THE DORLING KINDERSLEY BOOK OF NURSERY RHYMES

A compilation of Mother Goose's finest, winsomely illustrated and gently annotated, Gliori's (The Very Small, 2000, etc.) collection of more than 50 rhymes features such classics as “Yankee Doodle,” “Jack Sprat,” and “Peter Piper,” and includes a sprinkling of less-common ditties such as “Little Tommy Tucker” and “See-Saw, Margery Daw.” Gliori also offers full-length versions of poems more widely known in their truncated form. “Old Mother Hubbard,” reprinted with a whopping 12 stanzas, reveals more of the delightful insouciance associated with Mother Goose than the traditional six-line stanza; while Mother Hubbard traipses about acquiring food for her dog, the erstwhile pooch reads the paper, dances a jig, and smokes a pipe. The combination of Gliori's beguiling artwork and her fascinating tidbits of information about the rhymes transforms the collection beyond the ordinary, making it a notable addition to the genre. A blend of history, folklore, and factual information, Gliori's gambits are decidedly kid-friendly. Readers learn that Tom, the piper's son, did not in fact purloin a swine but stole a pastry instead. Likewise, the “Little Maid, Pretty Maid”’s suitor was not looking to milk the cow but marry his sweetheart. Each two-page spread features either a single poem or a pair of loosely related rhymes accompanied by full-color illustrations that range from full-bleed to whimsically bordered pictures. The background information, cleverly worked into each spread, is set apart by a smaller typeset and a color photograph of a relevant object—offering inquisitive readers the fun of seeking out the tidbits within the larger illustrations. A captivating collection for young children. (Picture book. 3-5)