Mother Goose's Little Treasures

Mother Goose's Little Treasures is a 2007 collection of 22 lesser-known nursery rhymes curated by renowned folklorist Iona Opie. The book features illustrations by Rosemary Wells, whose signature style brings each rhyme to life through depictions of animal and child characters. This compilation stands as the third collaboration between Opie and Wells, following their previous works My Very First Mother Goose and Here Comes Mother Goose. The rhymes range from simple verses about animals and nature to playful counting songs and traditional game rhymes. The collection focuses on the musical and rhythmic qualities of language rather than narrative coherence. These nursery rhymes embrace the whimsical and sometimes nonsensical traditions of oral folklore, celebrating sound patterns and wordplay that have entertained children for generations.

Parents and educators report that these lesser-known Mother Goose rhymes interest children but don't resonate as strongly as the classic favorites. Several reviewers note that Rosemary Wells' illustrations add charm and humor to the collection. Likes: - Introduces rare, forgotten rhymes - Colorful, playful illustrations - Good for expanding beyond standard Mother Goose repertoire Dislikes: - Rhymes lack the memorable quality of traditional favorites - Some rhythms feel awkward or forced - Text size is small for young readers - Limited appeal compared to classic collections Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (62 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) "The illustrations are delightful but the rhymes themselves aren't particularly engaging," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another adds: "My toddler prefers our other Mother Goose books - these verses don't have the same natural flow." Library associations and educators recommend it as a supplemental rather than primary Mother Goose collection.

The Real Mother Goose by Blanche Fisher Wright A collection of original Mother Goose nursery rhymes with traditional illustrations from 1916.

The Puffin Book of Nursery Rhymes by Raymond Briggs This compilation presents British nursery rhymes with pen-and-ink drawings that capture the whimsy of each verse.

The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes by Iona Opie, Peter Opie The definitive collection traces the history and variants of nursery rhymes from the English oral tradition.

A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson These poems capture childhood experiences and imagination in simple rhyming verse.

The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants by Jackie Silberg, Pam Schiller This collection contains over 700 verses for children with corresponding activities and movements.

🎵 Iona Opie and her husband Peter dedicated over 50 years to collecting and preserving children's folklore, creating one of the world's largest archives of children's literature and traditions. 🏛️ The Opies' personal collection of children's books and manuscripts, containing over 20,000 items, is now housed in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. 📚 Mother Goose rhymes originated in France as "Contes de ma mère l'Oye," first published by Charles Perrault in 1697, before evolving into the English tradition we know today. 🎨 Illustrator Rosemary Wells, known for creating the Max & Ruby series, has illustrated over 120 children's books and won numerous awards for her distinctive artistic style. 📖 Many traditional Mother Goose rhymes served as subtle political commentary or preserved historical events, though their original meanings have often been lost to time.