There should be a law that requires every child to sit on Grandpa's knee as he chants "Trot, trot, to Boston; trot, trot, to Lynn." Grownups who still giggle at the thought of Little Jack Horner pulling a plum out of his Christmas pie, or who make a wish on a star, murmuring "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight" know the secret. They're the ones who will be handing down those same nursery rhymes to their own children, preserving an age-old tradition. But no child should be left behind.

In world folklore authority Iona Opie's collection, these invaluable and ancient nuggets of childhood verse are bursting with new life. Quirky and sly, sweet, gentle, rollicking, silly... the range of rhymes is breathtaking. Winner of over a dozen prestigious awards, including a Parents' Choice Award and an ALA Notable Children's Book award, this wonderful book is charmingly illustrated by Rosemary Wells, best known for her Max books (Max's Bath, Max's Bedtime, Max's Ride). A solid repertoire of nursery rhymes should be de rigueur for any aunt, uncle, grandparent, or parent worth his or her salt. This book is a must, as is its companion volume, Here Comes Mother Goose. (Click to see a sample spread from My Very First Mother Goose. Illustrations & copy; 1996 by Rosemary Wells. Permission from Candlewick Press.) (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter


From Publishers Weekly
In this exuberant anthology, Opie and Wells choose the best of Mother Goose's ageless work and polish it to a brilliant shine: more than 60 rhymes appear here in four chapters of large, toddler-friendly type. And for those who thought there were no new feathers to be plucked from this goose, Wells's rich watercolor interpretations, simultaneously classic and contemporary, are a revelation. Readers will probably agree with Opie's prefatory remark: "I firmly believe that Rosemary Wells is Mother Goose's second cousin and has inherited the family point of view." Her cast of bushy bunnies (think Max and Ruby), classy cats and the occasional human interact with a combination of wit, charm and ingenuity: Humpty Dumpty, for example, is a soft-boiled egg, knocked accidentally-on-purpose to the floor by a boy bunny at the breakfast table. Also striking?and appropriate for the intended audience?are the numerous scenes of adults and children working and playing together. The cozy, well-appointed settings and loving gestures project a reassuring intimacy. Wells also makes full use of an extended trim size. She encircles rhymes with spots of art, as in the Hungarian-style cat violinists that surround the text of "Hey diddle, diddle," or embellishes spreads with panels, identifying pig breeds in her depiction of "Whose little pigs are these?" and naming a few constellations alongside "Star light, star bright." Each rhyme begins with a sprightly decorated initial: a golden pear hangs from the "I" in "I had a little nut tree." Motifs recur subtly and purposefully, encouraging close inspection of the pages. A collaboration that both freshens and preserves the past, this volume deserves a prominent place not just in the nursery room but on the shelves of all who treasure illustrated books. Ages 2-up. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K?The 60 plus rhymes in this collection are mostly the old-time favorites, but include some more recent ones such as "Shoo Fly" and "Down by the Station." Wells illustrates the selections with her usual winsome, quirky, anthropomorphic mice, rabbits, cats, pigs, bears, etc., and even includes some people. The lavish ink-and-watercolors are filled with action and delightful details. Ranging in size from tiny vignettes to double-page spreads, they are arranged on the pages in a variety of ways to complement the text. The typeface is large and very clear. Such a spirit of fun and pleasure emanates from every page of this big, handsome volume that although there are many distinguished entries in the nursery-rhyme book field, this one is sure to add special joy to any collection.?Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VACopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.


The New York Times Book Review, Nancy Willard
How fortunate, then, that Rosemary Wells has interpreted this collection with such humor and illustrated the rhymes with such affection that both children and parents will find them irresistible ... if you give only one book to your favorite child or young-at-heart reader for the holidays, let it be this one.


From Booklist
With the same combination of warmth and wickedness that made My Very First Mother Goose (1996) such fun for young preschoolers, folklorist Opie and illustrator Wells have collected another 55 nursery rhymes in a splendid, large-size companion volume. As Opie says in her brief, beautiful introduction, Mother Goose collected nonsense, clever riddles, and "the songs that run in people's heads and make them skip instead of walk." There are old favorites as well as some lively traditional verses that will be new to most kids and the adults who read to them. And there are a few changes for the millennium: Opie reverses the rhyme about what little girls and little boys are made of, and Wells shows them all having fun. Take a new look at Mary, Mary, who really is quite contrary in Wells' mischievous view. The pictures include a few people, but most of the characters are animals: ducklings, rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, and the soft, sleepy "donkey, donkey, old and gray." There is yearning and mystery: a young girl ignores her mother's warning, jumps on a horse, and is lured away to the dark woods. In contrast, there's the furry guinea pig with a plate of hot-cross buns in front of the fireplace, snug at home. Best of all, though, is the double-page spread with a curt verse and a large picture of one mean, messy rabbit: "I'm Dusty Bill / From Vinegar Hill / Never had a bath / And I never will." Hazel Rochman


From Kirkus Reviews
My Very First Mother Goose ($19.99; Sept. 1996; 108 pp.; 1-56402- 620-5): One glimpse of the merry Wells (The Language of Doves, p. 1159, etc.) characters that caper through these pages--a cast of hundreds--one flip through the pages where Opie (I Saw Esau, 1992, etc.) has arranged almost 70 familiar and not-so-familiar rhymes to an effect of unabashed glee, and readers will be in love again with the original Mother Goose. There's little point in pretending that even prodigious collections of nursery rhymes can do without this one--it's a must. (index) (Poetry. 2-8) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Card catalog description
A collection of more than sixty nursery rhymes including "Hey Diddle, Diddle," "Pat-a-Cake," "Little Jack Horner," and "Pussycat, Pussycat."

ANNOTATION

A collection of more than sixty nursery rhymes including "Hey Diddle, Diddle," "Pat-a-Cake," "Little Jack Horner," and "Pussycat, Pussycat."

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A collection of more than sixty nursery rhymes including "Hey Diddle, Diddle," "Pat-a-Cake," "Little Jack Horner," and "Pussycat, Pussycat."

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In this exuberant anthology, Opie and Wells choose the best of Mother Goose's ageless work and polish it to a brilliant shine: more than 60 rhymes appear here in four chapters of large, toddler-friendly type. And for those who thought there were no new feathers to be plucked from this goose, Wells's rich watercolor interpretations, simultaneously classic and contemporary, are a revelation. Readers will probably agree with Opie's prefatory remark: "I firmly believe that Rosemary Wells is Mother Goose's second cousin and has inherited the family point of view." Her cast of bushy bunnies (think Max and Ruby), classy cats and the occasional human interact with a combination of wit, charm and ingenuity: Humpty Dumpty, for example, is a soft-boiled egg, knocked accidentally-on-purpose to the floor by a boy bunny at the breakfast table. Also strikingand appropriate for the intended audienceare the numerous scenes of adults and children working and playing together. The cozy, well-appointed settings and loving gestures project a reassuring intimacy. Wells also makes full use of an extended trim size. She encircles rhymes with spots of art, as in the Hungarian-style cat violinists that surround the text of "Hey diddle, diddle," or embellishes spreads with panels, identifying pig breeds in her depiction of "Whose little pigs are these?" and naming a few constellations alongside "Star light, star bright." Each rhyme begins with a sprightly decorated initial: a golden pear hangs from the "I" in "I had a little nut tree." Motifs recur subtly and purposefully, encouraging close inspection of the pages. A collaboration that both freshens and preserves the past, this volume deserves a prominent place not just in the nursery room but on the shelves of all who treasure illustrated books. Ages 2-up. (Sept.)

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Nursery rhymes go back centuries and this delectable collection selected by Opie and illustrated by Wells is a treat for the eyes and ears. The illustrations range from little insets and illustrated first letters of the rhymes to full pages and spreads. There is much to see and learn, and kids will spend hours exploring the pictures. There are connections among the illustrations that make the book all the more enjoyable. It's a wonderful gift book, and a welcome addition to any child's bookshelf.

Children's Literature - Susie Wilde

Why do the words of Mother Goose endure? These rhythms and rhymes have soothed babies for generations for their moods can either evoke play or sleep. They have comforted toddlers through transitions ("Jack and Jill", for example, has a tremendous healing power for a 2 year old who's just had a bad spill). They live in all our memories and are an important first step towards cultural literacy. Now there's a wonderful new volume, edited by Iona Opie who has spent her life collecting children's rhythms and games. The illustrations are by Rosemary Wells whose small bunnies are often some of the first pictures babies discover. Opie has done well selecting the poems with baby-appeal and Wells' bright, clear, tender illustrations make this a volume that will be treasured forever.

School Library Journal

PreS-KThe 60 plus rhymes in this collection are mostly the old-time favorites, but include some more recent ones such as "Shoo Fly" and "Down by the Station." Wells illustrates the selections with her usual winsome, quirky, anthropomorphic mice, rabbits, cats, pigs, bears, etc., and even includes some people. The lavish ink-and-watercolors are filled with action and delightful details. Ranging in size from tiny vignettes to double-page spreads, they are arranged on the pages in a variety of ways to complement the text. The typeface is large and very clear. Such a spirit of fun and pleasure emanates from every page of this big, handsome volume that although there are many distinguished entries in the nursery-rhyme book field, this one is sure to add special joy to any collection.Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA

Kirkus Reviews

My Very First Mother Goose ( Sept. 1996; 108 pp.; 1-56402- 620-5): One glimpse of the merry Wells (The Language of Doves, p. 1159, etc.) characters that caper through these pages—a cast of hundreds—one flip through the pages where Opie (I Saw Esau, 1992, etc.) has arranged almost 70 familiar and not-so-familiar rhymes to an effect of unabashed glee, and readers will be in love again with the original Mother Goose. There's little point in pretending that even prodigious collections of nursery rhymes can do without this one—it's a must.