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My Very First Mother Goose Series
Humpty Dumpty: and Other Rhymes
Inspired by our exciting new Gift Line.
Resized and featuring new covers, these bright board books based on MY VERY FIRST MOTHER GOOSE, the award-winning modern day classic, bring timeless poems to the youngest children. Each of the four enchanting board books contains eight favorite rhymes collected in their most perfect form by folklorist Iona Opie. Every rhyme is accompanied by the incomparable art of Rosemary Wells, illustrations that THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW called "irresistible." Large letters and sturdy board pages make these treasures indispensable for any nursery.
Resized and featuring new covers, these bright board books based on MY VERY FIRST MOTHER GOOSE, the award-winning modern day classic, bring timeless poems to the youngest children. Each of the four enchanting board books contains eight favorite rhymes collected in their most perfect form by folklorist Iona Opie. Every rhyme is accompanied by the incomparable art of Rosemary Wells, illustrations that THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW called "irresistible." Large letters and sturdy board pages make these treasures indispensable for any nursery.
16 pages, Board book
First published November 3, 1997
4 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Iona Opie
44 books32 followersIona Margaret Balfour Archibald was born in Colchester, Essex, England. She was a researcher and writer on folklore and children's street culture. She is considered an authority on children's rhymes, street and playground games and the Mother Goose tradition. She was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) in 1998 and was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1999.
The couple met during World War II and married on 2 September 1943. The couple worked together closely, from their home near Farnham, Surrey, conducting primary fieldwork, library research, and interviews of thousands of children. In pursuing the folklore of contemporary childhood they directly recorded rhymes and games in real time as they were being sung, chanted, or played. Working from their home in Alton, Hampshire they collaborated on several celebrated books and produced over 30 works. The couple were jointly awarded the Coote Lake Medal in 1960. The medal is awarded by The Folklore Society "for outstanding research and scholarship".
Speaking in 2010, Iona speaks of working with her husband as being "like two of us in a very small boat and each had an oar and we were trying to row across the Atlantic." and that "[W]e would never discuss ideas verbally except very late at night."
Iona Opie died in 2017.
The couple met during World War II and married on 2 September 1943. The couple worked together closely, from their home near Farnham, Surrey, conducting primary fieldwork, library research, and interviews of thousands of children. In pursuing the folklore of contemporary childhood they directly recorded rhymes and games in real time as they were being sung, chanted, or played. Working from their home in Alton, Hampshire they collaborated on several celebrated books and produced over 30 works. The couple were jointly awarded the Coote Lake Medal in 1960. The medal is awarded by The Folklore Society "for outstanding research and scholarship".
Speaking in 2010, Iona speaks of working with her husband as being "like two of us in a very small boat and each had an oar and we were trying to row across the Atlantic." and that "[W]e would never discuss ideas verbally except very late at night."
Iona Opie died in 2017.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 7, 2020
Awards the book has received: N/A
Appropriate grade levels: Baby-3 years.
Original summary: Based on MY VERY FIRST MOTHER GOOSE, the award-winning modern-day classic, bring timeless poems to the youngest children. Each of the four enchanting board books contains eight favorite rhymes collected in their most perfect form by folklorist Iona Opie. Every rhyme is accompanied by the incomparable art of Rosemary Wells, illustrations that THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW called "irresistible."
Original review: This book is cute and fun and would keep kids attention.
1-2 possible in-class uses: Learning about rhyming.
Appropriate grade levels: Baby-3 years.
Original summary: Based on MY VERY FIRST MOTHER GOOSE, the award-winning modern-day classic, bring timeless poems to the youngest children. Each of the four enchanting board books contains eight favorite rhymes collected in their most perfect form by folklorist Iona Opie. Every rhyme is accompanied by the incomparable art of Rosemary Wells, illustrations that THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW called "irresistible."
Original review: This book is cute and fun and would keep kids attention.
1-2 possible in-class uses: Learning about rhyming.
Read
November 10, 2020Humpty Dumpty: and Other Rhymes by Iona Opie has not won any awards but the author is an award winner.
This book is good for pre-K.
This book has a few different nursery rhymes that are cute. These rhymes such as humpty dumpty are classics.
This book is a cute and fun. This book has classic nursery rhymes and will keep the children captivated.
This book will be good way to show rhyming using classic stories. In the classroom you can discuss rhyming.
This book is good for pre-K.
This book has a few different nursery rhymes that are cute. These rhymes such as humpty dumpty are classics.
This book is a cute and fun. This book has classic nursery rhymes and will keep the children captivated.
This book will be good way to show rhyming using classic stories. In the classroom you can discuss rhyming.
June 24, 2024
I grew up with these and now read them to my kids. It is simple and short. Not too many nursery rhymes that you feel like you are reading a chapter book but not just one that is done in less than a minute either.
January 23, 2017
Adorable Rosemary Wells illustrations to some Mother Goose rhymes. About half well-known and half I hadn't heard before.
August 6, 2017
My granddaughter who is two years of age really enjoys this book. The wording is simple and the pictures are colour illustrated which is easily grasped by a toddler.
September 21, 2018
One of my favorite books to read to the kids.
August 8, 2020
There were some new ones included. How nice!
January 30, 2021
Rowan's always up for some Rosemary Wells illustrations. I don't do as many nursery rhymes with Rowan as I probably should, so this is a fun nudge to keep those on hand.
March 10, 2017
I only used the better known nursery rhymes with the TK class. They liked standing up and sitting down for the Grand Old Duke of York.
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October 13, 2016Title: Humpty Dumpty and Other Rhymes
Author: Iona Opie
Illustrator: Rosemary Wells
Genre: Mother Goose
Theme(s): Poetry, Nursery Rhyme, learning-to-read, rhyming
Opening line/sentence: “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.”
Brief Book Summary: Humpty Dumpty and Other Rhymes starts by telling the story of humpty dumpty, but continues on by incorporating other nursery rhymes. This story chooses the most memorable part of many nursery rhymes to allow the reader to get a general idea of that story.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
Part of "The Mother Goose" collection, the selections in this small board book are taken from the larger book by the compiler and illustrator. The book is durable and filled with bright, cheery pictures for each of the eight rhymes. Among the better known selections are the title rhyme, My Black Hen, Davy Dumpling, Tom Tom the Piper's Son and Jack Horner. In the latter, a little mouse is pulling a plum out of a pie while the cook and cat nap in the background. Once you have seen one, you will want the three other titles in the series.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Susie Wilde (Children's Literature) One of the most important books in a baby's collection is a volume of Mother Goose. I've heard that many of the rhythms and rhymes echo a mother's heartbeat. That would explain why these verses can soothe a seemingly inconsolable infant into sleep, or bring smiles and giggles to a bored baby. Choosing a particular volume depends on personal taste. Recently Rosemary Wells collaborated with Iona Opie to create a wonderful new book, My Very First Mother Goose. It has since been divided up into four board books--Wee Willie Winkie, Humpty Dumpty, Little Boy Blue, and Pussycat, Pussycat.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I appreciated Marilyn Courtot’s of Children’s Literature review because of the emphasis on the vibrant colors throughout the book, which I believe is one of the main benefits of this book. These pictures will really catch the eye of children because they seem to replicate many traditional children’s stuffed animals, specifically the animal on the front cover. I disagree with this book using the well-known selections of nursery rhymes considering I have never heard of any of the rhymes other than Humpty Dumpty. I also agree with Susie Wilde of Children’s Literature focusing on the rhyming of this book, the concept of rhyming throughout the story made it very fun and easy to read.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This story is not as child friendly considering it does not flow as well as stories normally do. This is because of the combination of all the different nursery rhymes; this could potentially allow children to get lost. On the contrary, the children will love the rhyming throughout this story. The children will love the details and color on every picture; the illustrations are very exciting to look at with many attractive scenes.
Consideration of Instructional Application: After reading this story to a classroom, you could allow students to share other nursery rhymes they are familiar with to the class. I would maybe even have children bring in their favorite nursery rhyme from home if they have one their parents read to them often. You could also elaborate more on the nursery rhymes in the story that children were not familiar with. I would also allow the children to act out their favorite nursery rhyme from the story in groups.
Author: Iona Opie
Illustrator: Rosemary Wells
Genre: Mother Goose
Theme(s): Poetry, Nursery Rhyme, learning-to-read, rhyming
Opening line/sentence: “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.”
Brief Book Summary: Humpty Dumpty and Other Rhymes starts by telling the story of humpty dumpty, but continues on by incorporating other nursery rhymes. This story chooses the most memorable part of many nursery rhymes to allow the reader to get a general idea of that story.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
Part of "The Mother Goose" collection, the selections in this small board book are taken from the larger book by the compiler and illustrator. The book is durable and filled with bright, cheery pictures for each of the eight rhymes. Among the better known selections are the title rhyme, My Black Hen, Davy Dumpling, Tom Tom the Piper's Son and Jack Horner. In the latter, a little mouse is pulling a plum out of a pie while the cook and cat nap in the background. Once you have seen one, you will want the three other titles in the series.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Susie Wilde (Children's Literature) One of the most important books in a baby's collection is a volume of Mother Goose. I've heard that many of the rhythms and rhymes echo a mother's heartbeat. That would explain why these verses can soothe a seemingly inconsolable infant into sleep, or bring smiles and giggles to a bored baby. Choosing a particular volume depends on personal taste. Recently Rosemary Wells collaborated with Iona Opie to create a wonderful new book, My Very First Mother Goose. It has since been divided up into four board books--Wee Willie Winkie, Humpty Dumpty, Little Boy Blue, and Pussycat, Pussycat.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I appreciated Marilyn Courtot’s of Children’s Literature review because of the emphasis on the vibrant colors throughout the book, which I believe is one of the main benefits of this book. These pictures will really catch the eye of children because they seem to replicate many traditional children’s stuffed animals, specifically the animal on the front cover. I disagree with this book using the well-known selections of nursery rhymes considering I have never heard of any of the rhymes other than Humpty Dumpty. I also agree with Susie Wilde of Children’s Literature focusing on the rhyming of this book, the concept of rhyming throughout the story made it very fun and easy to read.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This story is not as child friendly considering it does not flow as well as stories normally do. This is because of the combination of all the different nursery rhymes; this could potentially allow children to get lost. On the contrary, the children will love the rhyming throughout this story. The children will love the details and color on every picture; the illustrations are very exciting to look at with many attractive scenes.
Consideration of Instructional Application: After reading this story to a classroom, you could allow students to share other nursery rhymes they are familiar with to the class. I would maybe even have children bring in their favorite nursery rhyme from home if they have one their parents read to them often. You could also elaborate more on the nursery rhymes in the story that children were not familiar with. I would also allow the children to act out their favorite nursery rhyme from the story in groups.
Read
October 13, 2015Title: Humpty Dumpty and Other Rhymes
Editor: Iona Opie
Illustrator: Rosemary Wells
Genre: Book of Nursery Rhymes
Theme(s): Pre-School, learning-to-read, Nursery Rhyme
Opening line/sentence:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
Brief Book Summary: This book shares the classic nursery rhymes that everybody knows. Its pictures add to its stories by bringing slight twists to the known tales.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
HornBook
My Very First Mother Goose series. 1996. Each of these four board books contains eight nursery rhymes presented on double-page spreads using illustrations from Opie and Wells's 'My Very First Mother Goose'. The oversized books are beautifully produced, affordable, and attractive.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Susie Wilde (Children’s Literature)
One of the most important books in a baby’s collection is a volume of Mother Goose. I’ve heard many of the rhythms and rhymes echo a mother’s heartbeat. That would explain why these verses can soothe a seemingly inconsolable infant to sleep, or bring smiles and giggles to a bored baby. Choosing a particular volume depends on personal taste. Recently Rosemary Wells collaborated with Iona Opie to create a wonderful new book, My Very First Mother Goose. It has since been divided up into four board books--Wee Willie Winkie, Humpty Dumpty, Little Boy Blue and Pussycat, Pussycat.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of these reviews They also both talk about how the book Humpty Dumpty and Other Rhymes is a part of a set of four. The way that Susie Wilde talks about the nursery rhyme book being soothing to a child adds a great component to the recommendation, because new parents could probably use a form of this consolation. It is surprising that Wilde doesn’t talk about Wells’ classic book illustrations but HornBook gently comments on its attractiveness.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The pictures in this book are very large, while the words are small and black. This is probably because the main audience of the book will not be reading, but listening to the rhythms of each rhyme. The illustrations are bright and drawn in a recognizable style (Wells’ Max and Ruby) and each picture contains a slight variation on the nursery rhyme it sums up.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book with its simple words and rhymes, would be useful for learning to read and write poems. Since the target audience may be a bit younger and not at reading age, it could probably be used to teach toddlers nursery rhymes. It can even be used to soothe small children.
Editor: Iona Opie
Illustrator: Rosemary Wells
Genre: Book of Nursery Rhymes
Theme(s): Pre-School, learning-to-read, Nursery Rhyme
Opening line/sentence:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
Brief Book Summary: This book shares the classic nursery rhymes that everybody knows. Its pictures add to its stories by bringing slight twists to the known tales.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
HornBook
My Very First Mother Goose series. 1996. Each of these four board books contains eight nursery rhymes presented on double-page spreads using illustrations from Opie and Wells's 'My Very First Mother Goose'. The oversized books are beautifully produced, affordable, and attractive.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Susie Wilde (Children’s Literature)
One of the most important books in a baby’s collection is a volume of Mother Goose. I’ve heard many of the rhythms and rhymes echo a mother’s heartbeat. That would explain why these verses can soothe a seemingly inconsolable infant to sleep, or bring smiles and giggles to a bored baby. Choosing a particular volume depends on personal taste. Recently Rosemary Wells collaborated with Iona Opie to create a wonderful new book, My Very First Mother Goose. It has since been divided up into four board books--Wee Willie Winkie, Humpty Dumpty, Little Boy Blue and Pussycat, Pussycat.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of these reviews They also both talk about how the book Humpty Dumpty and Other Rhymes is a part of a set of four. The way that Susie Wilde talks about the nursery rhyme book being soothing to a child adds a great component to the recommendation, because new parents could probably use a form of this consolation. It is surprising that Wilde doesn’t talk about Wells’ classic book illustrations but HornBook gently comments on its attractiveness.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The pictures in this book are very large, while the words are small and black. This is probably because the main audience of the book will not be reading, but listening to the rhythms of each rhyme. The illustrations are bright and drawn in a recognizable style (Wells’ Max and Ruby) and each picture contains a slight variation on the nursery rhyme it sums up.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book with its simple words and rhymes, would be useful for learning to read and write poems. Since the target audience may be a bit younger and not at reading age, it could probably be used to teach toddlers nursery rhymes. It can even be used to soothe small children.
September 27, 2022
This board book contains eight nursery rhymes, illustrated by "Max & Ruby" artist Rosemary Wells.
Nursery Rhymes featured:
• "Humpty Dumpty"
• "Hickety, Pickety, My Black Hen"
• "Little Jack Horner"
• "Davy Davy Dumpling"
• "Little Jumping Joan"
• "Blow, Wind, Blow"
• "Horsie, Horsie, Don’t You Stop"
• "Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son"
Nursery Rhymes featured:
• "Humpty Dumpty"
• "Hickety, Pickety, My Black Hen"
• "Little Jack Horner"
• "Davy Davy Dumpling"
• "Little Jumping Joan"
• "Blow, Wind, Blow"
• "Horsie, Horsie, Don’t You Stop"
• "Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son"
October 12, 2016
My Review:
1. This book was shortlisted for the Illustrated Book of the Year in 1996.
2. This book can be used with children from birth to kindergarten.
3. This book consists of a series eight different nursery rhymes. Each nursery rhyme on each page comes with a unique vivid illustration. The rhymes themselves are more on the simpler side for younger students to understand.
4. I enjoy how colorful the book itself is because I feel as if a book has the right illustrations and colors, children will gravitate towards it and they will form a desire to read the book. However, I believe the content of the book is on a very simple level. If the intention is to show it to any child below three this book, then it is perfectly suitable. However, I believe that if a couple more rhymes were added it, it would greatly benefit how an adult would be able to utilize this book.
5. Since this book is on the smaller side, print concept can be taught to younger students. An adult can ensure whether or not children know how to turn the page in the book, as well as knowing where to read with a small copy of the book. Another in-class use is that a teacher could sing one line of the poem and have the class echo/sing back the same line. If the teacher had the big version of the book, he/she would leave it on an easel and point to each word as he/she spoke and the students could try to follow along as the words are being pointed to.
1. This book was shortlisted for the Illustrated Book of the Year in 1996.
2. This book can be used with children from birth to kindergarten.
3. This book consists of a series eight different nursery rhymes. Each nursery rhyme on each page comes with a unique vivid illustration. The rhymes themselves are more on the simpler side for younger students to understand.
4. I enjoy how colorful the book itself is because I feel as if a book has the right illustrations and colors, children will gravitate towards it and they will form a desire to read the book. However, I believe the content of the book is on a very simple level. If the intention is to show it to any child below three this book, then it is perfectly suitable. However, I believe that if a couple more rhymes were added it, it would greatly benefit how an adult would be able to utilize this book.
5. Since this book is on the smaller side, print concept can be taught to younger students. An adult can ensure whether or not children know how to turn the page in the book, as well as knowing where to read with a small copy of the book. Another in-class use is that a teacher could sing one line of the poem and have the class echo/sing back the same line. If the teacher had the big version of the book, he/she would leave it on an easel and point to each word as he/she spoke and the students could try to follow along as the words are being pointed to.
October 10, 2016
2. Humpty Dumpty: And Other Rhymes edited by Iona Opie, illustrated by Rosemary Wells
No Awards
Age: Baby- 3 years. Grade: Preschool +
Similar to Mother Goose, Humpty Dumpty is a book comprised of different well known nursery rhymes.
Humpty Dumpty is a “board book” (or at least the version I had was) meaning, the pages are made of a thicker cardboard or paper than a regular book. This is especially convenient for any younger kids using the book. The font size is also very big and easy to see.
Humpty Dumpty can be used to help teach print concepts and see what the students know (holding a book, turning the page, letters vs. words, etc.).
No Awards
Age: Baby- 3 years. Grade: Preschool +
Similar to Mother Goose, Humpty Dumpty is a book comprised of different well known nursery rhymes.
Humpty Dumpty is a “board book” (or at least the version I had was) meaning, the pages are made of a thicker cardboard or paper than a regular book. This is especially convenient for any younger kids using the book. The font size is also very big and easy to see.
Humpty Dumpty can be used to help teach print concepts and see what the students know (holding a book, turning the page, letters vs. words, etc.).
February 1, 2018
Lovable illustrated characters on each page and just a small clip of a nursery rhyme so that your little one doesn't loose interest. Not that they'd likely get too much out of the poems. Because as my husband would say, "What do these even mean? They make no sense." Well, that's a nursery rhyme for you! Haha
Ages: 1 - 3
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
Ages: 1 - 3
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
December 7, 2010
Charlotte is still not tired of nursery rhymes in board book form, and this one grabbed her attention. Rosemary Wells' illustrations are adorable, and while a number of rhymes in this particular volume were a trifle obscure (title poem excepted), Charlotte really enjoyed it.
Read
April 21, 2018This is a modern version of classic nursery rhymes that is part of a Mother Goose Series. There are four brightly colored board books that each contain 8 poems for young children. Board books with large words are appropriate for infants to toddlers. Nursery rhymes contain rhyming with can assist in phonological awareness and helps to build language skills. The New York times gave it a review of "irresistible."
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews