MOTHER GOOSE A Canadian Sampler (signed copy)

PreS-Gr 1--There always seems to be room for one more collection of Mother Goose rhymes, and this one deserves consideration. It features art donated by 29 of Canada's best-loved illustrators. Simon Ng's cover illustration does not depict the usual great white bird--instead, it is a stylized, buxom, but authentic Canada goose. The verses, chosen by the artists, offer a pleasing mixture of new and familiar rhymes. The illustrations, though of many different styles, are arranged so that they provide a sense of balance and unity. The pictures on the introductory pages from David Boyle's Uncle Jim's Canadian Nursery Rhymes (Musson, 1908; o.p.) set a quiet, serene tone, and soften the impact of the following dramatic, double-page picture of a cat chasing a mouse. Realistic and traditional paintings balance those that are cartoonlike and modern. The oversized cartoon face of Philippe Beha's "...old woman tossed up in a basket" draws viewers into the rhyme through the dramatic size of her facial features. Gary Clement's double-page spread for "Hey diddle diddle" brings new life to familiar characters. Here the cow is a trim, athletic-looking pole-vaulter; the elegant cat plays his fiddle dressed in a tux; and the comical Mutt & Jefflike dish and spoon run for their lives. This book bears some resemblance to Iona Opie's Tail Feathers from Mother Goose (Random, 1991), illustrated by 62 different artists, and is a worthy addition.

Virginia Golodetz, St. Michael's College, Winooski, VT

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