Mary Had a Little Jam and Other Silly Rhymes

Book: Mary Had a Little Jam and Other Silly Rhymes
Author: Bruce Lansky
Illustrator: Stephen Carpenter
Genre: Poetry
Major Awards: iParenting Media Back to School
Age Group: PreKindergarten - 2nd

Summary:

This book compiles a lot of traditional nursery rhymes that we know and love, but now it has a twist. Old Mother Goose rides a cow that jumped over the moon, Little Bo-Peep loses her dog, and Jack burning his pants even though he was nimble. Humpty Dumpty falls after sitting on a wall and is sad that there's no glue to repair him back then. Old King Cole loved to dance while playing his fiddle until the pants fell off, twinkle twinkle little star has a little different theme to the same tune, and Yankee Doodle can be seen on a rooster strolling through the town. In the end, a baby is in a treetop sleeping peacefully in their cradle.

Evaluation & Comments:

I would use this book for a read aloud in my classroom. I think it is a good read for when there is a little bit of time at the end of the class or even the middle of class when the students are done with their work, considering how short some of the stories are. I would make a note, though, that the students would have to know the original rhymes because the ones in the book is a spinoff of the originals. One activity that could be done is related to math and telling time with the Hickory Dickory Doc rhyme. The teacher would have to provide the students with materials (paper plates, brads, and arrows for minute and hour hand) and have the students assemble it as an activity. Have the students write the numbers on their plate and after they are created, the class can practice telling time afterwards.