Jane Yolen’s Mother Goose Songbook is particularly useful for adult readers who are musicians since the sheet music is included as well as the lyrics. In addition each nursery rhyme is introduced with some historical information regarding the origins of the rhyme. For example, the song The Muffin Man is a well known nursery rhyme but few know where it was inspired. According to this book, there is evidence that there was an actual baker who sold his wares on British street corners. In the rhyme he is called the Muffin Man who lives on “Drury Lane” which is in London.
In addition, as the English Rhymes migrated from England to America, some of the lyrics were adapted according to the text. For instance, The Farmer in the Dell is introduced as an Anglo-American song that is popular in the English speaking world. However, the song was changed in the American Midwest as it became a counting-out rhyme.
The book is a very large collection of nursery rhymes since is contains 93 pages of lyrics, sheet music, children’s art, and historical information. The layout of the text is so well done; it does not become overwhelming for a small child. This particular book is especially designed for an adult who would play the rhymes and then the child could eventually learn the lyrics. In time, children could eventually learn to sing and play the songs for a young audience.
Ages: 2-10 ( )