The Which and Whyfore of Mother Goose

When I was a young mother, I did not enjoy nursery rhymes overly much. I thought they were nonsense; at best not worthwhile, and at worst, difficult to explain to my very literal daughter who wanted to know what everything meant. I figured they were just something used to keep young children busy at preschool.  Then I started reading about how nursery rhymes aid in teh development of language. And I started thinking about how they are part of our cultural heritage, how without a knowledge of them, our children will  miss references in literature and popular culture. Like when Basil Crawford infuriated Mary by singing "Mistress Mary, quite contrary" in The Secret Garden. Or realizing that Pa Ingalls wasn't just making things up on the banks of Plum Creek when he sang,  

 "Mary put the dishes on,
The dishes on, the dishes on,
Mary put the dishes on,
We'll all take tea!"

But that it actually came from the old rhyme, Polly Put the Kettle on. Furthermore, all the experts agree that the rhyming patterns and vocabulary of Mother Goose are beneficial to language acquisition.  All this to say, your children will love nursery rhymes and become baby geniuses if you read some Mother Goose to them. Which begs the question, which version to buy???

The content of any two Mother Goose or Nursery Rhyme books will mostly be the same; however, there are one or two things regarding the text to keep in mind when choosing one:

1. It is mighty handy to have some sort of alphabetical title index, so you don't have thumb through/skim all 250 rhymes to find Little Bo Peep. Again. 
2. There are some variations in wording among these rhymes. If you are able, you may want to look up one or two of your favorites or most well known ones, and see if they are the same in the book you are considering. In one of my books, after falling down the hill, Jack  

"Went to bed to mend his head"

 But in another, he went

 "To old Dame Dob, who patched his nob."

After that, the only other consideration is which illustrations you like best. Here is my list of eight that I believe are worthy of consideration.

1. Lavender's Blue - This was the first book of nursery rhymes I ever bought for my children, and I chose it because it was the only one in print at the time with the type of vintage illustrations that I love. Harold Jones' pictures are reminiscent of Kate Greenway's, and we have really enjoyed them. There is an index of first lines in the back, as well as some hints on "games" to play with the rhymes - think: This Little Piggy. 

The pages alternate between black and white and full color. My copy is hardcover, which I feel is a necessary investment for a book that is sure to be much-handled and well-loved.

2. The Real Mother Goose illustrated by Blanche Fisher Wright. This book is the one suggested or included in several popular homeschool curriculum. I (ok, my kids) were gifted a hardcover copy by a very good friend many years ago. I will admit that initially, I did not care for the illustrations, but they have grown on me since then. The pictures are all in color, and every fourth page boasts a full page spread.

 The biggest problem I have with this book is that there is no index. There is a table of contents, but since there is no rhyme or reason to the way the poems are placed, it really doesn't do any good. There are 272 rhymes on over 120 pages - it would be nice not to have to flip through the entire thing in search of a particular one.

  The third and last copy I (currently) own is Marguerite de Angeli's Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes. Besides the fact that I am a huge fan of everything de Angeli has done (note to self: future blog post), I had the added bonus of purchasing this book for a mere $0.75 at a local Goodwill store. I gotta tell you, I just love treasure hunting!

There are A TON of rhymes in this volume - over 180 pages worth, with an alphabetical index in the back. The illustrations are mostly pencil drawings, some full sized, and about 20 full-color, full-page pictures. If you can get your hands on one of these, I do not think you would be disappointed. 

4. The Arnold Lobel Book of Mother Goose - apparently this was once published as The Random House Book of Mother Goose, so if you find that, you'll be getting the same thing. I bought this at a used book store recently, intending to give it to a friend who is expecting her first baby, but I am afraid I will have a hard time giving it up! Lobel's illustrations always have a nostalgic feeling and calming affect, despite their brightness and fun.

(If you're seeing that image upside-down, I cannot for my life figure out why, or how to change it.) There is an alphabetical index of first lines in the back, all pictures are in color, many full page. Seriously, I think I need my own copy.

These next few books are ones I do not own, because even I exercise restrain *some*time. But they are all illustrated by popular, well loved artists, and would be excellent additions to any library.

5. The Jessie Wilcox Smith Mother Goose  - Smith, one of "the most prominent female illustrators in the United States during the Golden Age of American Illustration," created the kind of soft look that works so well in children's books, without being overly sweet or sentimental, in the way some of her predecessors.  My favorite versions of Heidi and A Child's Garden of Verses are adorned with her illustrations.

6. Tomie de Paola's Mother Goose - it seems that people either love Tomie, or hate him, but if you love him, why not pick up this book? In fact, I have a strong suspicion that this one IS actually hiding around my house somewhere...Simple and colorful, most children {heart} Tomie's illustrations.

 
 
7. Mother Goose by Tasha Tudor - Do not think that being last on my list means least! Caldecott Honoree Tasha Tudor may be one of the most loved modern illustrators. Her nostalgic depictions of smiling children and happy families have me picking up her books whenever I find them, for the illustrations alone, wholly regardless of the written content. And while her volume of Mother Goose does not appear to be currently in print, I do not believe it is that hard to find.
                                 
                                           

So - if you don't already have one of these fine volumes, go get one. And no, those are NOT Amazon affiliate links, so feel free to buy them from whomever you please ;)

The Further Chronicles of Avonlea

I set out three days ago to write a review on The Wind the Willows and here my web browsers sits, still open to a new - but totally blank - post. And since I have a policy of not fighting against the muses, I've decided to indefinitely postpone said post, and begin a new one on the book I have just this afternoon finished reading: The Further Chronicles of Avonlea. If you are a fan of Anne-with-an-E of Green Gables, the name Avonlea ought to be familiar to you. And if you know me in real life, you may know that I am a fan, and even named my youngest daughter Avonlea. And, if you're a fan, and I'm a fan, that makes us "kindred spirits," and possibly "of the race that knows Joseph," and we ought to get a long swell.

Anyway, back to the book. The Further Chronicles of Avonlea is actually a companion volume to - wait for it - The Chronicles of Avonlea which, I will admit, I've not read. Yet. The Further Chronicles is a volume of 15 short stories that take place in and around Avonlea, and in which Anne has only a small mention. Being a true Anne Fan, this kept me from these beautiful stories for far too long. But my prejudice was unwarranted, and as I finished the book today, what struck me was the beauty of true love, honor, duty, and faith shining through them.

The first two stories, "Aunt Cynthia's Persian Cat" and "The Materializing of Cecil" seem to be just for fun; not bad, but I'm not sure I could have take a whole book of their frivolity either. And chapter five, "The Dream Child," in which a young woman loses her infant son, goes nearly crazy hearing his cries in the dark, only to one night come upon a cast away child that restores her health and her faith, was a little haunting for this mama. But then there is "Her father's Daughter," "Jane's Baby," and "The Son of His Mother" which so beautifully portrayed the dangers of stubbornness and the importance of forgiveness between husband and wife, sisters, and mother and son.

Familial love and relationships are foremost in all, and the cultivation of what is right and good and true in ones character is held the highest esteem, as in "The Education of Betty" and "The Conscience Case of David Bell."  Indeed, L.M. Montgomery's heroes and heroines, whatever their faults, are never 'petty,' and strive for the integrity and nobleness of character that has sadly fallen out of fashion in today's world. 

But most beautiful, I felt, were the stories in The Further Chronicles which had characters setting aside their own desires and even needs to "esteem others as more important than themselves." Men like Robert Monroe in "The Brother Who Failed," who sacrificed time, money, and opportunities, to boost his five younger siblings to success (both worldly and otherwise) and to care for his neighbors when no one else would, prompting his aunt to realize that, " 'There's a kind of failure that's the best success.' "  And Eunice Carr, who looked after her brother in his life and his death. People like Miss Emily Leith and the 'common' Mark Foster who loved their respective loves enough to let them go. All the best that the human spirit is capable of shine through in these short, simple stories, and I'm sure I will return them again and again in years to come, both for my own pleasure and to read to my children; for in character training, one can never have too many models of what is honorable set before them.

"We both belong to the race that knows Joseph, as Cornelia Bryant would say."
" 'The race that knows Joseph?' " puzzled Anne. 
"Yes. Cornelia divides all the folks in the world into two kinds - the race that knows Joseph and the race that don't. If a person sorter sees eye to eye with you, has pretty much the same ideas about things, and the same taste in jokes - why, the he belongs to the race that knows Joseph."
"Oh, I understand," exclaimed Anne, light breaking in upon her. "It's what I used to call - and still call in quotation marks - 'kindred spirits.' "

from Anne's House of Dreams

In which I issue a retraction

So, I hardly ever do this, but in my last post, I recommended a book that I'd not yet read. It was on several lists, it's description seemed perfectly suited to my needs, it was a good length. But once I'd begun to read it, I realized that the writing style was poor, the vocabulary much too simplistic for the 10-and-up demographic for which it was intended, and the structure made it seem as though the author could not decide whether she was writing a work of historical fiction or non-fiction.  And though it has its good points, overall, I was unimpressed with Theras and His Town.

And because life is too short to be wasted on sub-par books, I replaced it in my YR 6 daughters schedule with Three Greek Children by Alfred Church. While this book is still rather light for my voracious reader, the vocabulary was more sophisticated, as was the writing style, and the story altogether delightful. Theras may have included more 'facts,' but as we are getting plenty of those from our other books, I am glad to let my daughter be drawn into Ancient Greece through this lovely story.

Ancient Greece

You know, one of the things that had become more apparent to me this year is that the study of history is not as linear as I'd like. Peoples and empires who I thought came 'right after each other' really lived side by side until circumstances allowed one or the other to take a more prominent place in world affairs. If you'd like to read or study history, it is helpful to do so with a timeline or book of centuries at hand; a way to make a quick note about who was doing what when as you read through this list:

On the Shores of the Great Sea by M.B. Synge. I could tell you that Greece starts in chapter 15, or you could just start at the beginning; you won't regret it.

The Story of the Greeks by Helene A. Guerber - this very excellent book could be used as a survey of Greek history or as history tales; either way, it is definitely worth your time.

Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster - if you ever come across any of Foster's books in a used book store, pick them up. This one surveys the happenings in Rome, Greece, Israel, Egypt, China, India, and Persia during a roughly 60 year time span. Perfect for ages 10+, but younger children could enjoy it too.

The Chilldren's Plutarch: Tales of the Greeks by F.J. Gould. I could do a whole 'nother post on Plutarch, and maybe someday I will, but I wanted to list this book here as a particularly good resource for younger students (1st - 4th grades) learning about ancient Greece, though that's not to say that older readers won't enjoy it as well. There is also a second volume titled Tales of the Romans.

Thereas and his Town by Caroline Dale Snedeker - an easy read for ages 9-12, this book will take readers from Athens to Sparta, and back again.

Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick - Beware: you may pick up more math and science from this biography than history!

Herodotus and the Road to History by Jeanne Bendick - reads will discover a lot about ancient Greek customs in this fascinating book.

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky - I enjoyed this picture book about Eratosthenes, and what's more, I learned something too! Suitable for all ages, though younger kids might get lost in the 2-3 pages that describe his method and discovery.

The First Marathon; The legend of Pheidippides by Susan Reynolds - a fun picture book.

The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War by Emily Little - always a favorite with our children; perfect for early elementary. 

Myths and Legends

You cannot study the history or literature of the western world without familiarizing yourself with Greek mythology - it is that influential. And like versions of Plutarch, renditions of Greek Myths abound. I will list a few of our favorite compilations here, and leave you free to discover titles that tell of individual heroes or episodes on your own.

The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki - perfect gentle introduction to the topic.

D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire  - more detailed than the previous title, this offering is probably more suited to the aged 10 and up set.

Black Ships Before Troy, and The Wanderings of Odysseys by Rosemary Sutcliff - If you can, get a hardcover version of these full length text, they come fully illustrated, though a less expensive, not illustrated mass market paperback version is also available. Suitable for middle-graders and up.

The Golden Fleece: And the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles, and The Children's Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy by Padraic Colum - more vocabulary rich offerings for 
readers around age 12 and older. 


  

   

 

How to choose which books to use when there are so many good ones

If you're a homeschooler, or just someone fascinated by how odd we homeschoolers are, you might have read my last post, and wondered, are you guys READING all those books for school? The answer of course, is no way; I wouldn't have time for even half of them. So how did I chose which ones to use? Well, I'm glad you asked.

 The first principle I try to remember is too keep it simple. Less really is more. Yes, I own a lot of books. Yes, nearly all of them are "good books" - I don't waste my money or time on twaddle! But just because I *have* all these great books doesn't mean we have to race through a chapter book a week, or read a new picture book every day. Here's how I choose history books.

I start with a "spine;" this book will be the core of our studies and is usually some type of overview of history. Please note, this does not mean a textbook! Charlotte Mason, the 19th century British educator whose theories and philosophy have shaped mine, stresses the importance of living books in education. In a living book, the author is both passionate and knowledgeable about his or her subject matter, and presents it in an inviting and engaging tone. It is a book to help one see the grand scheme of things.

Next, I chose a book of history tales. These are the little stories of history that are, by necessity, overlooked in the 'big picture' books; stories one remembers long after forgetting the years of Henry VIII's reign: Horatio holding the bridge. Androcles and the Lion. Napoleon taming Bucephalus. Don't know those stories? You're not reading the right books ;) Some examples to follow.

Finally, I choose a high quality historical fiction book. While the true history tales often work to encourage or inspire the reader, historical fiction draws one in, letting you feel what it was like to live in that time place. We read these slowly, to savor them, to have time to digest, and not just rush along from one thrill to the next, in our eagerness to "see what happens" (that type of reading can be done during free time).   

And that's it! Three books for history, per child, per term. If you combine grades/ages it's even less. So here's what it looks like for us right now.

Year/Grade 6
Our Young Folks Josephus 
Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt
God King: A Story in the Days of King Hezekiah 

Years/Grades 2 & 4 (since we primarily read aloud at this stage, I have combined their history readings for my own ease)
On the Shores of the Great Sea
Peeps at Many Lands: Ancient Egypt
If I had to chose one historical fiction offering here, it would be The Golden Goblet.  But since I recently acquired both Boy of the Pyramids and Cat of Bubastes on CD, I wanted to use both of them, and so we are. One of the many beauties of homeschooling is breaking even my own rules.  

Please note: none of the links above are affiliate links. As of right now, I don't make any money when you read my blog or click the links; I include them purely for your ease and to gratify my love of connecting people with good books.  

Ancient Israel & Egypt

Studying ancient history? Want to? This year we are learning about the lives of the ancient Hebrews, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Christians. Here are some of the best books to help you along, for all different ages, with a little commentary interspersed.

Young Folk’s Josephus by William Shepard – an excellent retelling of Old Testament history; I personally feel it begins to read like a battlefield report after the Maccabean rebellion.

On the Shores of the Great Sea by M.B. Synge – this book, with Josephus, is pretty much a complete ancient history course. Unless you want a little more ancient Rome, then also add:

The Discovery of New Worlds by M.B. Synge – covers the rise and fall of Rome to Columbus.

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt by Elizabeth Payne – one of the famed Landmark Books, the publishers list this title for grades 6 & up. Covers the archeological discoveries that have unearthed the secrets of one of the oldest civilizations.   

Peeps at Many Lands: Ancient Egypt by James Baikie – non-fiction written in an easy, narrative tone. Perfect for ages 6-10.

Pharaoh’s Boat by David Weitzman – fully illustrated, but intended for older children.

The Great Pyramid by Elizabeth Mann  - lavishly illustrated, but for older children. Mann’s books are well done.

Historical Fiction

Boy of the Pyramids by Ruth Fosdick Jones – excellent choice for younger readers/listeners who might  not be ready for some of the other titles listed. They will pick up so much about life in ancient  Egypt in this exciting but gentle story.

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw – there may be more fiction in this title than the others, but  it was meticulously researched. If your child is too old for Boy of the Pyramids, chose this title instead.

Cat of Bubastes by G.A. Henty - Henty’s historical adventure stories are popular with boys ages 10 and up. This one takes place in Egypt in 1350 B.C. Do yourself a favor and get Jim Weiss’ excellent audio reading of it. Due to battle scenes and some deaths, this may not be suitable for sensative younger listeners.

Hittite Warrior by Joanne Williamson – Israel in the time of judges. Not as well written, in my opinion, as some of the other titles listed, but still interesting.

God King: A Story of King Hezekiah by Joanne Williamson  - excellent story that will take you into the world of the ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, and Jews around 701 B.C.

Victory on the Walls: A Story of Nehemiah by Frieda Clark Hyman – at the time of the temple reconstruction, 445 B.C.

I’ve not read these next three stories, but I plan to. If you have a girl who would balk at the “boy stories” listed above, you may prefer one of these titles:

Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw set during the reign of Thutmose III (1479 –  1425 B.C.); be aware the plot centers on a romance.

Tirzah by Lucille Travis – fictional retelling of the Jewish Exodus. The only criticism I have heard of this book is of poor writing style.

Adara by Beatrice Gormley - a fictional retelling about 2 Kings 5, where Naaman is healed of leprosy. There are some who might disprove of Adara’s headstrong attitude, and subtle feminist and anti-marriage themes.

Picture Books

There are too many to name, but I’ll venture a few:

Mummies Made in Egypt  by Aliki

The Shipwrecked Sailor by Tamara Bower

Tutankhamen’s Gift by Robert Sabuda

Joseph by Brian WIldsmith, and

Exodus by Brian Wildsmith

Up next time: Ancient Greece!