Mother Goose's Little Misfortunes

Schwartz, Amy; Marcus, Leonard

ISBN 10: 0027814319 ISBN 13: 9780027814316

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 1990

Synopsis

Presents a collection of Mother Goose nursery rhymes dealing with misfortunes of various kinds

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

The flap copy on this collection of lesser-known Mother Goose poems notes that nursery rhymes often deal with disturbing subjects, yet their reassuring nonsense puts "trouble into proper perspective." Readers may nevertheless question the reason for collecting 18 verses that are decidedly less upbeat than most. Each deals with ill luck of one sort or another, ranging from Miss Mackay's loss of her knives and forks, to the demise of a handsomely dressed soldier who "had a fight, / He died of fright, / And that was the end of Corporal Tim." In his eloquent introduction, Marcus emphasizes the importance of playful rhythm and rhyme to the overall effect of these verses, remarking that they should not be read for their content only. Yet a number of these poems lack the buoyance and zip of the more familiar Mother Goose rhymes, and sound curiously flat when read aloud. Despite Schwartz's characteristically humorous illustrations, this is a somewhat uninspired collection. All ages.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2-- Lesser-known nursery rhymes, all dealing with mishaps, are gathered together in this picture book. Schwartz' watercolors keep the tone wry and insouciant rather than downbeat. Her humorous drawings have added flavor to picture books with straight narratives, but her style in this one is much more inventive, playful, and experimental than the others. The verses are appealing, as Mother Goose rhymes always are, but the pictures are the more important part of this book and should have wide appeal. --Amy Spaulding, St. John's University, Jamaica, NY
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0027814319
• ISBN 13: 9780027814316
• Binding: Library Binding