow jumping over the moon andthe mouse running up the clock. Loosely grouped in clusters(there's a page with nighttime rhymes, and another with sheeppoems), the verses are printed in a fun, fancy typeface, whichnevertheless may be slightly difficult for younger readers todecipher. Embedded in the cover of the book is an audiocassettewith a musical adaptation of each rhyme composed and performed bypopular singer-songwriter Carly Simon.The tunes are lovely,if faintly dark. Simon's deep, resonating voice has an odd traceof menace in spite of the fantastic silliness of the well-lovedrhymes. Each one has a different style, as interpreted by Simonand her accompanist Teese Gohl. Especially well done is "HickoryDickory Dock," in which the rhythm of the ticking clock pulsesthroughout the ditty. (Baby to preschool) Read more

Reviews (5)

Needs to be made available with a compact disc
Unlike a previous scathing review I think this book with music is perfect for the age of the child in which it is intended. Little minds have a limited attention span. I have purchased numerous copies for friends and relatives who have or are having children and it goes over big everytime. The only thing preventing me from granting this book 5 stars is that it is only avaliable with a cassette! How antiquated for being released in 2000. This book in in desperate need of being updated with a compact disc. Other than that, it is perfect for the little ones.

What a waste!
Not only is the accompanying tape only about 10 min in total length, but there are only about 10 rhymes in the whole book! A wonderful book!
It is a whimsical and enchanting book!My 3 1/2 year old daughter requests it every night.She has memorized all the rhymes, and it is a complete delight to listen to her sing along. Thank you Carly Simon for bringing such joy to our bedtime routine! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Baby - Poetry    2. Children's poetry    3. Children: Preschool    4. Holidays & Celebrations - Easter    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Music - General    7. Nursery rhymes    8. Poetry - Mother Goose    9. Poetry - Nursery Rhymes    10. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / Easter   

Reviews (2)

mystery
Someone who has this book, please list the nursery rhymes that are included in it. I don't know why editor's book reviews for books with multible contents don't list the titles included.

Not Beginer Signing
I am a beginer at sign and did not know the diference between ASL and Signed English.This book has simple Illistrations that are fun and chalanging.I purchesed it to learn to sign nursry rhymes for my 18mo.son.I quit using this book because I was unable to remember the signsvery well. Now I am using video to learn the signs first.My son enjoysthe pictures and I will learn the signs then the rhymes later.A good bookbut not for beginers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children's poetry    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Juvenile English Language    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Nursery rhymes    7. Performing Arts - General    8. Poetry - Mother Goose    9. Sign language    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. English    12. Fiction    13. Linguistics    14. Personal communication & presentation skills    15. Picture books   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Poetry / Plays    2. Poetry - Mother Goose   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children's poetry    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Classics    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Anthologies    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Nursery rhymes    8. Poetry - Mother Goose    9. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (2)

A great beginning for children of all colors
My family truly enjoyed sharing time together reading this book.Twelve years later this book remains on our shelf.

Black Mothergoose Booke
I absolutley love this book.It is not often that a book of this quality geared toward African American children is available.The illustrations using an African American Humpdy Dumpy are the most impressive.I readthis book to my neice until she got old enough to read it herself.I feelthat she had an interest in this book because the characters resembled her. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. General    4. Poetry - Mother Goose   

Reviews (1)

the best I've read
I have three really nice, big hardbound mother goose anthologies, but this is my favorite; contains the most popular of the mother goose nursery rhymes, has brightly colored pictures, but, most importantly, is user-friendly.It's thin and light, and when my son and I sat down for nursery rhymes (over and over and over!) this was the book that kept getting pulled off the shelf.I recommend it very very highly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Poetry / Plays    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children's poetry    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Classics    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Nursery rhymes    8. Poetry - Mother Goose    9. Classic fiction    10. Sale Books   

Reviews (1)

Adds happy endings to classic rhymes. Humpty is fixed!
The added lines and stanzas to the poems makes you smile that Mom Hubbard finds food for the dog and The Old Woman in the Shoe is not really a child beater!The illustrations are fabulous too!Good baby gift! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American poetry    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children's poetry, American    4. Children: Babies & Toddlers    5. Nursery rhymes    6. Poetry - Mother Goose    7. Preschool Nursery Rhymes / Poetry   

Reviews (2)

The Little Mother Goose Coloring Book
Nice little book.Small in size, but nice pictures.

Coloring Rhymes on a Small Scale
This coloring book has clean, simple lines which make coloring it enjoyable for children of all ages.Children will have no troubleinstantly relating the clear pictures to the text of each of the MotherGoose rhymes.My only reservation is that the youngest artists may belimited somewhat by the small scale of the book (each page is only 43/16" x 5 3/4"), although this pocket size does make it handy tothrow in your bag for those unexpected waiting times. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Poetry - Mother Goose    4. Children's and Educational    5. Juvenile Nonfiction / Activity Books   

Reviews (3)

A top recommendation for parents who tire of the usual traditional themes
It's 'hey diddle diddle' with a difference: Bobcat plays the fiddle and a host of Southwestern-native animals join in. Liz Conrad's drawings are outstanding and lively additions to a simple series of easy rhymes and descriptions, making this a top recommendation for parents who tire of the usual traditional themes. Hey Diddle Diddle is ideal for family and community library preschool board book collections.
great book
I really enjoy this book.It is simple with great colors.A perfect book for me to read to my daughter.

Delightful!
Hey Diddle Diddle by Theresa Howell is a new take on the popular nursery rhyme. In this rhyming version, the desert critters dance and play music by the light of the moon.
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Subjects:  1. Attitude (Psychology)    2. Bedtime & Dreams    3. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Luck    8. Poetry - Mother Goose   

Reviews (1)

Getting my goose
Googling "Mother Goose" yields conflicting factoids. Maybe she was a colonial housewife who collected and edited old English rhymes. Maybe she was a French Queen with webbed toes (all that royal inbreeding, I guess) who loved a good story ... or the rhymes were or weren't meant as political satires. The explanation I found most satisfying is that these remnants of longer folk tales and narrative rhymes were passed down through countless generations and translated across languages and cultures.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Children: Preschool    3. Juvenile Nonfiction    4. Poetry - Mother Goose    5. Poetry - Nursery Rhymes    6. Preschool Nursery Rhymes / Poetry    7. Juvenile Nonfiction / Poetry / Nursery Rhymes   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Poetry / Plays    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children's poetry    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Nursery rhymes    6. Poetry - Mother Goose    7. English literature: poetry texts & anthologies    8. Non-Classifiable   

Editorial Review

World folklore authority Iona Opie and beloved picture book illustratorRosemary Wells (Read more

Reviews (5)

If I Could Only Have One Book to Read to My Two Year Old
If I could only have one book to read with my young children this would be it.I have six children and have worn out two copies of these books.I often purchase this book to give as a present to new moms.My children love the big bright illustrations.I have many editions of Mother Goose but this is my favorite by far.

Great Books
I have two toddlers, and we have been reading both of these books at least twice a day for a year.My two year old has both books memorized and my one year old knows quite a few of the verses.I am also buying this for every expectant mother that I know.My husband wasn't fond of Mother Goose at first, but these books have turned him into a fan.

Delicious Goose!
Wow! ...is collection had ALL the Mother Goose Rhymes that I remembered, and then some!The oversized format and bold pictures, all featuring sweet and funny animals playing nursery rhyme roles, will visually delight both the lucky listeners and the grown-ups sharing this treasury!I have been buying this set for EVERY expectant mother I know, it's a great shower gift (especially combined with Jim Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook). I know I was so grateful to have a good Mother Goose collection when I was a new mommy, it's surprising how many you forget once you leave kindergarten.My son, who is now six, loves this book (I like that BOYS are made of sugar and spice and everything nice in this edition...I think a little liberty may have been taken there, but as a mom of a son, Iwon't argue!). I am grateful to the Opies and to Rosemary Wells for compiling a collection in such a way that is true to the original rhymes yet appealing to children in our century!Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Baby - Poetry    2. Children: Babies & Toddlers    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. People & Places - Other    5. Poetry - Mother Goose   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children's poetry    3. Children: Preschool    4. Halloween    5. Holidays & Celebrations - Halloween    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Nursery rhymes    8. Poetry    9. Poetry - Mother Goose    10. Poetry - Nursery Rhymes    11. Preschool Nursery Rhymes / Poetry    12. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / Halloween   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Poetry / Plays    2. Nursery rhymes    3. Poetry - Mother Goose    4. Rebuses    5. Picture books   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Decorating    3. Poetry - Mother Goose    4. Children's stationery & miscellaneous items    5. Crafts & Hobbies / Papercrafts   

Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Alphabet books    3. Children's 4-8 - Poetry / Plays    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    5. Children: Babies & Toddlers    6. Nursery rhymes    7. Poetry - Mother Goose    8. Poetry - Nursery Rhymes    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Poetry / Nursery Rhymes   

Features

• Audiobook

Reviews (1)

Greatest Mother GBoose Ever
The music is by Hershey Kay, orchestrator of Gottschalk and many other things, and the actors are just superlative. Cyril Ritchard is the quintessence of wit; Celeste Holme I last heard as Dona Ana in Shaw's DON JUAN IN HELL. You know Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster--imagine him ominously reciting "There was a crooked man," without ever showing you that he has his tongue in his cheek. Now imagine him singing "A Frog He Would A-wooing Go," or pleading with Mrs. Bond's recalcitrant ducks to come out of the pond and be killed for dinner. The familiar and unfamiliar are both included, and because of the talent and intelligence of the participants, the result is simply delicious. I wish the publisher would re-issue it as a CD, but I'm grateful they haven't let it go out of print. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio - Fiction (Unabridged)    2. Audio: Juvenile    3. Bedtime & Dreams    4. Children's Audio - 9-12    5. Poetry - Mother Goose    6. Juvenile Fiction / Bedtime & Dreams