Mother Goose

Have you tried checking out any Mother Goose books for your young children? These classic nursery rhymes are a part of our cultural heritage that children should not miss out on, and they are enjoyed by children from birth through the preschool years. The rhythm and rhyme of the language used makes them easy to memorize and fun to sing. Nonsense rhymes such as Hey Diddle Diddle encourage children to make up their own fun words and the simple stories presented in a rhyme like Jack and Jill are a great introduction to the concept of beginning, middle and end. Looking at the many different and varied illustrations for just one rhyme found in multiple books could teach children that there are many "correct" ways to interpret the poem. They may even be inspired to try doing their own illustrations for a favorite rhyme!

Most Mother Goose books can be found in the children's nonfiction section at 398.8. You can look for more Mother Goose in the board books section. When you are looking for a break from the traditional, try the books of Izza Trapani or Jane Cabrera. They are just two of the authors who take classic nursery rhymes and expand them into full picture books.


Pocketful of Posies by Sally Mavor
This collection of nursery rhymes is illustrated with incredibly beautiful and detailed fabric and thread creations. Mavor's rhyme selection has been loosely organized to follow the course of the day, starting with morning rhymes and closing with bedtime rhymes.




My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie

This is an ideal collection for reading aloud to the youngest children and babies. The illustrations but Rosemary Wells, creator of Max and Ruby, are big, bold and bright.






The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews
Crews' collection of Mother Goose rhymes is illustrated in photo-mosaic style and set in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY. Crews brings the classic rhymes into the modern day by showing the "fine lady riding on a white horse" on a carousel and including a wide range of multi-ethnic kids in her illustrations.







Old Mother Hubbard by Jane Cabrera
This is a good example of a one rhyme picture book. Cabrera illustrates the classic rhyme with colorful, light-hearted illustrations.