Whatever Happened to Humpty Dumpty?: And Other Surprising Sequels to Mother Goose Rhymes [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

David Greenberg (Author), S. D. Schindler (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

Humorous verses are added to traditional Mother Goose rhymes.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Greenberg (Bugs!) carouses through Mother Goose's cupboard, pulling out an assortment of tales and pinning irreverent sequels to them. Remember Jack (as in "Jack be nimble")? Seems he wasn't exactly a blazing success in the end. In fact, "Jack tripped over the candlestick,/ Caught fire in a flash./ Now all that's left of Jack/ Is a little bit of ash." And Humpty Dumpty, on his way to becoming an omelette for all the king's horses and men, ends up as a royal mess when the monarch puts him in the blender without the lid. Other nursery celebrities include the old woman in the shoe, Miss Muffet and Jack Sprat and his wife; Greenberg also lampoons lesser-known characters such as Little King Boggen, Baby Dolly and Jerry Hall (no, not the one married to Mick Jagger), who is swallowed by a rat ("Now there isn't any question/ He will suffer in digestion"). As he gleefully mixes metaphors and scrambles genres, Greenberg risks annoying readers with forced rhymes or choppy rhythms that are a bit of a chore to read, but the overall fun factor compensates. Schindler's waggish illustrations join in the merry parody, at one point even conjuring a farmer's wife who resembles Martha Stewart to demonstrate the utility of the tails off the three blind mice ("They're good for noodles, pickup sticks,/ Good to tickle your toes,/ Good for yarn, candlewicks/ Good to pick your nose"). The oblong format adds to the volume's visual appeal. All ages.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-Outrageous gross-out sequels to 20 Mother Goose rhymes, destined to be a hit with fans of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith's collaborations. Accompanied by Schindler's Goreyesque drawings (pen and ink with watercolor), these hilarious rhymes range from Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater, who puts his unhappy wife in, among other things, a lentil and "almost drove her mental" to Jack and Jill, who accidentally flush themselves down the toilet and out to sea. Kids will roar. The overall effect is so funny that the few forced rhymes will be forgiven. The tall, oblong shape of the book contributes to its quirkiness.
Ann Cook, Winter Park Public Library, FL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316327670
• ISBN-13: 978-0316327671
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,215,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny, Motivating, April 4, 2000

By 

Katie Porter (Overland Park, KS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whatever Happened to Humpty Dumpty?: And Other Surprising Sequels to Mother Goose Rhymes (Hardcover)

As a elementary teacher, I am always looking for ways to motivate writing through the use of literature and this was a sure win! The kids could relate to the nursery rhymes and come up with their own ways to change the endings or add to them! Great, humorous, and a wonderful addition to any young (at heart) reader's library!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun for the whole family, May 7, 2000

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whatever Happened to Humpty Dumpty?: And Other Surprising Sequels to Mother Goose Rhymes (Hardcover)

These silly and irreverent sequels to some of Mother Goose's rhymes, written in language children will love, will leave family members of every age laughing. The accompanying illustrations are clever and humorous and add just the right touch. A wonderful book for everyone. I recommend it highly.

3 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not for Children, March 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Whatever Happened to Humpty Dumpty?: And Other Surprising Sequels to Mother Goose Rhymes (Hardcover)

This book has a few clever lines, but in general is unsuitable for young children. Violent, scary and gross themes abound.