ANNOTATION

A collection of traditional nursery rhymes rewritten to emphasize Christian principles.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
Humpty Dumpty shouted, "Amen! God can put me together again."

This lovely illustrated collection features the most well-known and beloved Mother Goose rhymes, all beautifully enhanced with a gentle religious message. From "Humpty Dumpty" to "Little Bo Peep," this is truly a book to treasure: time-tested and enduring favorites for children today, tomorrow, and beyond.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature

First published in 1977, this newly illustrated version appears to contain much of the same material as the original. Traditional rhymes are paraphrased to give them a Biblical or Christian message. The cumulative "This Is the House That Jack Built" becomes "This Is the Ark that Noah Built." Old Mother Goose's message is to tell children that God is good, and Jesus will soon be coming back. Little Jack Horner sits in a corner reading his Bible. Mother Hubbard's bare cupboard is refilled with bones through the help of group prayer. The 53 selections also include some original poetry. Sprightly, cartoon-style watercolor illustrations in cheerful colors and a variety of shapes and sizes definitely enhance the text. The book is appropriate for church and Christian school libraries and home use. 2001, Grosset & Dunlap/Penguin Putnam, $9.99. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Patricia Dole

School Library Journal

PreS-K-Like all traditional literature, there are various versions of Mother Goose rhymes; occasionally they have been used for didactic purposes. In this collection of 53 rhymes, the didacticism is blatant, unimaginative, and condescending. Here's an example: "There was an old woman/Who lived in a shoe./She had so many children,/And loved them all, too./She said, `Thank you,/Lord Jesus,/For sending them bread,'/Then kissed them all gladly/And sent them to bed." The colorful illustrations are whimsical and often more lighthearted than the rhymes they accompany. Perhaps some Christian Sunday schools would want this, but not many Mother Goose fans.-Carolyn Jenks, First Parish Unitarian Church, Portland, ME Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.