 | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 08/01/2013 Brown, whose books Finger Rhymes (1980), Hand Rhymes (1985), and Play Rhymes (1987) were library staples for years, offers 20 of his favorite action rhymes for today’s children and their grown-ups to enjoy together. Each rhyme appears on one or two double-page spreads, illustrated with large, softly colored pictures. Beside the large-print lines of text, tiny drawings show the actions that should accompany those lines. Although the origins of the individual rhymes are not given, the book is dedicated to Mother Goose, and many of them can be attributed to her. Others, such as The Wheels on the Bus and I’m a Little Teapot, are more modern. In an appended note, Brown comments on the appealing illustrations, created using with gouache and colored pencils on gessoed wooden panels. Focused primarily on active children and dressed animals, but full of lively details, the pictures create a childlike world where reality and fantasy coexist very comfortably. A fine read-aloud choice for young families and an attractive source of rhymes for baby, toddler, and preschool storytimes. - Copyright 2013 Booklist. School Library Journal - 09/01/2013 K-Gr 1—Fans of Brown's Hand Rhymes (Penguin, 1985) will be thrilled to see this new collection, which uses a similar visual format to teach rhymes and their accompanying actions. The book offers 20 participatory rhymes, seven of which were included in Hand Rhymes. Each one is colorfully illustrated using gouache and colored pencils on gessoed wooden panels. Paint was scraped away and overpainted in places to create texture. Small boxed line drawings match up with each line of text, suggesting interactive motions. Some rhymes are just for fingers ("Whoops! Johnny," "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"), while others make use of the whole body ("I'm a Little Teapot," "The Wheels on the Bus"). The well-known rhymes span the seasons. With its clean design and classic feel, this welcome title will be useful for programming and for adults who want to take home some of the fun from storytime.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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