Reviews (11)

Lots of fun!
This book is a lot of fun. Fun to read and the pictures are a hoot. My 21-month old daughter loves it and so do her parents.

Enchanting modern fairy tale
I've haven't been so taken by a children's book in years! After only two read-throughs I had it memorized enough to quote it to my grandsons and they were surprised and really laughed :} at Tiny Tim and how hungry he must have been. It has enchanting rhythm and should appeal to any child under 10. I think I will start giving it to newborns so mothers and dads can read aloud and encourage a sense of humor and fun from the get go...

Awesome book....
SO fun to read! Rhyming text makes it easy for little ones to remember!

Fun to sing
WE loooove this book. Checked it out over and over from library so had to buy it. we sing it and act it out and just love to read it.

Fun
This book is cute and fun to sing with my 17 month old. However, she really doesn't get to excited over it. The pictures are still a little boring to her and I sometimes have trouble keeping her attention with the book. I think she may still be a little young for it and hope she will become more interested in it as she gets a little older. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"6:32 a.m. This is the farm. My partner, Bill, and I wereworking the barnyard shift. It was peaceful. Quiet. Then we got thecall."

"So you're saying you were robbed, is that right, ma'am? What exactly is missingfrom the nest, ma'am? Eggs, ma'am? Chicks, ma'am?" But it turns out that it'speppers that have gone missing--a peck of "perfect purple, almost-pickledpeppers." But nobody was talking: "We had Horner in the corner and were tryingto make Little Boy Blue quack." Then our intrepid pair of web-footedinvestigators gets a break in the case when a tub of "tartest tasty tomahtoes"turns up missing. DUM DE DUM DUM!

It's just more wit from the wonderful Margie Palatini, who brought us Piggie Pie and Zoom Broom, backed up on thisassignment by the spirited illustrations of Richard Egielski. (Ages 4 to 8)--Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Cute
Dragnet (dum de dum dum), nursery rhymes (Little Boy Blue), James Cagney (you dirty rat), and Hawaii 5-O (Book 'im, ducko) all contribute to this clever detective tale, and the typeface looks like typewriter type, just as a detective's report would have looked before computers.

The inventive use of other sources and the logical detection of the plot make this a winner for adults. I can't wait to see how my four-year-old grandson likes it.

Parts of some illustrations didn't seem to have anything to do with the story, but the lettuce leaf hanging from the dirty rat's chin is perfect, though obvious.

If the children you read to like mysteries, try the Nate the Great series by Marjorie Sharmat. They are easy-to-read books and great logic puzzles for the young.

Fun for both children AND parents alike
What a fun and funny book Margie Palatini has written--and Richard Egielski's cartoonish yet deadpan illustrations complement it beautifully. Palatini has taken the "Dum de dum dum" theme from TV's long-ago "Dragnet" and applied it here to a barnyard mystery. Sounds simple, and simplistic, but she soars in weaving into the story all sorts of fairy tale and nursery rhyme goodies--not to mention wonderful wordplay, like:

"A lot of squawking going on down in the coop area, Ducktective Web. Looks like fowl play. Report says feathers are flying. Chief says we should check out the chicks."

"Chicks?"

"Check."

"Let's fly." DUM DE DUM DUM . . .

Palatini works in Peter Piper and his pack of pickled peppers (upping the ante by calling them perfect and purple as well), a falsely accused Little Boy Blue who offers the alibi that HE didn't do it because he was under the haystack, fast asleep--which the witnesses then confirm with: "The sheep were in the meadow. Cows in the corn." Swing back again quickly to the "Dragnet" end of things and the author makes one of the suspects an actual Dirty Rat (aptly named Ratzo).

This is fun for children and possibly even more fun for their baby boomer parents. It's a great read.

A cop show tailor made for the preschool set
Let's say you're a parent that loves nothing more in the entire world than to sit down and watch a little "Dragnet" on the telly. Now let's say you're that same parent, but you'd like to instill the wonders of Jack Webb in your little one. Enter Margie Palatini and Richard Egielski's, "The Web Files". More "dum de dum dum"s than you could shake a fist at.

Bill and Web (partners) are working the barnyard shift when they hear trouble ah-brewing. Someone's been pirating a peck of purple peppers (ready for pickeling). It's off to confront he usual suspects, when our heroes get a lead. In the end, you can rest assured that the dastardly villain will have met his just desserts and our brave ducktectives can work another day.

There are people who will buy this book, read it over and over, and love every minute of it. They'll revel in the exceedingly terrible puns that crop up with frightening regularity. They'll soak up the detective atmosphere (a combination of "Dragnet" and Ed McBain). They'll never get bored with this puppy, and that's all right. There really are some nice things in this book. Egielski's adept illustrations compliment the rising action, best displayed in a scene in which a variety of fairy tale characters hound the police precinct with tales of woe. I was especially taken with the third degree our heroes give a distraught Little Boy Blue.

As for myself, the aforementioned scenes are gold. But the puns.... lordy begordy the puns. Admittedly I have a low pun tolerance. If you can read the following sentence without twitching, then this is undoubtedly a good book to get: "A lot of squawking going on down in the coop area, Ducktective Web. Looks like fowl play. Report says feathers are flying. Chief says we should check out the chicks." You get the idea. I, personally, had problems with that sentence, but that's just me. Other people will adore this book. It does have some nice touches here and there and is chock full of enough movies and cop shows to bring a chuckle every other page. If you like a good rousing yarn and don't mind slightly painful text, this is the perfect book for a dark and rainy night. Hint: Have your kids hum the "Dragnet" closing music when the book's villain is tried and convicted. The book supplies all the "Dum de dum dum"s itself.

The Web Files
Hysterically funny book, especially for Dragnet lovers. Third and Fourth graders love the book, second graders don't get all the humor. Well worth a fifteen buck investment.

A wacky, hilarious detective tale
The Web Files is a wacky, hilarious detective tale set in a barnyard with two ducks as heroes. Dum De Dum Dum. Styled on the old Dragnet series model, the tale unfolds with minimum clipped dialogue and lots of implied action humourously expressed by the color illustrations of Richard Egielski. This school age child's book's style is contagious. Be prepared for repeat requests to read this one aloud. ... 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

"'Will you walk into my parlor,'
said the Spider to the Fly..."

is easily one of the most recognized and quoted first lines in all of English verse. But do you have any idea how the age-old tale of the Spider and the Fly ends? Join celebrated artist Tony DiTerlizzi as he -- drawing inspiration from one of his loves, the classic Hollywood horror movies of the 1920s and 1930s -- shines a cinematic spotlight on Mary Howitt's warning, written to her own children about those who use sweet words to hide their not-so-sweet intentions. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Evil spider weaves web to ensnare innocent fly
I have always been fasinated by this warning tale of the evils that can befall those who are too trusting and do not reguard strangers or those of brief aquaintance with proper waryness,(Especially young women... this is after all a Victorian tale!) but, never before have I been charmed amused and enchanted by it!
Mary B. Howett's tale is perfectly illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi.
Entirely done in black and white Tony has set the story in a charmingly Gothic Victorian doll house that carries the shadowy overtones of all evil dwellings.
The Spider is an Edwardian looking gentleman from his tiny moustache down to his spats. His home is the epitome of Victorian (pardon the pun)good taste. The fly is a wide eyed flapper who is as cute as a ..er bug.
A good deal of the charm of this book lies in the subtleties of Tony's wonderful illustrations. The wallpaper with a pattern of bees, the stuffed bug footstool, the cookbook bearing the title THE JOY OF COOKING BUGS, all are amusing additions to the larger tale the pictures tell . Just as the sad little daisy parasol of the fly sitting with her hat on the spiders plate speaks volumes.
This is not only a wonderful childrens book but one any adult who appreciates the work of Edward Gorey or the writing of Lemony Snickett will appriciate!
It is a surprisingly relevant tale for our time as it was for little children about a century ago.

A Timeless Classic Made Even Better.....
"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the Spider to the Fly... So begins Mary Howitt's 1829, cautionary timeless classic. But this age-old masterpiece has been elevated to new heights by the stunning, black and white, "silent screen" artwork of Tony DiTerlizzi. Mr DiTerlizzi has created a clever and captivating feast for the eyes, and filled his illustrations with spooky humor and wit, intricate, eye-catching details, marvelous facial expressions, and pure magic. Young and old alike will be entranced as they linger and explore each page, finding something new and enticing each and every time they open the book. Perfect for "youngsters" of all ages, The Spider And The Fly begs to be read aloud and shared with friends and family now, and future generations in the years to come. "And now, dear little children, who may this story read,/To idle, silly, flattering words I pray you ne'er give heed:/Unto an evil counselor,/close heart and ear and eye,/And take a lesson from this tale,/of the Spider and the Fly."

Little fly, little fly, fly away home
Some picture books instantly impress. They have that extra little spark or oomph that sets them apart from the rest. At first, the idea of a modern illustrator reworking a cautionary tale from 1829 sounds as if it's in danger of becoming dull, preachy, or didactic. Then you take a single glance at Tony DiTerlizzi's reworking of Mary Howitt's poem, "The Spider and the Fly", and you're blown away. Referencing the silent films of the 1920s and 30s, the book is meant to guide youngsters on the path of wisdom. Presumably by showing the stupidity of flies.

We all know the great opening lines of this tale. " 'Will you walk into my parlor?' said the Spider to the Fly". Here we see our villain, the gorgeously outfitted spider, bowing deeply to a lovely lady fly that bears no little resemblance to Shelly Duvall. The spider himself is replete with walking cane, spats on each of his legs, slick dandified hair, a Rhett Butler moustache, and a long top hat. The fly's initial answer (a negative) shows her in her best flapper wear. She has the parasol, the delicately gloved arms, the handbag, bobbed antennae, and flapper hat. The spider is persistent, now donning a smoking jacket and fez as various buggy ghosts of his past victims attempt to warn the little fly away. Finally, after many attempts, the spider flatters the fly with tales of her beauty. She falls for it instantly and returns when the spider calls, "Your robes are green and purple - there's a crest upon your head; Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead". She comes, he pops her in his long hat, and the next thing we know she's tied up tight in a cocoon with the shadow of a spider (cook's hat on head, knife and fork in hand) laughingly approach her. The moral of the story is, as William Bennett once said, "Not everyone who talks sweetly offers sweets".

It's not every picture book that the villain not only wins but also gets his own especial afterword. NOT written by Mary Howitt, the spider has his say. He points out that all spiders are trappers, even the beloved Charlotte from E.B. White's classic book. As we read we see the now full spider, his spatted feet on the table, delicately wiping his mouth on his napkin. A little hat sits forlornly on the plate before him. Thus ends a truly delightful book. DiTerlizzi has taken the time to include a couple facts about the life of the author Howitt, which is great. As an illustrator, the black and white scheme used for these illustrations is marvelous. These pictures were rendered beautifully and each shot is cinematic. There is little doubt, certainly, that some children will be perturbed by the pretty little fly's untimely end. I might point out, however, that there are also some children out there that are perturbed by the death of Charlotte in the aforementioned, "Charlotte's Web". Most kids, I believe, will love this book. It's noteworthy to point out that the blurbs on the back of the book come from Henry Selick (director of the "Nightmare Before Christmas") and Lance Smith (of "The Stinky Cheese Man" fame). Both of these should give you a fair idea of the kind of book this is. It's dark without ever becoming gory. Intense without ever being graphic. And, most importantly of all, it's a joy to look at. Who knew 19th century poems could be so much fun?

A dark treasure!
I remember hearing the story of the spider and the fly when I was a kid, but I didn't exactly remember how it went. I think if I had had this book back then, I would have remembered it very well. The illustrations in this book are so beautiful and delicious! Even if the story totally sucked, this book would be worth the price for the pictures alone. But the story doesn't suck! The little details thrown in with the bug ghosts trying to warn the fly...it was just so unique. This book truly is a treasure to me, my collection will benefit greatly from it.

Not a very good way to end
One time,about last Halloween,I had a substitute teacher at school and she read this book.
The illustrations were very creepy.There was not any color illusrations.All of them were just Black and White.It has like a late 1800s or early 1900s scene.Some parts of the fly and spider actually look like humans.
In the end,the spider kills the fly but the fly was the spider's fiend.Not a very good story to read.Don't get this when you go a book shop. ... Read more

Book Description

The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants gives children a variety of ways to fall in love with rhythm, rhyme, repetition, and structural sequence—important building blocks for future readers. With over 700 selections, children ages 3 to 6 will build a strong foundation in skills such as listening, imagination, coordination, and spatial and body awareness. In this giant book of rhythm and rhyme, you are sure to find your own childhood favorites!

Includes four easy indexes for quick reference:

·An index of first lines
-I went to the Animal Fair
-I caught myself a baby bumblebee
-Oh beautiful for spacious skies
-A horse and a flea and three blind mice
-All around the cobblers bench

·Title
-A Bicycle Built for Two
-Apples and Bananas
-Head and Shoulders
-Peanut Butter
-Today is a Birthday!

·Theme connections
-Alphabet
-Emotions
-Families
-Insects
-Opposites

·Type of rhyme
-action rhymes
-sleepy time
-tongue twisters
-riddles
-sequencing ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great resource for working with young children
If you are a teacher, daycare worker, or just like to have a lot of ideas for young children you will love this book! Jackie Silberg and Pam Schiller have compiled a collection of over 700 children's rhymes, songs, poems, fingerplays and chants. What a wonderful nostalgic trip as I turned through the pages and read rhymes and chants that I have not heard since my early childhood. Jumprope chants, skipping songs, songs for hand clapping games, they are all here. Examples include Aiken Drum, Baby Bumblebee, the Bear Went Over the Mountain, The Cow, Dr. Foster Went to Gloucester, Five Little Ducks, Going on a Bear Hunt, I Have a Loose Tooth, John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, Over in the Meadow, Sippin' Cider Through a Straw, and Zum Gali Gali. Each of the items is followed by a Theme Connection to allow you to quickly apply the song or chant to a particular theme such as counting, chickens, cooking, pets, emotions, or families. While most people would have no problem figuring out a theme to which they apply, the advantage here is that not only are the songs and chants listed alphabetically in the index, but there is also a thematic index to allow you to quickly find an appropriate song or chant. "The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants" is a very highly recommended purchase for anyone dealing with young children.

A Wonderful Resource
I think this book is great. It is a massive collection of the old, the favorite, and all those songs and rhymes that are on the tip of your tongue, but you can't remember. This is a book to buy and keep handy, both for teachers and for parents. You will be able to grab it and quickly find what you are looking for.

This would also be a great gift for new parents or teachers.

Very disappointed; very old fashion; the same old stuff.
I have attended workshops with Silberg and thought her stuff to be fairly good. This book was a lot of money for a lot of older material; which has not even been changed to bring it forward for today! It was disappointing and disheartening! ... Read more

Amazon.com

For Christian families that want to weave inspirational messages intotheir children's day-to-day lives, Marjorie Ainsborough Decker's time-testedapproach will be very appealing. For more than 20 years, Decker's ChristianMother Goose books (Rock-A-ByeBible, Bless My LittleFriends, etc.) have tenderly welcomed young readers to the Christianway. Combining the whimsy and enduring appeal of traditional Mother Goose rhymeswith stirring words about Jesus, the Bible, and God's love, Decker portrays akinder, gentler world. Here, in an extra-large volume, are adapted versions of53 favorite classics, from "Old Mother Hubbard" to "Twinkle Twinkle" to"Rub-A-Dub-Dub." Under Decker's hand, "Three Blind Mice" becomes "Three KindMice":

Three kind mice,
See what they've done!
They helped a lost chick
To find Mother Hen,
They brought some food
To the church mice, then
They cleaned up the tree house
For Jenny Wren,
Those three kind mice.

Reviews (1)

Mother Goose w/ a Christian Twist
This book takes the traditional nursery rhymes and gives it Christian inspirational messages and meanings. Great Nursery Rhyme Book ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hilarious and fun!!
"Bedtime Stories for Dogs" is one of the funniest and most CREATIVE books that I have EVER read. It is WONDERFUL for anyone who has a favorite dog and it makes a SUPERB gift. I have several at my house on hand as gifts and have already given many copies to my family and friends.

Leigh Anne Jasheway is a creative GENIUS. I was amazed at her humor and talent as she adapted fairy tales and nursery rhymes to a more "canine perspective." These stories are not "fluff." They show a creative talent that I sincerely hope Jasheway will pursue in additional works. The book is approximately 100 pages and on quality paper.

I sent one copy to my sister who is an executive in Colorado (with two degrees and a Masters). She was laughing so hard that she proceeded to call our mother long-distance and READ her one of the stories over the phone!

Some of the delightful stories include: "The Three Little Pugs," "Snow White and the Seven Chihuahuas," "Goldilocks and the Three Cats," and more. These are tales that will delight not only your pets, but are sure to amuse children and friends.

You will LOVE this book!

Five Stars
So cute. This book has the cutest stories. I even bought one for the kennel I worked at. Good bedtime stories for dogs and people.

What a hoot, sure to keep kids' attention - and yours!
If you have a dog or just love dogs, this re-telling of classic fairy tales using dogs as main characters (dachsunds, chihuahuas, etc) is hilarious and so much fun to read. Saw this one at a friend's house, read it to my kids and knew we HAD to have a permanent copy.

hilarious! Good for the whole family, even the humans!
The author used just enough of the word "dog" to keep my dogs' attentions. How much more of these stories they understood is up for debate. Reading these canine versions of fairy tales and nursery rhymes was quality time spent with my dog children ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A fun, fantastic collection of songs and rhymes
This book is very enjoyable. The translations are top notch and it is fun for the whole family! My kids love it! We sing and clap and dance and sing some more!

Los pollitos dicen
This book gives me a chance to learn not only in spanish but in english also! Excellent book with nursery rhymes and chants during games! Would rate higher though if it came with a cassette tape or CD to play along. ... Read more

Book Description

Join the fun as 17 familiar nursery rhyme characters take starring roles in this latest additionto the New York Times bestselling series You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You. Designed with budding readers in mind, each of the tales is set in three columns with color-coded type as a script for two voices to read separately and together. Whether it’s Humpty Dumpty negotiating with a doctor to fix his cracked shell, Little Miss Muffet inviting the spider to share her curds and whey, or Old King Cole enjoying a feline fiddle recital, these tales with a twist will delight and amuse young readers. ... 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

Book Description

Four African American children interact with one another in a pre-school environment and in so doing explore their facial features, skin tones, what they wear, what they do and how they learn from and enjoy each other ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A simple, poetic read for young children
Sorry, but the editorial review above does not describe the book "Bright Eyes, Brown Skin" by Cheryl Hudson. I'm not sure what story it refers to, but Bright Eyes is a simple, repetitive book with wonderful pictures showing African American children enjoying a day at school. There is no real story line to it, but it is a good book for young children anyway!

Bright Eyes, Brown skin
A charming foursome, Alexa, Ethan, Jordan, and Olivia enjoy a day in kindergarten. The vibrant, detailed pictures and large print, rhyming text provide many opportunities for interaction between the reader and child. Perfect for a beginning reader (5-7) as well as a younger child (3-4). This is one of the few books I have seen for young African-American children that highlights their uniqueness and makes them feel special. My four year old is delighted with this book which has become her favorite bedtime story. Also a nice preparation for pre-school or kindergarten. ... Read more

Book Description

Singer-songwriter Jos&eacute-Luis Orozco has assembled a collection of finger rhymes and other action songs from Latin America. Including favorites such as "The Wheels on the Bus" as well as folk songs from a variety of Spanish-speaking countries,Diez Deditos is a treat for the eyes, ears, and fingers. Lyrics are presented in both English and Spanish, and easy-to-follow musical accompaniment and diagrams for the corresponding actions are also provided. As in the companion volume De Colores, bright collage illustrations by Elisa Kleven complete the appeal of this fun-filled book. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Diez Deditos
The author, Jose Luis Orozco, is a bilingual educator/singer who keeps English-speaking and Spanish-speaking children interested throughout his books and accompanying music. As a substitute teacher, I have used his books and tapes extensively in elementary school classes over the years. I have had the privilege of attending his concerts at elementary schools several times and have thoroughly enjoyed his work.

I recommend the two books authored by Jose Luis Orozco, that I have purchased and read many times with students.

Fun Spanish starter
I bought this book & the accompanying CD. To be honest, I don't use the book to sing along with the CD as much as I thought I would. But...when I do, it is great. There are wonderful, colorful pictures, English & Spanish words to every song, and an explanation of the origin/tradition of the song. Lots of fun, I hope my 15 month old is absorbing some of it.

Great with the album, not so great by itself.
I got the book and the music album together and I absolutely love them. The book makes the music a lot more meaningful-- even if you know enough Spanish to understand the music, the book is still useful to show you finger-plays and dances to go along with it. However, I wouldn't have gotten much out of the book by itself. Unless you are really good at reading music, get the album too.

Great book from infants to preschoolers
This is a great book that both my kids love. I also got the CD that goes with it. The illustrations are very interesting and filled with details. If you can read music you can also play the songs along. I highly recommend it.

Fabulous!!!! Yes, buy the music too!!!!
My husband and I bought the book and CD to accompany it. Fabulous! The book's illustrations are rich and vibrant, with lyrics, with music, and hand signs too! Both of our daughters (3yo and 1 yo) LOVE the music and follow along with the book making the hand/body motions. It is the kind of children's music that is gentle and enjoyable to the adult ear. Great family fun! ... 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

Amazon.com

Lots of people know the nursery rhyme, "Hey Diddle Diddle," but hasanyone ever thought about what happens each night after it's read? The dish runsaway with the spoon, and, presumably, they come back later, otherwise the rhymecouldn't go on without them. But one night, when the dish and spoon take off,they simply don't return! The fiddle-playing cat, laughing dog (who turns out tobe quite a grump when he's not playing his part), and the sleepy, moon-hoppingcow set out to search for their missing friends. Along the way they encounterLittle Boy Blue, the spider from "Little Miss Muffet," Humpty Dumpty'srepairman, and a big bad wolf. But will they catch up with the dish and thespoon before the next reading? And can all of them dodge the dangers of anafter-hours, fairy-tale world?

Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel pick up where the nursery rhyme leavesoff in this witty, entertaining romp. Young readers will "laugh to see suchsport," as characters from fairy tales and Mother Goose mingle, make puns, andoccasionally join forces to find the wandering tableware. The hilarious facialexpressions and lively scenes by Janet Stevens invite readers to stay a while oneach page. Stevens is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor BookTops and Bottoms. She andher sister-collaborator have previously teamed up on Cook-a-Doodle-Doo!, Shoe Town, and Tumbleweed Stew. (Ages 5 to 8)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Can we read the Dish & Spoon book again Mommy?
My 4 1/2 year old daughter absolutely loves this book. We originally borrowed it from the library, but she was heartbroken when it had to be returned. Although we've read it at least a dozen times, the story, familiar nursery rhymes and whimsical, beautiful pictures continue to grasp her interest. Parents will also enjoy this book, since it is written in a manner for both adults and children. I especially like the point where the characters traveling down the path come to a fork in the road, and it is actually a "fork" in the road, which will help them look for "spoon". I am always delighted when my daughter, Kelly, chooses this book for her bedtime selection.

Educational and Entertaining
My son and I checked this book out from the library when he was about 2 1/2, and he loved it! I did, too. In addition to being fun and clever, with delightful illustrations, the book was a great launching point for further discussions in three areas. First, the word play offers lots of chances for parents to begin explaining jokes, cliches and puns. (And I appreciated that the humor was engaging on both child and adult levels!) Second, the involvement of other Mother Goose characters is a natural lead-in to further reading. In fact, after reading "And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon," we returned to the library for a good Mother Goose collection and went through it looking for now-familiar characters. And third, it is a great way to introduce map-reading skills. My son pretended to draw and read maps after reading this book, and he now understands that miles and directions (north, south, east and west) are ways of expressing where things are.

Awesome.
The school that I teach at is performing this play tonight. It has come along great and going to be very cute live and in person. Very good book!

The Rest of the Story
This delightful twist on the familiar nursery rhyme gives us "the rest of the story" by telling what Cow, Dog, and Cat must do to rescue a missing Dish and Spoon. The witty text includes frequent word plays-one of the characters is the Fork in the road (dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses), and Dog complains that she's "dog-tired." The story is also replete with references to other nursery rhymes-in the climax a Giant chases Dish and Spoon down a beanstalk and a quick and nimble repairman named Jack mends the broken plate.

The static characters of the nursery rhyme are reinterpreted in this story so that Dog, Cow, and Cat display full personalities as they work together to deal with Dish and Spoon's disappearance. Cat is the leader taking charge; Cow is a mellow, but lazy, tag-along, and Dog is a somewhat sarcastic pessimist whose true colors come shining through when she comes to the rescue with the Dish's missing piece.

Every so often the narrative is interrupted with a rhyme that sets the stage for the next part of the adventure. For example, as the characters set off on their search the rhyme reads, "So, off went the three with a hey diddle dee by the light of the silvery moon-the cat with his fiddle, the cow, and the dog, to bring back the dish and the spoon." These rhymes are set in a larger typeface than the rest of the text and are arranged in a square around illustrations at the center of the page, enhancing the feeling of movement as the characters travel along.

This clever and unexpected story with its soft, yet colorful and active illustrations should draw the attention of both adults and children alike, reminding them that there's more to every story than we may at first realize.

Crummel and Stevens at their best.
I am an avid fan of Stevens and Crummel and this book is by far my favorite of the books they have done. The pictures are outstanding. The way the old nursury rhymes are interpreted is wonderful, the interactions of the characters are funny (even for adults, maybe even more so.) If you like good picturebooks, this one will not disappoint. I highly recommend this book. I do read-alouds with my students (middle school) every year, and every year when I read this book, by the end of the year I have had 15 to 20 requests to see and hear it again. The great thing is that when I do read this one aloud, they are all listening and enjoying the story. Buy it! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

More of a picture book
Though the illustrations ARE lovely, the nursery rhymes are incomplete, shortened versions of the real thing. If you want a picture book, you can't go wrong with this one, but for the classic Mother Goose nursery rhymes, sadly, this book does not deliver.

My second perchase of the same book. Book #1 loved to rags.
This is the definative mursery rhyme book. It has all the classics and a few I was not familliar with. Either way, beautifully written. Illistrations you will want to frame, and the children are facinated by at an early age. This will be my 2nd purchase of this title since my grandchildren can't get enough. The more times I read it the closer we have become. This is an heirloom at our house. Hope you enjoy as much as we have. ... 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

This book is about a Rat, a Cat, a Cow over the moon, and a Baby humming a tune. It's about what the Bug did to the rug. It's about how the Egg fell off the wall. It's about the crazy mayhem that can occur when nursery rhymes go awry. Children and adults alike will enjoy reading this book over and over."This one will wow even the most sophisticated." --Kirkus Reviews, pointer review"Clever, madcap text. A twisted treat in rhyme and pictures." -- Children's Book Review Service Jon Scieszka is the author of many books for children, including the Caldecott Honor Book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!, the Time Warp Trio series, and most recently Math Curse. Daniel Adel is an illustrator whose work has appeared in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A wonderful book!
I'm a student teacher and I have used this book in the class I'm with and they love it! The words are powerful and have a very interesitng rhyming pattern. Each page has a new line, that explains the page before.

What I like best about this books is how is repeats itself over and over. The kids love it. Towards the end of the book, they were saying it along with me.

The illustraions are INCREDIBLE!!!

If you're a teacher, I highly suggest you get this book. If you're a parent, I highly suggest you buy this book. You won't be sorry.

Incessant giggling
This book starts a complete and utter 'gigglefest' at my house every time it's read (which is quite often!), we discovered it from the library and now it's a favorite gift item for all the children that we know. The characters and illustrations are great, and my 5 year old son just loves seeing these well known characters (from other stories) present in this fun book.

Wonderful pictures and powerful language
This book has been a favorite of my 6 year old son since he was 3 or so. For quite a while, it was almost an every evening affair. Now that he's older, he is starting to realize pieces are taken from other stories, and the wonderful circular silliness really appeals to him. Finally, it's a wonderful book to read aloud, playing games with rhythm and speed. Few of his books have held his interest for so long and continue to delight him. How much more do you want in a children's book?

Very clever, very sinister
I agree with the reader who said it's for parents, not necessarily their children. The illustrations are astonishing and darkly humorous, but really too cynical for the very young children it is marketed for. Adults: read and enjoy. I haven't met a child yet who didn't put it down almost immediately.

This book was written for parents, not children!!
Take your time looking at this book and understanding the complexity of the order of the tale as well as the wonderful way you "peel" back the pages. This story delights my five year old and more importantly makes me laugh after a tough day at work. ... Read more

Book Description

The well-known children's song is illustrated using a die-cutting technique that stays with one picture but reveals each new animal 'swallowed' as we come to it in the verses of the song. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Delightfully Silly
Perhaps I was just in a weird mood when I first read this book to my son, but I just found it laugh out loud hilarious. The expressions on the old lady's face are just too much, and the clever running commentary by the about-to-be-swallowed animals just adds to the fun.

The artwork is colorful and detailed, and there is plenty of little details for a smartalecky kid (or a smartalecky adult) to pick out of the background. My son loved this book and so did I. I would heartily recommend it. I will actively seek out other books by Simms Tayback.

LOVE THIS BOOK!
I remember singing "There was an Old Lady..." all the time in preschool, so when I found out that there was a book of this song, I had to buy it for my baby daughter. Not only is the song fun to sing, but the book is fun to read as well with its vibrant colors and cartoony illustrations. This is an excellent sing along book!

Fun to Read
I don't know of many stories that are more fun to read. My daughter loves the animals and the bright pictures. The words will keep her attention through about half the book usually. She is still young though and some of the pages towards the end get a little long. The book is probably better suited for children 2 and older.

I love this story
I love to read this book the children in school.

It is a silly story and I try to make each child in the circle
one of the things in the Old Lady's belly as we go along. At the end of the book they almost know all the parts by heart!!

An old favourite updated
The illustrations are wonderful and the story is fun.My kids love it, they are aged 6,4,2 .Highly recommended. The people who have given this book a bad review are taking life too seriously. I also recommend "Walter the Farting Dog", "Dirty Bertie" and "Frank Was A Monster Who Wanted To Dance".These are all fun books for children and put laughter into reading! ... Read more