Synopsis
Mother Goose travels to Africa in this collection of familiar rhymes in a new setting. Includes vivid color illustrations.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1995-02-01 | | Illustrator: | Katherine Roundtree |
| Size | | Height: | 11.0 in | | Width: | 8.5 in | | Thickness: | 0.2 in | | Weight: | 5.6 oz |
Publisher's Note
A delightful treasury of rhyme fashioned after Mother Goose favorites that give readers a fresh new perspective of beloved classics.
Industry Reviews
Following their Wood-Hoopoe Willie, Kroll and Roundtree team up again for an African take on Mother Goose. The concept is terrific: by altering the lyrics of 48 familiar rhymes, Kroll provides a virtual syllabus for study of African culture and wildlife. ``Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum'' becomes ``Fee, fi, fo, foo./ I smell the juice of vegetable stew./ With a scarf around my head,/ I'll grind the manioc to make our bread.'' But despite the sound concept and Kroll's graceful reshaping of the rhymes, the book is blemished by troublesome misjudgments. Roundtree's bright but literal interpretations of the rhymes serve the educational agenda at the expense of real emotional appeal. Ironically, that very agenda is hampered by the book's overambitious inclusion of data from 28 countries and its failure to explain foreign words. Ages 3-8. (Feb.)
Bernstein
PreS-Gr 2 A unique offering. Kroll creatively captures the visual essence and diversity of the African continent and the poetic gaiety of Mother Goose. She includes 49 original verses that take on the rhythmic patterns of their traditional counterparts, e.g., ``Little Child'' corresponds to ``Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat.'' The illustration of two young children eating and drinking from a bowl serves to complement the text: ``Little Child, little child/Where are you from?/Far off in Africa, under the sun./Little Child, little child,/What do you eat?/Cassava and fishes, oh what a treat!'' Twenty-eight countries are represented; full-color illustrations depict topography, urban centers, forest, jungle, desert, plain, and marketplace. Colors are rich and vibrant, reflecting the warmth of the African continent. A welcome, interesting addition. Barbara Osborne Williams, Queens Borough Public Library, Jamaica, NY
Lopate
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