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

Book Description

Jack Prelutsky is widely acknowledged as the poet laureate of the younger generation. (And many people would happily see him crowned with no age qualification.) The New Kid on the Block and Something Big Has Been Here are household words wherever there are kids.

Here is another wondrously rich, varied, clever - and always funny - collection. Meet Miss Misinformation, Swami Gourami, and Gladiola Gloppe (and her Soup Shoppe), and delight in a backwards poem, a poem that ever ends, and scores of others that will be changed, read, and loved by readers of every age. The Prelutsky-Stevenson duo is irresistible. Whether you begin at the beginning or just open the book at random, you won't stop smiling.

Reviews (12)

Engaging! Hilarious! Great fun!
Jack Prelutsky's A Pizza The Slice of the Sun is the talk of my reading classes! The poems are a terrific way to engage my remedial readers' thinking skills while tickling their funny bones -- even on a bad day! They look forward to the silly, creative ways Mr. Prelutsky looks at life, and often ask for an extra "listening skills" activity just to get to hear another round of silly poems. We often use the Random House Book of Poetry for Children edited by Prelutsky and Lobel as well. Another classic sure to put a grin on everyone's face! Who says poetry has to be boring?!? A definite MUST HAVE for any classroom library!

My Daughter Loved It!
Young girls budding on becoming teenagers are hard to please...but this book did it.

My 10 year old loved the book and I frequently enjoy hearing her read it to her younger sibling.

I feel it teaches children as they are reading it. Not only does it teach them poetry and poems, it also teaches them it is ok to have fun in life...a difficult concept for serious children.

I would recommend this book to those who have children who enjoy reading and need help in prioritization.

Just OK
The book A Pizza the Size of the Sun by Jack Prelusty was just okay. I gave this book two stars. My favorite poem was "I Was Walking in a Circle" because it keeps going on and on. Some of the poems were boring. I would not recommend this book to anyone else because I do not like poetry.

FUN FUN FUN and FUNNIER!
We love this book! My twin 8 year olds and I read this from time to time for a really good laugh. Everyone takes turns and it makes for enjoyable reading and sharing. A great way to capture the hesitant reader! Silly poetry that is just plain FUN!

a real kid pleaser
My grandsons....ages 8, 3 and 2...all love this CD. We play it every morning on the way to school and they all sing along. To say I recommend it would be an understatement ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Absolutely Amazing
A former teacher gave this book to me recently as a gift of comfort-- my mom died a few months ago of cancer. At first I was skeptical- how could a book written for young children who witnessed 9/11 help me deal with my situation? But then I opened it and started reading. I was extremely moved. Ms. Heard has done an incredible job of putting together some very high-quality poems and finding the right people to illustrate them (the pictures are also beautiful). The best part for me is that the book includes poems which look at greif from all angles: from words about crying and despair to lines about the fact that there is hope and not everything is lost. I would recommend this book highly to ANYONE dealing with any type of major loss/trauma, or anyone who simply enjoys good poetry and illustration.

Comfort & Hope
Though 9/11 events were the inspiration for this book, it can be cherished by anyone who has experienced a set-back or loss. I strongly recommend "This Place I Know" as a sympathy gift or as a resource for someone who is hurting. ... 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

Amazon.com

Even if there were no wonderful poetry in this book (which there is), it would stand onits own as a stunning tribute to children's illustration. Nine Caldecott medalists are representedhere, including MauriceSendak, ArnoldLobel, and Leo and DianeDillon. This meaty selection of more than 100 poems includes many old favorites such as"The Gingerbread Man" by Rowena Bennett and poems by A.A. Milne and e.e.cummings, as well as limericks, humorous verse, and contributions from many cultures.Each section of poems--grouped by themes ranging from "Spooky Poems" to"Mostly Nonsense"--is illustrated by a different artist. You'll find biographical notesabout the illustrators and indexes to the poems by title, first line, and author. Any collector ofbeautiful children's books--young or not so young--will sing a song of glee while leafing throughthis excellent collection. (Ages 4 to 9) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A great addition of any bookshelf
This marriage of poetry and illustrations is like no other. As an educator I enjoy the layout of the book. The poems are divided into categories such as poems about weather, spooky poems, and animal poems. The illustrations are by Caldecott Medal artists - the best of the best! I have purchased countless copies of Sing a Song of Popcorn as it is a perfect gift to give to families to celebrate the arrival of a new baby. It is a book that all members of the family can enjoy - the young ones will enjoy the rhyming patterns of some of the poems and the silliness of others. The adults will treasure the inclusion of such classic poems as Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and Jack Prelutsky's entertaining "The Spaghetti Nut".

Collection of fantastic poems
You don't have to be a certain age to enjoy this book, full of wonderful poems from various well known poets. There is a poem for every walk of life in this book. This book is sure to be on your shelf for many years to come!

An excellent resource for elementary teachers :)
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of poetry and the beautiful illustrations which accompany. As a kindergarten teacher, I found the anthology to be an invaluable resource for introducing young children (or any children) to the world of poetry. : ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. "These nonsense verses combine the domestic and the gross, deadpan and slapstick, with a lilting rhythm and satisfying rhyme. The poets are well-known contemporaries including Prelutsky, Silverstein, Kuskin, Lobel, Viorst, and many more. The design is ebullient. Start or end story hour with these verses, and kids will know reading's a pleasure."--(starred) Booklist. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Terrific and disturbingly real...
There's a sense of time gone by, a lot of these deaths were real for kids and the author's intentions are interesting to ponder. He was/is a great artist.

Non Better a Belloc: Cautionary Tales for Children reviewed
Edward Gorey's first major posthumous publication is like a newly forged work, with freshness and originality. Published several times since 1907, Harcourt's reprint of "Cautionary Tales for Children" contains sixty-one new illustrations enfolding the 95-year old verse, and the result is very satisfying.

Gorey created these illustrations several years ago, but for some reason, chose not publish them while he was alive. Gorey's Victorian style is a delightful fit for Belloc's verse. In fact, those already familiar with Belloc's Cautionary Tales or Cautionary Verses series may very well conclude that they were strong influences for Gorey's "The Beastly Baby", "The Gashlycrumb Tines", "The Epipleptic Bicycle" and others. Certainly, many of the verses in Cautionary Tales feel like they could have been written by Gorey: "Jim, Who ran away from his Nurse, and was eaten by a Lion", "Henry King, Who chewed on bits of String, and was early cut off in Dreadful Agonies", "Matilda, Who told Lies, and was Burned to Death", and so on. Unlike the original cartoonish illustrations by Blackwood, Gorey's illustrations simply set the stage - the big moment is then played out in the imagination. It is Edward Gorey's delightful magic, at work.

Glen Emil... ... 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)

EXCELLENT RECOMMENDED READING
This wonderful book of elementary school life poems was a recommended summer reading for my 5th grader. I thank the one who recommended it. She loves it. I recommend it for all ages...I love it too and I'm a few decades past the 5th grade. Get this one for your child and he/she will thank you with their pleasure of the book and their reading to you.

If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand
This book, so acurately subtitled "Poems About School," is a hit with students and teachers alike. Ms Dakos takes everyday elementary school situations and problems, and -- through her poetry-- manages to pinpoint the goings on in every classroom in America using humor and sensitivity. The student with the messiest desk, the boy who cries at the drop of a hat, the new kid who hates math, the child who comes to class with more alibis than homework assignments, the children who just can't follow the rules, are all members of the class in Ms Dakos' first book, "If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand-- Poems About School." This is truly a "class" anthology! ... Read more

Book Description

Fatherhood is celebrated with honor, humor, and grace in this intergenerational collection of poetry by new and established African-American writers. The book testifies to the powerful bond between father and child, with a profound message to people everywhere that family is the greatest gift and that fathers are among the most influential heroes. Twelve outstanding poems come to life through the spirited artwork of Javaka Steptoe. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I AM TALL
This collection of poems honoring fathers and grandfathers effectively opens with the Ashanti proverb, "When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him." The proverb sets the tone for the rest of the book. The poems offer brilliant, descriptive language that most readers, who share the same wonderful thoughts of their own fathers, can quickly identify. The book includes a variety of poems, each with its own perspective on fathers. "Tickle, Tickle" is a fun poem author Dakari Hru wrote in remembrance of all those amusing moments children share with their fathers as they are tickled. "The things in Black Men's Closets" is a more serious poem describing a father's clothing he selects to wear as he gets ready for a funeral. Steptoe skillfully and attractively illustrated all of the poems. He artistically created his illustrations using a combination of painting and collages made from a variety of materials. Each illustration is bright, colorful, and distinctive.

Wrapping up in Daddy's Arms
In Daddy's Arms I am Tall is a beautiful tribute to all fathers. Children will enjoy these unique and inspirational poems. The poem offers students an opportunity to look into the African American culture. The poem My Granddaddy is My Daddy Too represents a very true to life situation in a positive light. This book will be enjoyed not only for the poetry, but also for the amazing artwork. The illustrator,Javaka Steptoe uses all sorts of materials including pennies and burlap to create his art. Children and adults will enjoy looking at the vibrant pictures and trying to figure out what media was used in the illustrations. Readers are given background knowledge to get a better understanding of the poems. At the end of the book, the author gives biographical information about each of the poets featured in the book. Steptoe also complements his wonderful artwork with an informative paragraph on the last page of the book. Readers are given specific examples of the media used and the different sizes of the real images. This information is very inspiring and exciting to the reader. Children and adults will enjoy wrapping up in Daddy's arms!

The artwork is beautiful
I bought the book for me. I was in a bookstore just walking around when I ran into this book on one of the display tables and not in the African American section where it would normally be. I glanced through the book and knew that this book was something I wanted in my collection. Only problem I have with this book is I don't know whether to put it with my art books or with my poetry books. Hmmm, maybe I should buy a second copy. Excellent for the kids.

All Students Relate...
This poetry book contains several poems written by a variety of authors all focusing on black fathers and father figures. It contains poems that seem to be told by children about why their fathers are important to them. The poems might contain fond thoughts of something a father may do or feelings of comfort and safety that a child might feel when being near his or her father. There are poems that are told by adults explaining how their fathers helped them to be what they are today. . One of my favorite poems entitled ¡°My Granddaddy is My Daddy Too,¡± is told from the point of view of a child that is proud to say that his granddaddy is the only daddy he knows, and that he has been a great one at that. When I read some of these poems to my second grade class, many of my students really identified with this one because so many of them do not even know their fathers. These poems would definitely appeal to all students due to their variety. Regardless of the race of the children they can all relate to parts of these poems that would in a way help students to understand different races a little better. Students may begin to understand that all children have similar feelings about their fathers, regardless of their race. This may help children to realize that they are not all that different from people of other cultures. My students really enjoyed these poems and I did too!

A book for everyone
The poems and illustrations in the book are honest, touching and evocative. Some of the poems remind me of Gary Snyder's Axe Handle. In english literature, the percentage of poems with positive parent/child relationships is few. It's good to see new literature addressing the power and importance of the parent/child bond. Most of the great literary works in the last two centuries paint the parent as the barrier to one's own greatness, instead of the foundation of a child's future success. I enjoyed reading the book and hope more authors write about the special bond between parent and their childern. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Amazon.com

"It's awfully awfully awful / when you can't make up your mind!"For one poor boy, this indecision takes the form of dozens of Seussian Hunches--a Sour Hunch, a Very Odd Hunch, the Homework Hunch, a Four-Way Hunch, the Nowhere Hunch--all with elaborate finger-pointing hats and strong opinions of their own. Pretty soon the boy's head is "frightfully ga-fluppted" and "murky-mooshy:"

By now my mind was so mixed up
I really didn't know
if I wanted to go to the barber shop
or to Boise, Idaho.

After much arguing and "barg-uing" and shoving and yelling, a decision is made and our hero follows a Munch Hunch to lunch. The nonsense and cleverly crafted message in Hunches in Bunches is right up to par with Dr. Seuss's many other classic picture books. It's easy to become overwhelmed by advice when you have a mind--but can't make it up.Sometimes the best plan is to trust your own hunches, and disregard the vocal bunch of Hunches clamoring for attention. This makes a great gift for well-meaning flakes and ditherers of all ages. (Ages 4 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

If you have ADD, this is a fun way to look at it!
This is definitely one of my favorites! It is a book that is different than most and is very enjoyable. Allows kids (and multi-tasking parents) to see the importance of staying on task.

one of my least favorite suess books
I ADORE Dr. Seuss. In fact, I'm pretty sure that his work is the source of a sizeable chunk of my love for language in general, and for poetry. In fact, I think my love for Shakespeare started as a child, with Dr. Suess. This stuff was really profound for me.

But I have to say, if Geisel really did write this one, he was NOT in top form. The music of his language is missing - some of the verses are downright clunky, and the usual depth is lost in horrific lines like "... together we'll trot to some real cool spot and play a few video games."

Maybe he was trying to be contemporary. And some of the illustrations here really ARE wonderful, but I have to say, this Seuss lover (who now spends as much as an hour and a half a day reading the stuff to his own daughter, who love it) finds this one way off the mark.

Taking Charge of Internal Debates
Children usually do not realize that the internal dialogue in the mind is a source of confusion and distraction for almost everyone. The great strength of this book is to make that psychological reality tangible and to address ways to deal with it. You also give the parent a chance to share her or his perspective on internal voices. The book's key point is that you should consider all the perspectives that occur to you, compare them, and choose a good one to pursue.

"Do you ever sit and fidget

when you don't know what to do . . . ?"

"My trouble was I had a mind.

But I couldn't make it up."

"Oh, you get so many hunches . . . ."

In the story, the hunches include one to do homework, another to go play video games, yet another to fix the rusting bicycle, while another suggests a bathroom break. As the hunches build, the decision gets harder. Thinking about it just adds more hunches.

The key point is:

"Make your mind up! . . .

Only you can make your mind up!"

The suggested method is to split yourself into several people and to decide what to do by letting each one represent a hunch. To me, that's a variation on the Benjamin Franklin method of putting each choice down on a piece of paper with a list of the pros and cons for each. Then compare the lists.

If everyone learned that method at a young age, it would be wonderful! A lot of adults still need to learn this lesson, so don't limit your gift giving of this book to youngsters!

After you finish this book, I suggest that you encourage your child to verbalize his or her urges. Then talk to her or him about how he or she is sorting it all out.

Take the best choice, rather than the most impulsive one!

Hunches in Bunches
This book is great for children. It was my little sister'sfavorite for years. ... Read more

Book Description

Just in time for back-to-school book bags, here is a collection of limericks about a very unusual school. From the superjock who is so shy he can barely say hello to the weird teacher whose students are mysteriously turning into statues, readers will laugh themselves silly at all the fun that makes up one very odd school year. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Colorful and poetic
This was one of all time favorite books as a child. It's not a story per say, however, its' value lies in its' ability to teach even the youngest of kids about feelings, emotions and "color" through poetry. Each page dedicates itself to a different color and describes the essences and feelings that those colors evoke in us. It's a very useful teaching tool for young children in the primary grades.

Hailstones and Halibut Bones
This was my absolute favorite book when I was in elementary school. Now that I have 2 small children of my own, I have rediscovered it with them. The poems are soothing to hear on a lazy afternoon and the colors are as fresh as watercolor can get. After reading it to the kids, I go back and indulge myself and read it again. Definitely a rainy day pick!

Color It: Delight!
This slim book was originally published in 1961 and by now, we may safely call it a classic. The title is taken from her poem "What is White?" A series of poems each entitled "What Is--- (Green, Gold, Red, Blue, etc.)" describes in ways you have never thought of what exactly the color is. I have never found the child who was not fascinated by the ideas presented and usually had a few additions of his/her own to add. I always thought this vivid book would bring much pleasure to a blind person who had never "seen" a color. Ms. O'Neill brings the feel, the taste and the mood of each color to a shimmering life of its own.

--the purple feeling

is rather put out.

The purple look is a

Definite pout.

But the purple sound

Is the loveliest thing

It's a violet opening

In the spring.

My Third Graders LOVED It!!
As a teacher I have struggled to find new and innovative ways to instill a love of poetry in my students. This wonderful book of poems was such a big hit with my students that I bought extra copies for our classroom library. Mary O'Neill's style of writing introduced the concept of poetry without overwhelming the children. They were eager to write and share their own color poems after listening to this collection of easy to follow poems. They also couldn't wait to take the book home to share with their families. This is a great choice to use as a read aloud or as part of a poetry unit for grades 3 and 4.

HAILSTONES AND HALIBUT BONES
I haven't seen the new edition, but the original was loved by my children in the 60's and now is a welcome addition to my 5 year old grandson's library. Don't wait until they are 9 to begin reading this classic to children. It's a winner. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this delightful companion to Jack Prelutsky's The New Kid on the Block, an early worm frightens the early bird, four vain and ancient tortoises race to see who can get to the finish line last, and outrageous imaginary characters such as the "Know-Nothing Neebies" ("We're perfectly pompous, / indelibly dense, / we haven't a trace / of a semblance of sense") pop up as magically as any creature from The Phantom Tollbooth or The Wizard of Oz ever did.

In "Captain Conniption," young readers will giggle to meet the self-professed "scourge of the sea." "I'm Captain Conniption, / and up to no good, / you'll soon walk the plank / if I think that you should, / I'd show you right now / how I vanquish a foe, / but I hear my mother, / so I have to go." Other subjects near and dear to children's hearts make fabulous fodder for fun, including sibling rivalry, bad table manners, meatloaf, and bats. Illustrator James Stevenson's lively line drawings capture Prelutsky's goofy poetic antics perfectly, making this collection another essential addition to any child's library. (Ages 4 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Silly, goofy and fun fun fun!
This collection of Jack Prelutsky's silly and goofy poems is a must-have in any self-respecting poetry collection. The subjects of the poems range from mask-wearing earthworms to a room-trashing robot; from wishes to be bigger, to fishing in the desert. Children will laugh at the fearsome pirate "Captain Conniption," terror of the seas, who always obeys his mother. Many will sympathize with the longing of the boy in "My Brother is a Quarterback" who yearns to be a great athlete like his brother is.

"I Wave Goodbye When Butter Flies" is an excellent example of the oddities of the English language. The poem turns such common phrases as "pocket change" and "coffee break" on their ears and makes them into something new. There are subtle puns on condiments in "We're Fearless Flying Hotdogs" (can you find the one for saurkraut?). The emptyheadedly happy expressions on the five flying franks make the whole idea even funnier.

James Stevenson's line drawings accentuate the levity and absurdity of the poems. His artwork for "An Elephant is Hard to Hide" demonstrates even better than words the impossibility of stuffing an elephant into a dresser drawer. The expression of glee on the face of the boy reveling in "Mold, Mold" is identical to expressions seen in mud puddley schoolyards.

This volume is a treasure for both children and adults. It's a great way to spend some time laughing with a child (or by yourself).

great for kids of all ages
I ADORE this book. I've been reading and re-reading it since I was in middle school and still get a kick out of the bizarre, witty and hilarious poems and the great variety in the vocabulary. It's one of my "happy books" I read when I'm depressed. Prelutsky is a genius when it comes to poetry for kids (and the young-at-heart!). Get this book, if you have any sense of humor or the absurd you'll love it.

A book we both enjoy!
My eight yr. old loves Jack Prelutsky's poems (she has three of his books) but it is also a book that both of us enjoy reading. The poems are very funny and the words he uses are wonderfully descriptive and have expanded her vocabulary. We both highly recommend this book and others by Jack Prelutsky.

POet of the Century
Jack Prelutsky is far and away the best poet for kids. Hisverse is full of the joy of life and a chuckle or two, as well as hissignature multisyllabic vocabulary, and it's all wonderful to read aloud. Keep a copy in the car for the kids to read while you drive.

A EXTREMLY FUNNY, entertaining group of poems.
I loved the poem "The Turkey Shot out of the Oven!" The whole book is a great collection of poems that make Jack Prelutsky shine. Everyone no matter what age, needs this book! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Short and not-so-sweet
Roald Dahl once said the secret to writing a good kid's book is to conspire with the children against adults, and this book is a perfect example of that.

This is for the child (and adult) who feels the bears in the Goldilocks were victims of a breaking-and-entering little vandal, who really would like to see a more self-empowered red riding hood, and who thinks that third little pig was a smug git who'd probably taste good on rye with a bit of mustard.

The only flaw with the book is its brevity. You can read the whole book aloud in about a half-hour. One is really left wanting more. (Thurber wrote some good fables in a similar vein, but they're less for children and more dated.)

Creative and Funny
Some reviewers are "revolted" by the gruesomeness of this little book, whilst others complained it was too short. I have niether of the two compaliants. I loved it! and so did the seven year old little girl, for whom the book was given to as a christmas present. I think Dahl was specially creative in this little book twisting and turning classical children tales into salacious, hilariously funny rhythms that you can read over and over again and still manage a chuckle here and there. And thinking this is too "mature" for younger readers is underestimating the intelligence and imagination of children. Yes, there are some play on words that you have to explain to your little one, but you know what? they'll ask you anyway. As for the size of this book, It's just right. Dahl took the basic popular children stories that everyone knows and i think it's just the right dose and besides, you can take this book anywhere, like the sevenyear and read it to your friends, cousins, neighbors and anyone who she suspects of having a sense of humour. It teaches us about having a boundless imagination and exploring the what ifs of stories. It's another favourite.

Hilarious!
If your kids like Shel Silverstein, Dr. Seuss and the Brothers Grim, they will absolutely devour these rhyming stories that twist traditional fairy tales into hilarious parody. My daughter used to enjoy reading them aloud to anyone who would listen. She thought it was a work of genius that everyone should be intimately familiar with. You'll love it too!

warning...not for the young
We bought this book because my daughter loves all of Roald Dahl's books. Fortunately, her teacher and I read it first because we came across the word "slut." I decided to shelve this book until my daughter is old enough to know what a "slut" is. I am extremely careful about what my kids are exposed to. I have placed blocks on the television channels that they are not allowed to watch, I read all their books first and censor their music. If you are like me, you'll want to skip this book.

Discombobulated Nursery Rhymes -- a review by Chris(...)
Really revolting rhymes! Roald Dahl takes your normal nursery rhymes, mixes them up a bit, adds a touch of his magic, and voila -- you have a hilarious bunch of rhymes. For example, Goldilocks joins up with and helps the three little pigs, and Cinderella gets a bit gory because the prince gets mad ... and he has an axe!

This is another hilarious classic by Roald Dahl for ages 5 to 103. For those of you who like those stories, a word of caution -- these poems are funny and a bit of an insult to those stories. The book is packed with sidesplitting jokes and poems. It adds laugh-out-loud humor to dull nursery rhymes, making them a lot more fun for kids who have grown out of nursery rhymes. With this once-in-a-lifetime book you will enjoy nearly endless laughter with a friend or by yourself! With a Roald Dahl classic in your hands you can trust it will be a good book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Marco is in a pickle. His father has instructed him to keep his eyes peeled for interesting sights on the way to and from school, but all Marco has seen is a boring old horse and wagon. Imagine if he had something more to report, say, a zebra pulling the wagon. Or better yet, the zebra could be pulling a blue and gold chariot. No, wait! Maybe it should be a reindeer in that harness. Marco's story grows ever more elaborate as he reasons that a reindeer would be happier pulling a sled, then that a really unusual sight would be an elephant with a ruby-bedecked rajah enthroned on top. "Say! That makes a story that no one can beat, / When I say that I saw it on Mulberry Street."Time and again, Marco tops himself until he is positively wound up with excitement and bursts into his home to tell his dad what he saw on Mulberry Street.

Pulitzer-prize winning Dr. Seuss needs no introduction. His ode to the imagination of a child is as fresh and exquisitely outlandish today as it was when first published in 1937. This is a classic that will never fade with age. (Ages 3 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (12)

An uneven jaunt along Mulberry Street
First published in 1937, "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" is, I believe, the earliest of Dr. Seuss' many children's books. While it is an entertaining book with humorous illustrations, on the whole I find "Mulberry Street" to be oddly unsatisfying.

The story concerns young Marco, who has been asked by his father to tell him what he sees on the walk home from school. Seeing nothing but a horse and wagon, Marco lets his imagination run wild, until the horse and wagon are transformed into an elephant and brass band, accompanied by numerous other people and animals.

Without giving away the ending, I will say that the book seems to deliver a curiously conflicted message regarding storytelling and imagination. Although "Mulberry Street" is not at the level of Seuss' greatest classics, it is still an important landmark in children's literature, and would make a good addition to any family or school library.

Leslie and Lisa's Review
My favorite book out of the ten I read is And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss. I liked this book because after you read it your imagination is running wild. It is a book about a young boy's imagination when you can't stop it from running like an Energizer battery. After the story was over I couldn't stop thinking about more things to add to the young boy's story to make it even better. It is a great book for this project because you are really tapping into your childhood and your young imagination. I think everyone should read this book to see the magic of being a child. If you like Dr. Seuss books this is one you will really enjoy. It is fast pace and it rhymes to help the story be more fun.
My stepmom thought that this book was very creative because it was full of imagination. This book made her laugh because all of Marco's ideas were very silly and fun. She thought that it read at a very fast pace. She also loved the pictures and drawings because they kept changing as the boy's thoughts kept elaborating. The words rhymed from line to line keeping her interest throughout the book. Lastly, she shared that Dr. Seuss is one of her favorite authors of all time.

Mulberry Street
The main character in this book is named Marco, and he has a slight problem with an over-active imagination. Every morning when Marco leaves home to walk to school, 'Dad always says to me, "Marco, keep your eyelids up and see what you can see."' We meet Marco when he is on the way back from school and all he's noticed 'was a horse and a wagon on Mulberry Street.' Marco isn't too proud of this observation, "That can't be my story. That's only a start. I'll say that a ZEBRA was pulling that cart!"

Slowly and surely the story changes, now the zebra is pulling a chariot, now it's a reindeer, next it's pulling a sled and before you know it, he's got two giraffes and an elephant pulling a big brass band with a trailer attached on behind going through town escorted by the police. Marco gets so excited about this 'story that no one could beat! And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street!' But when Dad asks him what he sees he replies '"Nothing" I said, growing red as a beat, "but a plain horse and wagon on Mulberry street."'

The story is told in rhyme, as you might be able to see from some of the quotes I used. The story flows wonderfully, just like all of Dr. Seuss' works. The pictures are wonderful as well. The way all the animals are smiling and seem pleased that they get to pull these things is just really cute. The colors used are really nice, and the pictures are really bold and bright.

Personally, this is one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books because I really like Marco's imagination and how he is always telling 'such outlandish tales... turning minnows into whales'.

Loggie-log-log-log

what was that
I think that the book was a good one b/c the writer has a good amagination with the reindeer and all the other edzotic animals. all in all it was a good book

This is a cute book.
This is a very cute story for young readers about a boy who makes up something imaginative and then tells his father the truth, after all that work. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

INCREDIBLE
thats the word that discribes the illustration in this book.it's a must buy! ... Read more