Old Mother Hubbard

Jane Cabrera's Story Time

by Jane Cabrera

Light-hearted illustrations accompany this zany version of the familiar nursery rhyme about an old woman and her playful dog as she sets off on a wacky shopping spree to buy him everything but the bone he craves.

Genres: Picture Books, Nursery Rhymes, Dogs, Storytime, Animals, Childrens, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Jane Cabrera is best known as an Author and Illustrator of Children's Books.
She has written and illustrated 56 books which have been translated into over 25 languages and won awards in the US and Europe. She lives on the edge of beautiful Dartmoor National Park in the UK.
Her books range from picture story books to concept board books for babies.

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/janecabrera...

Reviews

[Dhwani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and sweet

[J9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cabrera is a great author for the younger crowd. My twin 3 yr old's loved it. Colorful fun pictures that helps get the child engaged and keeps them engaged. The illustrations were paintings that had a unique brushstroke and the colors were so vibrant! Cabrera has a style all her own. Loved the paintings especially! Also, many of her books have themes that are popular children’s songs, so immediately her books grabbed my preschoolers attention. A great addition to any children's library.

[Taylor Lubinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my nursery rhyme book I chose Old Mother Hubbard. This book is about an elderly woman who goes to the store to buy her dog a bone and she ends up buying him all sorts of other items like a hat, a wig, a coat, etc. but she never comes back with the bone. Whenever she comes back from the store with one of her purchases she always catches the dog doing something funny like riding a goat, dancing, reading the newspaper, etc. Finally at the end of the book she goes to give the dog his supper and she presents him with his bone. Teachers can use this book as an educational tool to help teach children rhyming schemes. The pictures in the book are painted and look like a child painted them which I think will help children to relate to it. Also, because the book is so funny it will keep the interest of the children throughout the entire story. Since the words in the book rhyme the children will also be able to remember the story better.

[Paige Arcuri · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Awards: N/A
2. Grade Level: Pre-k -1
3. Summary: Old Mother Hubbard goes to her cupboard to get her dog a bone. When she realizes it is empty, she goes to different stores to buy her dog a present. Every time she comes back home, she finds her dog behaving oddly.
4. Review: This well illustrated book will keep the readers engaged with its funny pictures and storyline.
5. In class use:
a. It can be used to help children learn about rhyming/ rhyme schemes. As you read the book
aloud, ask the students which words rhyme on each page.
b. For first graders I would have them create and illustrate their own short story following a
rhyming pattern, such as the one seen in Old Mother Hubbard.

[Kiana Rios]

I loved how Cabrera’s art added depth to the simple story, transforming Old Mother Hubbard’s search for food into a delightful adventure. The playful rhymes and cheerful illustrations immediately sparked memories of childhood lullabies and bedtime stories. The book feels both nostalgic and new, reminding us of the joy in small, everyday moments. Cabrera’s version is a perfect blend of fun and warmth, making it a wonderful addition to any young reader's collection.

[Andrés · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea where Old Mother Hubbard finally got the bone that she presented at the end or why she did all those other errands before procuring it, but I did have fun with the extension of the traditional rhyme (which ends with an empty cupboard) with trips to the tailor, hatter, barber, and cobbler, intersected with some doggie mischief.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A smash-up, and extended text on what happens when Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard is empty, sending her on a shopping spree for her dog, while the dog stays home, and gets into outrageous mischief.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had forgotten about all the other verses! Wonderful!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old woman goes all over town trying to buy items for her dog. What are they all for? simple and easy to follow with a surprise ending. toddler and up

[Lakisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twist on the original story.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extended version of the nursery rhyme. Short text and colorful illustrations.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pairing of a classic rhyme with bold and colorful painted illustrations that perfectly capture the fun and silliness of the rhyme!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun colourful version of the well-known nursery rhyme. Would make a great flannel / felt story

[Wetdryvac Wetdryvac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little... wait, there's more than one verse to Old Mother Hubbard? Cool.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preschool

[R. L. Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely retelling of an age old tale.

[Jern-yi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I pick up all Jane cabrera if only for the art.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic illustrations and some fun expansion on the traditional rhyme, this will make a great addition to toddler story time.

[Bonnie Arriola · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️

[Grant Knuckles · Rating 4 out of 5]

....she had 2 many children , she didn't know what to do.

[Sarah Zablotney]

Title: Old Mother Hubbard
Author: Jane Cabrera
Genre: Nursery Rhyme
Theme(s): Rhyme, Humor
Opening line/sentence: “Old Mother Hubbard went to her cupboard to give her old dog a bone.”
Brief Book Summary: Old Mother Hubbard goes to her cupboard to get her dog a bone, unfortunately she is out of bones. She then goes shopping to find thing for her dog, while the dog has his own fun when she leaves.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Cabrera, Jane Old Mother Hubbard32 pp. Holiday 2001. ISBN 0-8234-1659-3
(3) PS This rendition based on the 1805 version by Sarah Catherine Martin finds Old Mother Hubbard out buying everything for her dog--a new hat, coat, wig, shoes, then finally, a bone--while he has some fun at home dancing a jig and riding a goat. Cabrera's bold, colorful paintings amusingly illustrate the jaunty rhyme.
(The Horn Book Guide Online)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Kirkus Reviews
Cabrera (Dog's Day, 2000, etc.) illustrates this abbreviated adaptation of the nursery rhyme with broadly brushed, vibrantly colored scenes. Large, hand-lettered text complements illustrations that look like they were slathered on with finger-paints, in a perfect child-like style. Here is a hungry but irrepressible little terrier cavorting about while a cat looks on in alarm-or annoyance after being forcibly bathed-and Mother Hubbard shops for a coat, hat, wig, and shoes for him, even though "the cupboard is bare." Cabrera has made some adjustments: the dog doesn't die, even temporarily, and the ending has become a real crowd-pleaser. Instead of the original's now-stilted pleasantries, upon her return Mother Hubbard whips out a HUGE bone, crowing, "Your supper!"-prompting an ecstatic "Bow-Wow!" in response. Ex-toddlers will eat this up. (Picture book. 3-6)
(CLCD)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The reviews both use examples from the story of what Old Mother Hubbard buys that day for her dog. They both note the rhyme scheme of the story and how carefree it is. The Kirkus review expands upon how this version is different from the original, making it perfect for ex-toddlers.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This story uses colorful paintings that are inviting to reader. This book is designed for pre-school children up to 1st grade; it uses humorous rhymes that will have the children laughing. The plot of this story is that Old Mother Hubbard is buying her dog many things, while he is having fun when she is gone.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would use this in my classroom when doing a lesson on rhymes. I will have my students create their own scene in the story, what Old Mother Hubbard would buy for the dog next and then what the dog would do in a rhyming verse. This would be a fun creative activity for the students.

[Courtney Canino]

The main characters of this story are Old Mother Hubbard and her dog. The point of view of this book is third person and because it is a picture book it would be best for preschool readers. The setting of this book is Old Mother Hubbard's house and places around her town. The plot of this story is that Old Mother Hubbard wants to get her dog a bone, much like the nursery rhyme, but when she looks for one she discovers that she does not have any. Instead she decides to go all over town to get her dog something else. She brings him back various items, like hats and shoes for example, but he is always doing something else when she presents them to him. She keeps trying to give him something but he is too busy to notice. Old Mother Hubbard finally realizes what a talented dog she has, because sometimes he is reading the newspaper instead of loving the gifts he is given, and just shows him love and affection and the dog becomes happy. The main ideas of this book is to notice the talents that people or animals have. I would recommend this book because it has great pictures and an easy story line. My personal reaction was that I was impressed with all the tricks that the dog could do!

Concluding statement: Everyone has a talent you should notice.

[Amy Holliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comments on the Story:
The continuation of this classic nursery rhyme is also very well-done. It is humorous which maintains the essence of a mother goose nursery rhyme. It provides a resolution to the old nursery rhyme what happened all we knew was that the cupboard was bare, we did not know if the dog ever got a bone. The part where the dame makes a curtsy and the dog made a bow signals that the game is over and the dog has finally done enough to earn his bone.

Recommended Uses for the Book:
This would be an excellent book for story time. I think that I would use a big book so that the children could also see the expression of the cat very vividly. There is so much excitement in this book that it should really keep the attention of both older toddlers and preschoolers. You could ask things like what do you think she is going to get the dog next…what is the dog doing in this paper? The children are likely to find these things really funny. And, saying things like dancing a jig and yelling bow wow at the end are likely to be crowd pleasers. This book is really fun and could also be read at home, many times!

[Sabrina Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is created from the popular classic nursery rhyme: Old Mother Hubbard. It is colorful, easy to predict and read. The illustrations were humorous and cheerful. This book is also good to help children learn simple rhymes.
I liked the story and had learned the nursery rhyme many years ago when I was child but some of the lines were changed and it just so funny now but very good. Adults can also engage children with this book by encouraging them to make predictions.

[Tonia Holloway]

This book is one of the many great rhyming books. This book also gets the students to start noticing patterns. In class I would use this book in the dramatic play area, placing hats, shoes, bones, etc so that the students would have the chance to reenact the story and possibly make up their own stories. When reading the story, once the students got the hang of the pattern, I would ask them questions such as, "what do you think the dog is doing now?", before I turned the page.

[Megan MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has very large and engaging illustrations. It is a good book to practice rhyming words and to help children understand what it means for a word to rhyme. Although it doesn't really have a moral or theme, it is still a fun read that can show children that reading can be done just for fun and doesn't always have to have a purpose. A good way to show books can be read just for fun!

[Heather Torgersen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Old Mother Hubbard is a quick and cute book about Old Mother Hubbard's dogs. Though I was a little dissapointed with the plot (it seemed a little pointless), I did love the illustrations, which I know would catch any child's attentions. (Plus the fact that kids love dogs!) The book is short and sweet, and has rhyming words, so this book would be ideal for beginning readers in the primary grades.

[Latise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be silly, but I never knew that there was a book about Old Mother Hubbard! I knew the nursery rhyme, but I didn't know we were lucky enough to have a story as well! This would be a great book to use in during a rhyming lesson. Children can also predict the next section of the story using the ending sounds of the words.

[Gaby Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the illustrations in the book. They were bright and large. I would use this book in my classroom when my students are learning about repeatative text structure. I would read the story and then have my students create a short story with illustrations using repeatitive-text structures in their story. I would allow my students to share their story, if they wanted to.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very cute book, a well-loved nursery rhyme coupled with animated illustrations, injecting just the right zest into a classic story. The board book format is perfect for reading aloud to youngsters and for little hands eager to turn the page.