Over the Candlestick: Classic Nursery Rhymes and the Real Stories Behind Them

by Michael G. Montgomery, Wayne Montgomery

A special addition to nursery rhyme collections, this beautifully illustrated volume includes interesting facts about well-known verses.
Bringing together more than twenty classic nursery rhymes, riddles, and tongue twisters, this collection offers a fascinating glimpse into the age, origin, and meaning of each. Younger children will delight in the rhymes and beautiful illustrations while older children and adults will be fascinated by the historical details of well-known favorites such as Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty, Old King Cole, and others.
With whimsical, full-color illustrations and a little historical detective work, Michael and Wayne Montgomery have created a delightful and original nursery rhyme book that will entertain and educate young and old readers alike.

Genres: Childrens, Nursery Rhymes, Picture Books

Hardcover

First published March 1, 2002

Reviews

[Vera Godley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love beautiful children's books. When I saw Over the Candlestick Classic Nursery Rhymes in the Peachtree catalog, I thought it would be a nice book. But when I received my copy, I saw that it was a handsome, world-class nursery rhyme book that will span years beyond the years when Mother Goose and others are read to the young child. This book will remain on shelves for dipping into the bits of history wrapped up in these salient little rhymes.

The illustrations are beautifully executed with charming detail. The art takes me back to books of yesteryear when art was more descriptive and charming and when the details and expressions told the eye the story even without the text. So hats off to Michael Montgomery for a beautifully done work.

Who doesn't relish moments with a young child in your lap while you read "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or "Old King Cole," and of course, the loveable "Humpty Dumpty." And salient history? Well, did you know that "Mary had a little lamb" were the first words ever heard on Edison's phonograph? And did you know that the rhyme "London Bridge" may have had a darker side involving the building of the bridge? But darkness and history are not for the wee-little-ones. Just read them the rhymes, examine the detailed pictures, have fun, and enjoy. Then later as they begin to read on their own, you can delve into some history and background of these rhymes and have a bit of fun while you do so.

Now the sad part..... this book is no longer in stock at the publisher's - Peachtree, but you might be able to find a used copy online or perhaps locate one in your local library.

Author & Illustrator: Michael G. Montgomery has illustrated numerous children's books. He attended Georgia Southern University and the University of Georgia. Montgomery lives in Georgia. You can visit Michael G. Montgomery’s website here.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a copy of Over the Candlestick by Peachtree Publishers in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. I received no compensation for this review.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wondered why the cow jumps over the moon, or why the terrifying rock-a-bye baby is a lullaby? Read this book to find out those questions and many facts and history about many beloved nursery rhymes. The book has beautiful illustrations and can be read in one sitting.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the Candlestick contains spectacular illustrations by Michael Montgomery! This is a great picture book that is written for adults as well as children. It introduces 15 nursery rhymes and explains their origins and meanings. The most interesting is the entry for Jack Be Nimble and Ring-a-Ring O' Roses. The authors have gone back to the earliest printed versions of the rhymes as well as history experts to give the story behind the rhymes all condensed into a single paragraph.

This kids will love the enduring nursery rhymes, the adults will enjoy the explanations, and both kids and grownups will find themselves absorbing the full page artwork that illustrates each entry!

[Danielle Rossé · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the Candlestick is a great presentation of the old classic nursery rhymes, each accompanied by a short analysis and history of the rhyme. I really like the pairing of the two. Many of these were nursery rhymes that I already knew by heart but had no knowledge of their history or even meaning. I really enjoyed reading the history behind each one and the analysis of what each rhyme meant. The pictures in this book were beautiful representations of the rhymes themselves and very well done. I also found this to be a great read as many of these nursery rhymes have been somewhat altered in their retellings or even shortened. This gave me a chance to experience the original versions.

[Jacqueline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the idea of learning about the history behind nursery rhymes, but this book was just kind of disappointing. It didn't have a lot of information, and failed to mention some backstories that could have been really interesting.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about the origins of familiar nursery rhymes.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet. A sprinkling of nursery rhymes paired with a brief synopsis of potential origin.

[Debby Baumgartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives the possible true origin of some of our favorite Mother Goose rhymes.