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Synopsis
Pat-a-Cake,” “Simple Simon,” “Rock-a-bye, Baby:” these and the many other rhymes that make up Mother Goose have become almost as much a staple of child-rearing as the rattle and the bottle. Little ones love its mix of lullabies and limericks, humor and sing-song verse, and they learn from it too. Gyo Fujikawa brought her inimitable style to this version, which features a mix of enchanting line drawings and warm color pictures. Adorable mice, led by a duck in uniform, man the boat in “I Saw a Ship a-Sailing.” A multicultural group of children circle round “The Mulberry Bush.” And “The Three Kittens” have never been cuter. Fujikawa has succeeded in creating a truly magical world for kids to enter.
Children's Literature
Fujikawa's signature line drawings alternate with full color pictures of cherubic children in pastoral settings. All the familiar rhymes are here, from "Pat-A-Cake" and "Mary Had a Little Lamb" to "Hey Diddle Diddle" and "Little Jack Horner." Less familiar but with equally infectious rhymes is "Mary Had a Pretty Bird," "Bye Baby Bunting" and that gentle ode to a kitten, "Kindness" ("I love little pussy, her coat is so warm "). An index of first lines gives easy access to the more than 300 verses. These rhymes, riddles, songs, and limericks should be the staple of every child's first language experience. Happily back in print, this treasury is a must for every baby's bookshelf and is a perfect gift to welcome baby. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey