My Very First Mother Goose [Hardcover]

Iona Opie (Author), Rosemary Wells (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 2, 1996 | Series: My Very First Mother Goose

To a small child, words are magical. And the most magical of all are the beloved, venerable words of Mother Goose. Now folklorist Iona Opie has gathered more than sixty treasured rhymes in their most perfect, honest form. From "Hey Diddle, Diddle" and "Pat-a-Cake" to "Little Jack Horner" and "Pussycat, Pussycat," these are familiar verses that have been passed from parent to child for generations; these are the rhymes that are every child's birthright.

With watercolors by Rosemary Wells that may prove equally enduring, MY VERY FIRST MOTHER GOOSE captures the simple joy and the sly humor that are the essence of Mother Goose. Parents and children will find themselves exploring this volume together, savoring delightful details and funny surprises on every page. This is a book that promises hours of quiet smiles and merry grins for readers of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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

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

From Publishers Weekly

In this exuberant anthology, Opie and Wells choose the best of Mother Goose's ageless work and polish it to a brilliant shine: more than 60 rhymes appear here in four chapters of large, toddler-friendly type. And for those who thought there were no new feathers to be plucked from this goose, Wells's rich watercolor interpretations, simultaneously classic and contemporary, are a revelation. Readers will probably agree with Opie's prefatory remark: "I firmly believe that Rosemary Wells is Mother Goose's second cousin and has inherited the family point of view." Her cast of bushy bunnies (think Max and Ruby), classy cats and the occasional human interact with a combination of wit, charm and ingenuity: Humpty Dumpty, for example, is a soft-boiled egg, knocked accidentally-on-purpose to the floor by a boy bunny at the breakfast table. Also striking?and appropriate for the intended audience?are the numerous scenes of adults and children working and playing together. The cozy, well-appointed settings and loving gestures project a reassuring intimacy. Wells also makes full use of an extended trim size. She encircles rhymes with spots of art, as in the Hungarian-style cat violinists that surround the text of "Hey diddle, diddle," or embellishes spreads with panels, identifying pig breeds in her depiction of "Whose little pigs are these?" and naming a few constellations alongside "Star light, star bright." Each rhyme begins with a sprightly decorated initial: a golden pear hangs from the "I" in "I had a little nut tree." Motifs recur subtly and purposefully, encouraging close inspection of the pages. A collaboration that both freshens and preserves the past, this volume deserves a prominent place not just in the nursery room but on the shelves of all who treasure illustrated books. Ages 2-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 108 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; First Edition edition (September 2, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564026205
• ISBN-13: 978-1564026200
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 0.7 x 11.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Literary Criticism & Collections
  • #34 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 84 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, Fun Mother Goose for Little Ones January 9, 2000

By Sara K. Franz

Format:Hardcover

My son is 18 months old and absolutely loves this wonderful book. He enjoys having any book read to him, but Mother Goose's frequent references to the sun, moon, stars (all favorites topics to my son)and Rosemary Wells' charming illustrations of bunnies, kitties, etc. add up to pure reading fun at our house. These nursery rhymes aren't too intense (some Mother Goose can be downright scary), and are just the right length for a 1- to 2-year old's attention span. And I enjoyed getting to know some nursery rhymes I missed out on as a child (Wibbleton to Wobbleton is a hoot). A few of the book's pages have been ripped in my son's enthusiasm for the subject matter, but this book is a nice change from our dozens of board books at home. I highly recommend this book for toddlers who enjoy being read to and for parents who love to do the reading.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From the day they're born, read to your baby! January 23, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

"My Very First Mother Goose" is the perfect gift for new parents. Children love rhymes, but, unfortunately, most babies in America today hear very little poetry and rhyme. This book is a gerat way to introduce children to rhyme. The big pages, brightly colored, warm illustrations, and fun, happy rhymes will captivate any baby or toddler. It is very important that babies are read to from birth. From birth to 6 mos, a baby will become accomsomed to the sound of the parent's voice and to the sounds of the English language. From 6 mos to 18 mos, baby will begin responding to favorite stories and rhymes. By three years of age, a baby who has been read to every day will be ready for chapter books such as "Charlotte's Web." A child who has been read to, for just a few minutes each day, will learn to love to read. Children who love to read become excellent readers, thus excelling in history, science, math, literature.... The illustrator of "My Very First Mother Goose", Rosemary Wells, is an strong advocate of literacy. She encourages all parents to turn off the t.v's and read, for fifteen minutes a day, to their children. "My Very First Mother Goose" is the perfect place to start!

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mother Goose to Own April 15, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

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