The Neighborhood Mother Goose

The Neighborhood Mother Goose was written and illustrated by Nina Crews. Crews did a really neat job with this collection of Mother Goose rhymes. The rhymes are paired with lively illustrations that depict many different people, cultures, and neighborhoods. Children will find themselves turning the page, and asking: What rhyme comes next?

This picturebook was paired with unique photographic illustrations. The pictures throughout the book depict different individuals, different neighborhoods, and different cultures. One of the best qualities of this book are the illustrations that pull emotion out of the reader; the pictures that make you laugh and smile, because what's more funny than a cat actually holding a fiddle!?

The illustrations are what makes this collection of rhymes so intriguing. This type of work teaches children to read in a new way. It challenges the reader to accept a different interpretation of Mother Goose rhymes. Children would become engaged in this book to learn all different types of rhymes.

 

Teachers should read this story to students between preschool and 3rd grade. Children will enjoy the sophisticated way rhymes are used, and the unique pictures that are displayed on each page. While reading this story, teachers should ask questions such as: Can you find the cat and the fiddle? Where is the cow who is jumping over the moon? What do you think about the pictures that are paired with each rhyme? What is your favorite rhyme so far? Why? What did you think of this collection of Mother Goose rhymes?

 

Class activities:

• Have children perform a play of the nursery rhyme of their choice. Encourage them to get creative by making their own props, coming up with costume ideas, and choosing the setting.
• Have children come up with their own collection of nursery rhymes. Encourage them to draw pictures, and include rhymes.
• Investigate the history of the classroom's favorite nursery rhyme.

Here is a video of a collection of humorous nursery rhymes (children can compare and contrast the book version with this media version):

 

 

I think this book is great for the classroom, and the home! Children will love The Neighborhood Mother Goose as well as these other books written by Nina Crews such as:

• Snowball
• Below
• One Hot Summer Day
• When Will Sarah Come?
• The Neighborhood Sing-Along



“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

~Mahatma Gandhi

 

References

Crews, Nina. The Neighborhood Mother Goose. China: Greenwillow Books, 2004. Print.

http://www.kbyutv.org/kidsandfamily/readytolearn/file.axd?file=2011%2F3%2F2+Rhymers+are+Readers.pdf

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2SaX9yP5g0