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

Book Description

Never before have the classic Mother Goose rhymes been so irresistible! Young children will delight in exploring the book¹s touch-and-feel elements while they recite such favorite poems as Mary Had a Little Lamb, The Cat and the Fiddle, and Pat-a-Cake. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Fave from my childhood
I have nothing but fond memories from this book and when I was just browsing and came across this i was estatic! I plan on purchasing this for my son.

I believe that, to those who disliked the "quality" of book because of old times. I believe that you must sit down with your child then and talk about it. This gives you that opportunity to teach your child how "todays life" is different then "olden life," as well as what is expected today. Just because ~you~ do not agree with something does not mean you should 'shelter' your children from it. If you do, then what do they learn?

This will stay with your child forever
This book has all the classic Mother Goose rhymes. I had this book as a child and it was well loved by both me and my sister. The pictures that go along with the rhymes are well done. This is a book that I buy for all of my friends when their babies are born. I still have mine to this day in my classroom, and my students would tell you it's 5 stars too!

Get the full version
Board books are nice in that they are short and durable but in this case, so much of the artwork is missing in a board book version that is really no more than a "best of." Wait until your child is older and get the full version.

Not the Values You Want to Teach Today
I thoroughly agree with the person who said that this was not for today's child. With all that is going on in today's society, with increasing violence among our children, this version of Mother Goose does little to teach children tolerance. When I bought this book, I was expecting cute and innocent children's rhymes. I do not remember reading as a child Mother Goose rhymes that were so gory. Now, in all fairness, not all the rhymes are like that, however, you have to flip through the pages to read those that are more tame. I think many of these rhymes and stories had it's place in centuries past, but not in the 21st century.

I am surprised that non of the other reviewers felt this way, too.

Quality just isn't what it used to be
I bought this for my future child, I remember reading this as a child myself, and have some pretty fond memories. I couldn't find the copy I grew up with so when I saw that I could order this, I was ecstatic. The hard bound cover is nice, and good enough... but the paper quality is extremely cheap and thin, the reprints of the original illustrations have less quality then the sunday comics. Oh Well, what do you expect with merchandise sold and made today.

It would be nice to have the option to pay extra to get the quality that you remember from days of old. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This elaborate pop-up book adds a spectacular twist to Mother Goose's well-loved rhymes. Paper artist Robert Sabuda, preeminent patriarch of modern pop-up engineering, brings yet another explosion of motion and color to his latest masterpiece. Attributing animal personalities to nursery-rhyme characters, he surprises young readers time and again. In "Jack Be Nimble," for example, the fellow leaping lithely over a candlestick is none other than a grasshopper. And the Man in the Moon is seen from a startling perspective: he has decidedly alien features! Sabuda's quirky take on traditional rhymes, combined with his fantastic folding, moving, spinning paper sculptures, will have pop-up fanciers and Mother Goose devotees clamoring for more. Sturdier than most pop-ups, these three-dimensional constructions are nonetheless vulnerable to tiny grabbing hands. At his best, Sabuda creates breathtaking displays of pop-up craftsmanship, as in the "four and twenty blackbirds" bursting rowdily out of a pie, mirrored sunglasses on every one. At his worst, he creates slightly bewildering beings, such as the star-shaped Jill in "Jack and Jill" tumbling down a mysterious edifice. He may occasionally (and understandably--what a fun job!) get carried away with his engineering feats. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A bit disappointing
While I loved the conceptual design of the book, I found the quality of the paper and printing to be poor. The first time I -an adult- tried to open the 4 and 20 blackbirds page (very gingerly), I managed to rip it in one place. This just should not happen for a children's book!! Perhaps the type of paper used is too rigid for the movement. Colors were not as vibrant on the inside of the book, either.

Poppingly good
This is the first Sabuda book I got. It boggled my little mind. Each display is incredibly clever. I have tried to create my own pop-ups and some of the ideas Sabuda has come up with and the 'paper engineering' behind them are incredibly creative.

I'd recommend this book to kids over 5 and their parents.

glorious, sometimes busy, pop-up classic
I was thrilled to find that genius paper engineer Sabuda was tackling these classic rhymes, and the book lives up to expectations. The artist's work is, as always, creative and fun.

There are six two-page spreads, each with a large central figure (one of Bo-peep's sheep, Miss Muffet's spider, a peacock, the hickory dickory clock, Mr. and Mrs. Sprat, and a pie bursting with blackbirds) and several smaller rhyme fold-outs. This set-up makes the book a little "busy" in my opinion, but our two-year old adores it, so what's my aesthetic sensibility matter? The material is heavy paper, and it's held up well to our toddler's exploration. Some of the mechanisms are a little confusing and/or delicate, but nothing especially difficult. Nice, bright colors are employed for the animal characters used to illustrate these tales, usually to comic effect.

This is a lovely book for children, and would likely make a good first pop-up.

The best baby gift
This book was a gift to my daughter when she was born. We have read it to her ever since then and she adores it! If she is cranky, she will get quiet when she sees us reach for the book. The illustrations are captivating, to say the least.

A Beautiful, Wonderful Book
I recently purchased this book for my grandchildren after seeing a friend's copy. They absolutely love it and have to "read" the "book" at least twice a day. It is wonderfully done and my 2 year old grandson's eyes grow big as he watches they pages pop up. I plan to purchase another and hope Mr. Sabuda continues his art. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There should be a law that requires every child to sit on Grandpa's knee as he chants "Trot, trot, to Boston; trot, trot, to Lynn." Grownups who still giggle at the thought of Little Jack Horner pulling a plum out of his Christmas pie, or who make a wish on a star, murmuring "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight" know the secret. They're the ones who will be handing down those same nursery rhymes to their own children, preserving an age-old tradition. But no child should be left behind.

In world folklore authority Iona Opie's collection, these invaluable and ancient nuggets of childhood verse are bursting with new life. Quirky and sly, sweet, gentle, rollicking, silly... the range of rhymes is breathtaking. Winner of over a dozen prestigious awards, including a Parents' Choice Award and an ALA Notable Children's Book award, this wonderful book is charmingly illustrated by Rosemary Wells, best known for her Max books (Max's Bath, Max's Bedtime, Max's Ride). A solid repertoire of nursery rhymes should be de rigueur for any aunt, uncle, grandparent, or parent worth his or her salt. This book is a must, as is its companion volume, Here Comes Mother Goose. (Click to see a sample spread from My Very First Mother Goose. Illustrations & copy; 1996 by Rosemary Wells. Permission from Candlewick Press.) (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (24)

The Mother Goose to Own
As the mother of four, I think I've read Mother Goose rhymes probably tens of thousands of times over the years. We've checked many Mother Goose books out of the library, but (thanks to my mom), this is the one we own. We return to it time and time again for several reasons. First, of all, it's big, which I really like because it means that I don't have to read the same rhymes night after night after night. There's ample room in it to poke around (also its size has allowed Opie to include in it some we didn't know - but quickly learned. My favorite of these is "Wash the dishes, Wipe the dishes, Ring the bell for tea; Three good wishes, Three good kisses, I will give to thee.") I also really like Opie's selection of rhymes. She's left out some of the grimmest, which makes the book appropriate for even the smallest of readers. This is not to say, however, that this a bland book. For Opie has included many really fun pieces. And this leads me to comment on Rosemary Wells' illustrations, which are warm and funny, in the most beautiful colors. She lends her own touch to this book. Sometimes she offers a new interpretation of a rhyme (see, for example, Humpty Dumpty, which it turns out in Wells' world really concerns a small bunny not very fond of boiled eggs). In other pictures, she simply adds hilarious, unexpected, fascinating detail. My daughters Rose, 2, and Daisy, 6, and I laughed and laughed over this book today, turning a sad sick morning into a happy time. I regularly find Rose, who is generally given to activities like bouncing, sitting quietly, poring over this book. This is the one to buy.

Two masters (mistresses?) at work
Iona Opie is one of the great folklorists we have right now and all English-speakers should be grateful for her (and her late husband Peter's) tireless work to preserve and present the poetry of children at play. This book is a terrific introduction to her ear for the best of this kind of poem and to the wonder of Rosemary Wells' imagination. As others have noted, you will return to this book over and over, when other favorites have long since passed into neglect. There is a second volume of these poems, also with Wells' illustrations.

Then try and find a copy of I Saw Esau, an amazing collection of children's playground rhymes from the past 50 years or so. They are by turns witty, crude, wonderous and cruel and the Sendak drawings that accompany them are great. It's not for small children, but a nine year old would love it.

In the meantime, enjoy Mother Goose!

A very good nursery rhymes book
My son loves this book, he is 4 and have most of them memorized, we borrowed it at first at the library, he loved it so much that I had to get him his own.I like it for it's simple and easy to remember lines, we read a couple of different nursery rhymes books, that I find is a little too much to remember for his age.If you buy this book be ready to keep reading it, 'cause your little one will be asking you again and again.

This is a must-have!
What a beautiful collection of nursery rhymes-my daughter loved this book from before she could even sit up-it is also available as a set of board books which I also highly recommend. Keep in mind Iona Opie, the editor, is English and uses some English rhymes or English versions, which has some people confused. The drawings are simple and charming, classic Rosemary Wells.

A wonderful update of an old classic
This book may keep Mother Goose nursery rhymes alive for many more generations to come. I was not particularly drawn to Mother Goose books - many of the rhymes I could remember seemed irrelevant to me. But this book has changed my view. My 3 1/2 year old son and I read it together regularly - he now chants the rhymes along with me. The collection is so well done, with rhymes you'd be happy to read to any child (none of the violent or gory rhymes), and the illustrations are utterly perfect & add tremendously to the content of the rhymes. We have shelves full of children's books, but I would put this in the top 2 or 3 - this is a classic. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ready or not, here she comes! That clever, mischievous, loving matriarch of the nursery knows more verses and ditties than you can shake a stick at.From the familiar "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater" and "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" to the more obscure "I'm Dusty Bill from Vinegar Hill," this lovely, good-humored collection of nursery rhymes is sure to find a place on the shelf of classics. On the heels of her first award-winning collection, My Very First Mother Goose, world-renowned folklorist Iona Opie brings together still more of her never-ending supply of childhood verse. And once again the incomparable Rosemary Wells (Max's Bath, Max's Bedtime, Max's Ride) has joined Opie to enchant young readers as the two blend ancient verse with fresh new pictures. Soft, appealing watercolors depict a comical menagerie of ducks, bunnies, cats, and guinea pigs, wittily interpreting more than 60 old favorites. No new parent should be without this indispensable treasure. (Click to see a sample spread. Copyright 1999 by Rosemary Wells. Used by permission of Candlewick Press.) (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (6)

disapointing
This has a fairly nice selection of rhymes, and the pictures are bright, but the pictures seem rather unrelated to the rhymes -
and for a child just learning to speak it seems important that
the pictures and the rhymes match. I was given a copy but I do
not read it to my 2-year-old. I much prefer the Orchard Book of
Nursery Rhymes which i found at the local library. (Why three stars and not fewer? Because I saw at the library many nursery rhyme books that were worse.)

great children's book!
I just want to respond to the person who said that there was an error on what boys and girls are made of (p.26-27). This is a children's book of the 90s and the reversal was made intentionally to try to rid of stereotypes of boys and girls. This book has wonderful illistrations and large print, perfect for young children!

Down with stereotypes!
What a wonderful book! The text is classic and the illustrations are, of course, marvelous! To the disappointed reviewer who thought there was an error in the illustrations, you are incorrect! I just returned from a conference at which Ms. Wells spoke. The switch in the "what are little girls/boys made of" indeed was intentional on the part of the illustrator to stamp out those gender stereotypes! As Ms. Wells told us this weekend, "Mother Goose should be the Shakespeare of children's literature."! READ ON!

Great fun for parent and child!
The book is wonderful...as to the comment about the editor's error on the "what are little girls and boy's made of"...I too originally thought it was an error. After a closer look I discovered pictures of cute little girls in pigtails playing with frogs and mud and cute little boys in chefs' hats baking and having a great time. A terrificly subtle blast at stereotypes...give the book to someone you love!

An accessible and refreshing Mother Goose for all ages!
I loved Here Comes Mother Goose. My 11 year old daughter loved it too. Rosemary Wells is so clever, mixing up the what little boys and what little girls are made up was wonderful! The art and characters are what make this book standout for us. The ryhme selection also is great - the rhymes with violence have been skipped, nice for a change. We have both collections now and have given many as gifts. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For parents pure of heart and intention, the Real Mother Goose isthe only way to fly. And this sturdy little board book, chock full of best-lovedrhymes from the classic edition is sure to enchant readers of all ages.Old-fashioned illustrations by Blanche Fisher Wright may appeal especially tothe older set, but the pastel tones, pretty images, and traditional nurseryrhyme scenes will definitely strike a chord with the very youngest readers, too.Edwardian-looking girls and boys frolic with geese and pigs, gaze at stars, andjump over candlesticks. Fifteen of the simplest rhymes were chosen for thiscollection, including Jack and Jill, Ring Around the Rosies, One, Two, Buckle MyShoe, and Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. Wright's lovely Mother Goose illustrations canalso be found in The OriginalMother Goose and another baby-friendly board book, The Real Mother Goose. (Baby topreschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Perfect Choice!
This adorable book is entertaining for the parent as well as the child! It's great to be able to share these familiar rhymes with my child. The pictures are bright and detailed, and the board book is the perfect size for a diaper bag!

My kids love this book!
My son is 2, my daughter is 1, and I have another baby on the way! My toddlers love this book. This Mother Goose board book is perfect for us because we get to read my old favorites without the worry of tearing up the book, spilling something on it or cleaning up the typical crayon marks often found in books. I often let the kids take the book to bed with them, and they pretend to read it by themselves. Never underestimate the power of reading to your children! ... Read more

Book Description

The extraordinary four color and black and white art of the renowned Jessie Willcox Smith makes these classic nursery rhymes come vividly to Life.Here is everything from Mary Had a Little Lamb to Old King Cole was a Merry Old Soul, and so many others, making this the perfect keepsake to give anyone with young children. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sumptuous Illustrations Accompany Historical Nursery Classic
This splendid book should be in every nursery library. It contains hundreds of nursery rhymes, some very well known to American children and some not so familiar including the 51 rhymes with morals found in the original Mother Goose collection that was printed by Isaiah Thomas in Massachusetts in the years just following the Revolutionary War.
The book is printed on high quality silk-smooth paper and is printed in large clear type with charming black and white accent illustrations of children and characters from that era. Familiar and well-known Mother Goose verses as well as perhaps unkown verses are included. Many beautiful illustrations by the amazing Jessie Willcox Smith enhance this volume, a few in black and white, but most in full color, full page glory. Smith, born in 1863 is, in my opinion, one of the finest illustrators of children ever. She never used professional models and preferred to search out the right child for the picture. As a result her illustrations bring images to us straight out of history and capture with an appreciative heart the sweetness of childhood, unsurpassed.
This book is truly a treasure, one that is sure to be enjoyed for many years to come. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Many adults can look back and see that it was in [Mother Goose] rhymes that they first found a love of language, rhythm and story.... Recited by heart, passed lovingly from parent to child, these verses--magical, musical, sometimes silly, sometimes wise--are part of our collective childhood."

In her artist's note, Sylvia Long admits that she approached the project of creating a new Mother Goose anthology with some trepidation. The award-winning artist was convinced that the only way she could take on a new version would be if hers were somehow unique. And unique it is. Integrating well-known rhymes with less familiar ones, and altering otherwise frightening images with clever, comforting artwork, Long has come up with a fresh, fun, yet still respectfully traditional approach to these classic verses. Linking the pages visually, Long encourages readers to discover playful connections between different rhymes. For example, the queen in "Pussycat, Pussycat, Where Have You Been?" is seated next to Old King Cole on the opposite page of the spread; apparently, these two are a royal item! Long's love of nature is reflected in her gorgeous watercolors of birds, rabbits, cats, frogs, insects, bears, and mice, all of whom figure prominently as old friends Jack and Jill, Old Mother Hubbard, Little Boy Blue, and Little Robin Red-breast. More than 75 classic Mother Goose rhymes are included in this stunning compendium. (Ages 3 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Heirloom-Quality...Enchanting!!!
This is the most beautifully illustrated Mother Goose book I have seen. Sylvia Long has taken her own interpretations of these classic rhymes and turned them into a wonderful imaginative feast for the eyes. The animal characters behave so life-like as they take the place of their human counterparts! I also like the way the author groups the rhymes according to themes. For example, all the rhymes containing words about specific animals, physical traits or characteristics tend to be grouped together. There is also an index of first lines in the back of the book.

My daughters continually pour over the images every day, and were even inspired to write and illustrate their own interpretations in their personal copybooks. The rhymes are classic, but in this book, the images tell their own stories as well!

5 Stars.

One of the best children's books available.
This is a wonderful book. The book takes you through more than 75 classic Mother Goose Rhymes including Jack and Jill, Old Mother Hubbard, Little Boy Blue, and Little Robin Red-breast.

Each rhyme is superbly illustrated allowing your youngster to understand the meaning of the rhyme through pictures.

This is a keepsake book that will surely be passed down from one generation to the next.

An Award winner
As I have read this book with my 2 and 4-yr old grandsons, I have thought that it must have won an award. The glowing reviews of others on your site seem to validate my opinion. Sylvia Long's choice of rhymes and illustrations for each two-page spread provides an opportunity for Grannie and the boys to communicate about the meaning of these old rhymes. The boys understand their meaning because of the beautiful illustrations that give the rhymes a new life in our modern world.

Charming
I am a school librarian constantly looking for nice editions of familiar nursery rhymes. This is one of the best books I have found in a long time. It has a nice collection of familiar and unfamilar rhymes. Each page has nicely done illustrations to support the rhyme. Sylvia Long identifies in the beginning of the book to look at each picture and look for the "bridge item" that is found in the next picture. Should keep kids busy with these rhymes for a long time.

Great baby gift!
This is one of the most beautiful Mother Goose books I have ever come across! The illustrations coupled with the classic Mother Goose rhymes make it a wonderful baby gift - one that is sure to be a keepsake! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Richard Scarry's bright and humorous animal characters have been charming children for decades. Always inventive in the world of animal fashion, Scarry shows the cow jumping over the moon in pearls and a pink dress, and the little dog who "laughed to see such sport" sports a sailor suit. You won't hear "I can't see the pictures!" with this book; its large size makes it a good choice for group story hour. This collection of 50 Mother Goose rhymes is especially appropriate for toddlers; most of the two-page spreads contain only one illustrated rhyme. (Many children younger than three can focus better on one simple verse than on many rhymes on each page.) Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever has stood the test of time for more than 25 years and is still a hit with young readers. (Ages 1 to 4) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Classic
I used to make my mother read to the entire book to me every night- I had it memorized so I even knew when she would try to skip pages! I absolutely love this book and recommend it to anyone who has kids or who knows kids. This is absolutely my favorite childhood book. . .there is none better!

A great book
This collection of nursery rhymes is a classic. It has all the ones I remember as a child and more. The pictures are big and funny. It is so much fun to read. I can hardly wait to read it during story time for my daughter.

DELIGHTFUL
This collection of nursery rhymes and illustrations are a classic.I deeply enjoyed them as a kid and now my children enjoy this as a good read. Truly a delightful book.

Illustrations create wonderful memories
The illustrations in this book make the nursery rhymes entertaining to small children. This book provided me with many hours of joy and wonderful memories when I shared it with my two children. I am now sending it to my son to share with his little girl.

5 children rate this the best ever!
The large sized illustrations, the bright colors and the rhymes themselves all made this book the favorite with our 5 children. We have gone through 2 copies, now reduced to loose pages, and need to order 2 more for new grandchildren (both age 5 months) ... Read more

Book Description

Mother Goose comes to life in this beautifully illustrated anthology of rhymes, from Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star to Humpty Dumpty. The lovely keepsake collection includes all the best-loved Mother Goose classics, including:

- Little Miss Muffet
- This Little Piggy
- Peter Pumpkin-Eater
- Mary Had a Little Lamb
- The Cat and the Fiddle
- And more!

A spectacular collection sure to delight both young and old alike! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Mother and teacher
This book is my absolute favorite collections of Mother Goose rhymes. I have many, but this one is wonderful. The illustrations of this book are absolutly beautiful and make the book wonderful and enchanting to children. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Beautiful, Always Classic "Mother Goose"!
I recently purchased this book for my new granddaughter and myself. It is beautifully bound in royal purple cloth with gorgeous endpapers and original front page illustrations by Milo Warner. The illustrations throught the book, however, are Blanche Fisher Wright's and they are just as beautiful as the original 1916 ones.

This book contains classics like" Pat-A-Cake, See-Saw, Little Bo-Peep, Little Boy Blue, Humpty Dumpty, Ring Around The Rosy and countless others.

If you would like to share the Original Mother Goose with a child of the next generation or just read it yourself to reminisce your OWN childhood, this is the book for you!

Happy Rhyming and Reading!

The Original Mother Goose
What would the preschool years be without "Hey Diddle Diddle," "Mary had a Little Lamb," and "Humpty Dumpty"? Mother Goose nursery rhymes are part of our cultural heritage. The beautiful, colorplate illustrations in this original, oversized volume will make many of these rhymes especially memorable. Unfortunately, the rhymes are densely packed, with several on each page, and thus the majority do not have accompanying illustrations.

The Original is Still the Best
Save us from historical revisionists like Ms. Takahashi, who clearly has no idea of the origins of the Mother Goose nursery rhymes or the harsh conditions that existed in England when the rhymes developed. Social class division, beating, and animal cruelty were facts of life. Certainly the subject matter can be a little grisly, but infants don't care -- they love the sing-song quality of the verses. Older children can find in the rhymes a painless introduction to history and a springboard for discussions about why we do things differently today. My grandmother used this book with my mother as an infant in 1922 and used it again with me as an infant in 1957. It is still just as good with our infant daughter today. Mother Goose has become a part of our cultural history. "Updating" the text to reflect modern mores smacks of the kind of historical revisionism carried out by Orwell's "Ministry of Truth" in his novel "1984."

Frighteningly outdated
The illustrations are wonderful, but they are they only thing I like about this book. The poems too often have subject matter of social class division, whipping or beating "bad" children or adults, and animal cruelty. In addition to this, the layout and typography of this edition are terrible! It is actually difficult to read the text, not a good thing in a book meant to be read aloud. I understand that this edition is based on the 1916 version, but on reading these "original" versions of the poems, in their "original" layout, I am convinced that there is good reason to update this material. I would love to see the beautiful illustrations pared with updated text (and typography!). This version may have value as an historical record of how much society has changed, but there is no place for it on my daughter's bookshelf.

mother goose
it is a good book and it is an old clasic told 100's of years in the makingi recomend it for your children ... Read more

Book Description

Knopf is proud to reissue the complete and unabridged Arnold Lobel-illustrated treasury of Mother Goose rhymes, originally published in 1986 as The Random House Book of Mother Goose and unavailable for several years. Reviewers were unanimous in their acclaim of a collection "brimming over with energy...distinguished by abundant humor and a rich variety of moods and styles" (School Library Journal, starred review). The beloved creator of the Frog and Toad books included 306 nursery rhymes--several hundred more than any other quality edition of Mother Goose--and "all are illustrated in a cornucopia of drawings which demonstrates the range of [his] technique and imagination" (Kirkus Reviews).The New York Times Book Review called it "brilliant," while The Washington Post Book World praised it as "surely one of the most satisfying nursery-rhyme books ever made." ... Read more

Reviews (4)

London Bridge is something down...
In the long and varied history of Ms. Mother Goose, so many collections and books of nursery rhymes have been made that it's a wonder anyone keeps track anymore. Certainly I was a child when this particular treasury originally came out and until my current grown state I'd never even heard of it. Illustrated by Arnold Lobel (the nice man who introduced the world to "Frog and Toad") this book is nothing if not extensive. It runs the gamut of rhymes, from classics like "Three Blind Mice" to limericks to tongue-twisters. It is a breathtaking achievement.

Many a nursery rhyme book, if extensive, will place two or three rhymes on a page and choose to illustrate only one. Not so Mr. Lobel. It is with great manual dexterity that he has found ways to merge, combine and bring together like-rhymes so as to combine their illustrations into a single motif. Consider his page containing romantic poems. Under around and through a single arbor dwell characters that act out such poems as "Something old, something new", "I love coffee", "Roses are red", and "If you love me, love me true". Poems about the weather, food, and royalty are similarly grouped. Longer poems, such as the classic "Partridge in a pear tree" are given full page multi-spreads. Lobel is nothing if not meticulous in his craft.

I did have an occasional objection. Though the book is expertly indexed, there is not so much as an author's note or preface explaining where he got these poems. The title page merely reads, "Selected and illustrated by Arnold Lobel", with scant attention to exactly WHERE he got them. This isn't idle curiosity either. More than one of these poems contains wordings different from those known to the pubic at large. For example, instead of the poem "London Bridge is falling down" we read that "London Bridge is broken down". Or smaller changes, such as making a ha' penny a half penny in "Christmas is coming".

Diligent parents beware. This book abounds with capital punishment and death. Much like the early fairy tales, nursery rhymes weren't always for the kiddie set. Adults liked them just as much. In the edition I happened to borrow from the library, some extraordinarily concerned parents took offense to a couple phrases in "This is the house that Jack built" (changing "That killed the rat" to "That bumped the rat" and "That waked the priest all shaved and shorn" to "That waked the minister all shaved and shorn"). Oog.

In the end, this is really a fabulous collection. The illustrations are adept (containing some very funny interpretations as well) and the rhymes not only familiar but enjoyable. If you don't mind the occasional change to the text here and there it is well worth your casual perusal and enjoyment.

A treasury of more than 300 classic nursery rhymes
Formerly published as "The Random House Book of Mother Goose" in 1986, this new hardback reissue pays homage to the late Arnold Lobel, the famed Caldecott winning illustrator of the beloved "Frog and Toad" books, "On Market Street" and more than 100 others. This treasury of more than 300 classic nursery rhymes represents more than three years of toil for Lobel, and was the crowning achievement of his amazing career in children's literature. Despite the massive undertaking, Lobel never skimped here. Every rhyme - no matter how brief -- has a beautiful corresponding drawing, and many, many entries feature six or more images. Even for lengthy poems like "The First Day of Christmas" and "The House That Jack Built," he refused to take shortcuts, and so drew increasingly complicated images for each and every verse. Not everything was taken literally, however, and so the pages for other poems offer a rich diversity of characters. On one double-page spread, for instance, Lobel cleverly grouped unrelated verses and united them by drawing a variety of pigs for each disparate scene. Even as presented in this unabridged new edition today -- nearly two decades since the illustrations were created -- the fun, colorful and imaginative drawings are fresh, offering a delightful introduction to the classic 18th Century Mother Goose rhymes and assorted other gems for generations of children to come.

Lots of rhymes, but not the mother goose I remember!
There are lots of rhymes in this book, but I wouldn't consider them all Mother Goose (the itsy bitsy spider, yankee doodle etc.) Also some of the rhymes don't seem quite right-- the end of "Ring around the Rosies" is "hush, hush, hush, hush, we've all tumbled down". Some of the differences hurt the rhythm of the rhymes, too. Maybe these are just regional variations, but it wasn't what I expected. The illustrations are nice, though.

Lovely complete collection!
I bought this when my son was a baby, but just brought it out now that he is three. Both of us have really enjoyed it. It has all the rythmes I was familair with plus so many I didn't know. I also now found an old source (Mother Goose) of some Barney songs we know! I particularly like that the illustrations are beautiful and truly representative of the rythme. So many other books dress animals up like people to illustrate Mother Goose. I like rythmes about little boys to show little boys and not pigs! This has confused my son. I highly recommend it and have since given it to several friends with small children. ... Read more

Book Description

The favorite Mother Goose rhyme about the three careless kittens who lost their mittens is given added appeal with Galdone's bold and colorful illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A very appealing and well done little book
My sons have requested this be read to them about 10 times just today! As all of Galdone's fairy tales or nursery rhymes, this is very true to the traditional telling. The special part here is the living, clever and detailed pictures. They show such neat details as a kitchen with catnip in every form---chopped, minced, blended, etc---in a spice cabinet! The cats' expressions are priceless---you wouldn't guess cats could be so expressive.

Adorable depiction of this classic rhyme.
My 2 1/2 year old loves this book! We have taken it out of the library so many times, I have finally decided it is time to own it! I think she identifies with the sweet kittens who get into trouble but then make amends and get to eat the pie after all. Both toddlers and preschoolers will love this beautifully illustrated book. ... Read more

Book Description

Over twenty-four wonderful rhymes and verses -- taken from Iona and PeterOpie's classic versions -- will reach an even younger group of children in this charmingnew board book that lovingly brings to life not only the familiar faces of Little MissMuffett, Humpty Dumpty, Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, and Little Boy Blue, but a host ofother favorites for children to laugh with and treasure. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beware of nursery rhymes with racial overtones
I recommend any book written/illustrated by Tomie dePaola. His illustrations are always wonderful and you can be sure that it is a good quality children's book. I especially recommend reading nursery rhymes as early as possible to children. Hearing and learning nursery rhymes helps children develop cognitive and verbal skills.

Nursery rhymes have value in their historic nature, but we would find some to be outdated and even racial in nature. I was disappointed to find that some of these nursery rhymes with racial overtones are included in this book; I certainly won't read them to my child. For instance, "Baa, baa, black sheep" includes the word "master" and "See-saw, Margery Daw" goes "Jacky shall have a new master; Jacky shall have but a penny a day, Because he can't work any faster." Parents, please read all of the nursery rhymes yourself before reading to your children, and be sure to note which ones, if any, you find offensive so that sitters and others will not read them.

Tomie's Little Mother Goose
A happy mix of picture and rhyme. Babies especially love the repetitive rhythms. Very popular with 8 to 12 month old "readers". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Mother Goose Math
Mother Goose Math is a collection of Mother Goose nursery rhymes that deal with simple math concepts such as counting. Some of the rhymes are familiar ones like one, two, buckle my shoe and sing a song of sixpence. There were several rhymes that I was not familiar with. The book has bright, colorful illustrations with each rhyme that grab children's attention. Some of the illustrations have borders around them which make these illustrations busy. The rhymes run together page after page with no clear ending or beginning. My children who are 3 and 6 enjoyed the book. I think this book might be too young for children over 6. I would recommend reading this book to children ages 2-5. ... Read more

Book Description

Peter Pumpkin is baking muffins.Polly puts the kettle on for warm spiced tea.The Queen Of Hearts decorates her tarts.And Humpty Dumpty makes dilly egg sandwiches as tasty as can he!

Now parents and children together can join friends from these and other nursery rhymes for breakfast, lunch, dessert, and snacks. This scrumptious assortment of recipes will introduce young chefs to the delights of reading, cooking, and eating-with a little help from Mother Goose ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Stands on its own, even when not compared to Mother Goose
My son loves this book and seemed unimpressed with the original Mother Goose when they were read to him weeks after getting this book. This book is much more entertaining for any age at any time. Warm, positive, and funny.

Wonderful update of familiar nursery rhymes
After our son was born we started really reading the old nursery rhymes we'd grown up with and were disappointed by the often harsh and callous messages. The New Adventures of Mother Goose is such a welcome relief! It full of the characters we recognize but they're so much happier than we remember them. For instance, the three KIND mice take out their cheese and cut her (the farmer's wife) a slice. How much better than getting their tails chopped off! Most importantly, it's our son's favorite book and he's starting to complete the rhymes himself. We feel good about having him repeat happy rhymes. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

tales that teach
When I first purchased this book it was because of the cute short story and captions.When I read it to my son I was so excited to see a story init about the golden child.You see I adopted my son from Russia and hiscaregiver had nicknamed him the golden child.I was so happy to see thestory behind his nickname.This book is perfect for bedtime stories and isgreat for learning about tales of his heritage. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Attractively Done
The layout of the book was good. Format colorful and attractive. The book may not include as many rhymes as other books on the same subject. ... Read more

Book Description

Twenty-six Mother Goose rhymes spring to life in this jazzy, pizzazy collection, boldly illustrated by Lucy Cousins. Inside you'll find all the classics, including "Humpty Dumpty," "Old King Cole," "Hey, Diddle Diddle," "Wee Willie Winkie," and more. Simply and vibrantly designed, these old favorites will delight eyes and ears alike!"IrresistibleChildren will grab it with delight and beg, 'Read to me, please!'"— School Library Journal, starred review ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Best Nursery Rhyme Book I've Found
I agree that if you're not going to do the classic nursery rhymes, then skip this one as well. But if you are going to do classic nursery rhymes, this one is it. It's got fewer selections than the classic Mother Goose, but they are well chosen. The colorful and lively illustrations bring the nursery rhymes to life.

Wonderful collections of nursery rhymes
We bought this book when my daughter was 2 months old. She is now almost 2 and has enjoyed this book since we bought it. The bright colors in the illustrations are perfect for infants, toddlers, and children - very eye catching. When reading these to my daughter I do sometimes alter the wording so they aren't as harsh, but I would do that with any collection of nursery rhymes. This nursery rhyme book has all the classic nursery rhymes (Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty) but also includes many wonderful additional rhymes that I had never heard. If you have a problem with the material discussed in nursery rhymes, don't get this or any other nursery rhyme book. But, if your children enjoy rhyming verses and colorful illustrations this is a wonderful book.

Gross!
Perhaps many decades ago these horrible and dark nursery rhymes were somehow considered "good". I found this book to be dark, and completely unsuitable for the small innocent minds of children. I will never introduce this book to my child. It talks of death, starvation, abandonment and gruesome acts on animals.

I just don't relate to the concept of putting these types of images into a young mind.

If you want dark and cold, this is your book. If you want fun and light hearted nursery rhymes, look elsewhere...

The best Mother Goose for children from birth through age tw
Of all the Mother Goose collections available, this is the absolute best for children between birth and age two. The brilliant colors and strong black holding line immediately and completely captivates tiny ones. The easy layout insures accessibility to each rhyme and its simplicity does a beautiful job jogging addled adult memories, easing recall and assisting memorization. Don't miss it! ... Read more