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| image from barnesandnoble.com |
My Very First Mother Goose
edited by Iona Opie
illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Published by Candlewick Press in 1996
1. The Dynamic Duo
Two very knowledgeable and talented people collaborated to create this work of art.Iona Opie and her husband Peter are the leading scholars when it comes to Nursery Rhymes. Through all of my research, I have seen their names repeatedly. They published The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes in 1951, which still stands to be a significant contribution in our understanding of the nursery rhyme tradition.
Rosemary Wells is an exceptional illustrator and has brought to life many characters in this particular book. Even Iona Opie speaks of her talent in the forward.
2. The Set-Up
For the most part,
there is one rhyme per page, or spread. At no point do you need to
turn the page mid-rhyme. This is important because it keeps the
attention locked in one place for small children, and each page turn is a
cue that something new is coming up.
3. The Illustrations
Rosemary
Wells has provided simple, color drawings with pleasant animals on
every page. They are big enough and colorful enough to share with
babies, but hold enough content to keep a toddler or preschooler
interested. They will also be familiar to fans of her other books, or
even the television show "Max and Ruby." By using this book early, you
allow your child to connect not only to words and rhythms, but to an
author/illustrator who has an entire cast of characters to grow with and
love. How's that for a life-long reading
investment?
4. Familiarity
This book is filled with good ones: To Market, To Market; Humpty Dumpty; Hey
Diddle, Diddle; Jack & Jill; and many more. (Though I do lament
the fact that Miss Muffet is missing.)Overall, My Very First Mother Goose is another excellent example of a Nursery Rhyme Collection worth sharing with your child. I hope you enjoy as much as my household does.
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