Hey, Mama Goose

by Jane Breskin Zalben, Emilie Chollat (Illustrator)

When the Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe’s residence becomes too tight for her and her growing family, she happily decides to move into Snow White and the dwarf’s house while they set up home in Rapunzel’s castle, but when the fairy tale characters begin to feel out of place in their new surroundings, it is decided by all to return to the places they truly call home.

Genres: Picture Books, Nursery Rhymes, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 3, 2005

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

What can I say, I didn’t enjoy this at any level. The premise of the storyline of various Mother Goose characters displacing another character from their home just didn’t seem that Mother Goose characters would engage in that activity. The illustrations were angular and unappealing. Until I read another reviewI had been oblivious to the rhyming text. Sorry, but this one didn’t capture this reader.

[Mh Weyler]

Another topsy turvy nursery rhyme where the Old Woman in the Shoe runs out of room and decides to move. This promotes a moving frenzy by lots of characters who are all looking for greener pastures. The moral is true. It is not always better somewhere else and they find themselves back at home again before the end of the book.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Book

[Naira Franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can help students with their rhyming skills in this fun nursery rhyme about Mama Goose.

[Andrew Stockle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey Mama Goose is a meta-fictional picture book. The reader is introduced to the old woman who lived in a shoe with her many children. She desires to find a new home big enough for her family, so she leaves her old shoe and sets of for Snow Whites cottage. In doing so she sets off a domino effect that kicks all of the fairy tales out of their homes (three-little-pigs, jack and Jill, sleeping beauty etc.) until finally she ends up back home where she started. The pictures in the books take up a great deal of space. This book could be used to help children point out what is wrong in the story and to stimulate questions. I would use this book to emphasize the importance of being happy where one is. The grass in not always greener on the other side.

[babyhippoface · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nursery rhyme and fairy tale characters (Jack & Jill, Rapunzel, Snow White, the Three Bears, and more) find reasons to leave their homes and move into other characters’ houses. The bouncy, rhyming text paints a silly scenario that will entertain children who are already familiar with the characters. Chollat’s mixed-media illustrations are bright and colorful but primitive in style with unattractive, elongated, rubbery-looking limbs on most characters. Despite that, kids will enjoy this fun read-aloud, which would fit neatly into an elementary unit on fairy tales or nursery rhymes.

[Amanda Behrends · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary - The story follows famed nursery rhyme and fairytale characters as they move into new homes only to realize how perfect their original home was.
Curriculum Connections - Rhyming words, making connections, practice with identifying different word categories (noun, verb, adjective, etc.).
Personal Reaction - I liked this book because it did pull in so many other classic stories.
Visual Appeal - Beautiful bright illustrations with lots of details to take in and enhance the text.
Intended Audience - Primary grades, pre-k to 2nd grade. 3 To 7 years old.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute book! Classic fairy tale characters move among each others homes in search of something more comfy. It all starts with the old lady in the shoe who is directed by Mama Goose to Snow White's cottage, who in turn heads off, with all 7 dwarfs, to the castle of Rapunzel. Each set of characters in turn displaces another until finally the Old Lady decides, "It's time to GO BACK!"

A funny book to share aloud with kids who are familiar with the different fairy tales.

[Zachary Alcorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how this book went through every nursery rhyme and connected them all. It was really interesting to see that. You can go all over the place but in the end there is still no place like home because they all ended back in the shoe. If you read all the stories separate and then read this book it would be interesting to see if the children can tell you what story the part of the book is from.

[(NS)JenniferA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book on the shelves at the library and just couldn't NOT check it out! I love that this book of Latino folklore is so accessible to young English speakers. The poems are written in both English and Spanish. I can't wait to show this to my friend who teaches Kindergarten Dual-Language!!!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice fractured fairy tale that basically entails a lot of moving by various fairy tale characters. The lesson that is wrapped up in the story is one of appreciating what you have when you have it. It's not so very different from the famous quote from the 1939 movie adaptation of The Wizard of Oz; there's no place like home.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine every fairy tale happening at the same time, all intermingled, with Mama Goose as your realtor. And throw in a bit of "the grass isn't always greener on the other side" kind of message. That is this book.

[Aspasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun look at how one Mother Goose rhyme affects another!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could be a cute one for early elementary students who are learning fairy tales and nursery rhymes. #shelfchallenge

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny easy cute pictures on this Mother Goose reimagined story! I also forgot commas-sorry!