Betsy Byrd''s Latest Book: POP! GOES THE NURSERY RHYME

 If the name of librarian Betsy Byrd doesn't ring a bell, I urge you to check out the link. I first encountered her informative and prolific reflections on books for children in her FUSE #8 Production  posts for School Library Journal.. That has been many years in the past. During that time Betsy served as librarian in New York City but is now residing in the midwest, along with her family. Beyond professional training in children's literature and a long career in the field, it was when she had young children of her own that her love of nursery rhymes was renewed. 

And nearly ruined!

Her author note is a reminder that little audiences LOVE nursery rhymes, for many reasons.  They are rhymes, predictable, bouncy, and short. They are also key cultural touchstones. Repetition is part of their appeal, but, as a parent, that can grow old sooner rather than later. 

For the sake of her own mental well-being, Byrd spontaneously began adding "POP! Goes the Weasel" into other nursery rhymes, to the delight of her littles. A brilliant idea was born! 

UNION SQUARE KIDS, 2025

POP! Goes the Nursery Rhyme, written by Betsy Byrd, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi, is now available. Take a look at that weasel on the cover, along with the undefined bird (any relation to BYRD?) who is continually appalled that tine-honored nursery rhymes are being ruined by the goofy weasel! 

This bird is a reader, and continually redirects ram rambunctious weasel, insisting that these familiar, iconic rhymes DO NOT iINCLUDE a weasel! The gleeful joy Weasel expresses is countered by distraught and disrupted lambs and other animal characters who portray familiar nursery rhymes. Meanwhile, bird resembles Mo Willems PIGEON on several pages, and takes it personally to NOT be caught off guard.  (Be sure to enjoy the opening and final end papers, too!)

Successful? Can't you guess? 

This artful and ingenious blend of familiar rhymes with wacky and wild humor has created what will likely become a modern day classic. The personalities of the central characters are unforgettable, inviting dramatic interpretive readings (my favorite kind!). I'll also predict that this will encourage seeking out more nursery rhyme modifications.

I couldn't be happier about that, since nursery rhymes (and fairy tales and folk tales) have lost their place of honor within far too many classrooms. The demands of strict curricula and test practices have nudged out time for what used to be universal cultural touchstones, as Betsy mentioned in her author note. A book like this just might undo a bit of that pattern. I can only hope. 

More About Board Books: Bilingual!

Two notes to launch this post:
1) I received this set of bilingual board books from a publisher with no promise of a review of any kind. 
2) That delivery was a welcome surprise on yet another COVID19 Safer-At-Home day. I've had a long-standing friendship with our mail person for the many years, enjoying conversations that have ceased in these days in order to sustain physical/social distance. She knows me well. Through the window she smiled, shook the box, and mouthed: "BOOKS! It's a good day!"

I was not familiar with CANTICOS, a YouTube Channel for bilingual nursery rhymes and kids' songs (HERE). Their short English/Spanish videos incorporate adorable animal characters and one cardboard cutout who comes to life, Pin Pon. They populate the various short features, singing songs in both English and Spanish, delivered at a pace that sustains attention and allows for little ones to participate spontaneously. 

Now these characters, stories, and words are featured in a series of early concept board books. In case you missed it, I hope you'll read my recent post about an outstanding board book offering, EGG. In it, I mentioned some of the essential qualities of board books: durability, size, age-appropriate content, long-lasting appeal. 
The board books in this new series have those features and add several forms of interactivity (flaps, tabs, sliders, fanfolds, magnets, etc.). These elevate the appeal, although such features can make it challenging to prevent damage from little hands with unrefined motor control and unbridled enthusiasm. But these are made of sturdy materials and bindings, so I'm betting this set of books will survive repeated handling by eager little fingers. 

The publisher's materials enclosed with the books didn't state this, but I'm guessing that parent/caregivers of little video fans may have asked for books related to the series. These certainly should make preschoolers (and adults who care for them) happy with the effort. Tots will read/play/sing along with numbers, letters, colors, and nursery rhymes with monthly releases throughout the spring and summer. In the process, little ones will develop reading and speaking skills in both languages, fostering early literacy and exercising brain cells at a crucial time in their development. Engaged adults may also learn a thing or two!

These are not the types of books I typically feature, but several factors moved me to share them here. First, the overall design has been thoughtfully executed, with consistency of images and labels, font choices, and pacing to convey content effectively. Additionally, but not secondarily, I found these to be exciting offerings in early childhood bilingual language and literacy development. I readily admit that I am NOT an expert in this specialized area, and I view them from an English-speaker's perspective. As such, I feel confident in recommending the books to those whose primary language is English. 
I'll never stop advocating for increasing bilingualism in ALL children, but especially in typically monolingual American children. When additional languages are introduced through musical, visual, and engaging experiences, young minds absorb, expand, and retain languages with lifelong benefits,

I'd welcome insights and reactions from those whose primary language is Spanish.

Meanwhile, I can't resist a reference to Covid19 Homeschooling experiences. Teachers, students, and caregivers are gradually developing a new-normal approach to delivery of instruction. Even so, there's no doubt that some days (most days?) require doses of "out-of-the-box" approaches, time spent away from assignments. Exploring activities involving other languages could be exactly the kind of challenge to energize and engage when exhaustion and/or frustration loom. These little board books reminded me of how much FUN it can be to learn a new language, and how many resources exist to do so. Why not give it a try?

Who Says Nursery Rhymes Are for Nursery School?

noozh.com

I indicated in the previous post (here) my strong commitment to the importance of poetry in our lives, in lives at any age. As with so many other things we value, there will only be time and space if we PRIORITIZE those personal values. So I'm providing time and space to discuss nursery rhymes here.

Few would categorize traditional nursery rhymes as"poetry", but they lay the groundwork for sharing more sophisticated poetry later. It's where much of reading, listening, and word play   begin. Every time I see or hear a toddler who can rattle off a rap verse, whether age appropriate or not, I marvel at the deep and wide capacity of young minds to recognize and memorize the rhythms and rhymes within playful language. I have to admit, I also wonder if any of those emerging little online "stars" would be able to finish even a single line of a traditional nursery rhyme. Why does that matter? Won't they learn that in school? Should they?

Who's to blame for a lack of attention to traditional nursery rhymes? My glib response points a finger at technology and politics. Wh-a-a-a-t? 

Technology ( including social media, selfies, and digital diversions) offers immature egos (of any age) an irresistible access to attention. While growing up, my sibs and I would challenge our minds and bodies by balancing in stockinged toes on Dad's knees, maintaining our coveted position long enough to recite as many  nursery rhymes as we could before losing our balance and ceding the spotlight (knee-spot) to the next in line. That glow of attention was thrilling, but how does it compare to having a performance posted and "hit" thousands or even millions of times? Would "rapping" a nursery rhyme garner those same numbers as well as ludicrous (or Ludachris) lyrics? 

Technology enhances the role of politics (including local, state, federal) and the impact those pressures have on family expectations. Readily accessible digital data, comparative statistics, and inappropriate comparison of budgetary dollars have led to an educational system that craves points on standardized scores even more than those toddlers crave "views". 
The result of these forces has been parents who may not know the traditional nursery rhymes themselves, and preschool/primary classrooms so focused on mandated test -prep there's not a spare moment to squeeze in a  "Hey-diddle-diddle". Despite the big push for commonality, we're facing a disintegrating shared cultural experience.
Before I plunge off the "grumpy-old-woman" cliff, or imply that British/traditional rhymes should be considered standard culture for a very diverse population, I'll end this rant and share some favorite options with only a few lines of comment to each. Ready?

HIGH DIDDLE DIDDLE: Rhymes from Mother Goose, is designed and illustrated  by Robert A. Propper, (1975). It pairs familiar and lesser-known nursery rhymes with colorful graphic art that encourages attention to counting, colors, shapes, laughter, and experimentation. Look for this one from out-of-print sources.
 

Houghton Mifflin
Books for Children, 2010

Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes, is illustrated in needlework by Salley Mavor. I'm saddened to report that this much more recent publication, appears to be out-of-print, or perhaps just out of stock. The various characters and scenes, stitched, stuffed, and arranged in glorious panoramas, simply demand repeated viewing, leading to repeated reading of these nursery rhymes. This is one that is likely to remain a favorite, across generations, even as it becomes threadbare and dog-eared.

There's no lack of books using twists and turns, parody's and puns with nursery rhymes as a launching pad. I hope you'll stifle your groans on my own pun to introduce the first of several variants, including THE SPACE CHILD'S MOTHER GOOSE, with verses by Frederick Winsor and Illustrations by Marian Parry. (Simon and Schuster, 1958). Very dry, very British in humor, and the odd little line drawings are as curious as the is the knowledge and perception of space in that bygone era.
Fans of THE ADDAMS FAMILY will be delighted with THE CHARLES ADDAMS MOTHER GOOSE, including original illustrations and photographs by Addams. (Simon and Schuster, 1967). This version uses the original nursery rhyme wording but elicits giggles and gasps from their interpretation through Addams's art. It's oversized in format, in talent, and in fun.

Add caption

Both familiar and lesser-known nursery rhymes are called into play in MOTHER GOOSE: NUMBERS ON THE LOOSE, illustrated by that award-winning duo, Leo and Diane Dillon. The oversized, double-spread format offers colorful action, animated numerals, and a visual story that will delight. Artful design is child-friendly but intricate and elaborate enough to entice the adults who share the book.

Chronicle Books, 2010

Word play abounds in OTHER GOOSE: Re-Nurseried, Re-rhymed, Re-Mothered, and Re-Goosed.... Author J. Otto Siebold also created the lovable series that began with OLIVE, THE OTHER REINDEER. He adopts a similar level of twist and turn in this take on classic rhymes. Familiar characters like Humpty Dumpty find an entirely new life, such as Mr. Dumpty's four-part excursion to the mall Old King Coal, who's a weary old mole... is another example of twisted humor that teens will enjoy.
The oversized, saturated, exaggerated images, fonts, and elaborate layouts make this a marvelous mechanism to work with both traditional and twisted nursery rhymes for older readers.

Another collection that is as timely and current today as it was when it released in 1969 is THE INNER CITY MOTHER GOOSE,  written by Eve Merriam with photo visuals by Lawrence Ratzkin. This original production was a wrenching but recognizable variant on the traditional rhymes, redone to reflect the reality of so many living in "slums", "ghettos", and desperation. It was intended for adults, as an indictment of our corroding cities, but it made its way into high schools and some middle schools, despite its blunt and street-true language and topics.
This is a book that should never go out of print. I'd prefer the reason for that would be its value as historical documentation of the unjust conditions of the past, conditions that had been eliminated. Sad to say, it continues to be even more relevant now than it was originally or when it was reissued in 1996 with cover and spot illustrations by David Diaz. 
Here's an example of why it is still so sadly significant to current times and to movements like Black Lives Matter:

Take-a-Tour, Take-A-Tour, Congressman

Take-a-tour,

Take-a-tour,

Congressman,

Cover the Ghetto, 

As fast as

You can: 

Whisk through, 

Tsk-tsk through,

And file under P:

Now you're 

An expert

On POVERTY.

Finally, let's travel back from the 1960's to a little 1980 title that's barely longer than the book itself, but still deserves to be read. MOTHER GOOSE COMES TO CABLE STREET: Nursery Rhymes for Today. Chosen by Rosemary Stones and Andrew Mann of Children's Rights Workshop, with illustrations by Dan Jones. It's very few pages long with diverse and lively lillustrations that are as complex and dense as life itself. On the copyright page is a brief note that "in 1586 Mother Goose was buried in a vault under the communion table" at St. Olave's church near the Tower of London. Really, if that doesn't intrigue kids and invite exploration, I can't think what would. 

Whether you need to seek these out at garage sales, through out-of-print outlets, in libraries, or online, they are worth exploring. If you prefer the latest releases there are plenty of those to choose from and share. Please do. Baby shower gifts come to mind, classroom gifts on your child's birthday, or just checking out the collection at your neighborhood library.
Whatever your approach, I hope you'll jump on my bandwagon and support the sharing of nursery rhymes and their variants at every age. 

New takes on Nursery Rhymes

I've been posting here, (honestly, I have), but less often in recent months. Having a debut release in 2014 proved to be as time-consuming as it was exciting. During these hectic months I rely on the many outstanding (and frequently posted) blogs about picture books and other books for young readers and occasionally share them through links here. And here, and here. The reason for this approach, naturally, is the ever-ticking clock.

In my classrooms I would ask all students what they would choose as a super power, if they could, and why. (Try it! It's  one writing or discussion prompt eagerly pursued and it often reveals insights you'd otherwise miss or require much more time to discover.) 

My own response to that prompt is that I'd like to have the power to control time. If someone felt ill, I'd make the time pass quickly until they recovered. The clock-crunch of class demands limit spontaneity and little bonus rewards like extra recess. My super power would permit me to make a ten minute break feel like twenty minutes, or allow an engaging discussion to continue as the clock hands held their positions long enough to explore ideas further before the bell rang. 

Alas, I never acquired that power. 

That domineering clock has an even more powerful effect in classes (and, I fear, in families) since high-stakes testing and Common Core demands restrict flexibility and choices. As a result, many cultural and literary experiences are relegated to a short, measurable checklist of exposures and competencies rather than occurring naturally and often. 

This is true for nursery rhymes, traditional tales, and mythology. Verses and stories that are common cultural touchpoints in older generations are often unrecognized by kids emerging from our current educational system. I'll save the debate about the cost/benefits of this approach for another forum, but it leads me to the topic of this post. 

The ability to  recite traditional nursery rhymes has value in and of itself, especially at an early age. Rhythm and rhyme, patterns and repetition, word play and predictability are all essential components in early language and reading development. References in brief excerpts, parodies, and as models for early writing rely on familiar verses to be embedded in young minds. 

One way to develop this in later years (with enthusiasm rather than groans about "baby" work) and still address the demands of controlled curricula is to share these books. The first is NURSERY RHYME COMICS: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists (First Second Publishing, 2011) I agree with this review  by Marika McCoola, posted at Indiebound:

“Take 50 incredible artists, give them each a classic nursery rhyme, and let them run! Lucy Knisley turns the 'Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe' into a rock-and-roll baby sitter whose charges form the band 'The Whips.' Raina Telgemeier sets 'Georgie Porgie' at a birthday party that ends with a cupcake fight. Dave Roman depicts a surreal, sci-fi 'One, Two, Buckle My Shoe' that is completely different from Patrick McDonnell's sweet 'Donkey.' A fabulous introduction to the comics format for young and old alike.”

The second is this 2015 release. It provides older readers an opportunity to use nursery rhymes as writing inspiration and opens a discussion of character traits, parody, and literary allusions. Take a look at MONSTER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES, co-written by Henry, Josh, and Harrison Herz, illustrated by Abigail Larson.

This debut traditionally-published work (Pelican Press) is written by and for elementary readers. Henry's sons seem to be as deeply entrenched in reading and writing fantasy and science fiction as their father. His blog (here) offers a menu of interviews with some of the most outstanding authors and illustrators working today. Click on the "BLURBS" tab to read what they think of these clever twists on traditional verses. 

After reading both books young readers are likely to find themselves hooked on reading and creating spin-offs and twists of other nursery rhymes. Those who haven't yet discovered the wonders of fantasy and science fiction might well be tempted to give it a try after reading this new book and examining its colorful illustrations. Those who are already fan-fans (fantasy fans) will enjoy finding their fantastic friends and fiends in these verses.

I'm someone who enjoys reading these genres but I'm currently focused on historic and contemporary themes. Even so, I'll make a prediction: Whatever your taste in reading, when you get your hands on both of these books you'll enjoy them as much as the young readers in your lives.