One Potato, Two Potato: The Folklore of American Children

by Mary Knapp, Herbert Knapp

Children's folklore―those customs, rhymes, games, jeers, songs, superstitions, stories, and pranks that children play among themselves―serves an important it helps them deal with feelings and taboo subjects which they are unable to express individually. The purpose of this book is to show how children use their traditional lore to cope with the stresses of their lives and to learn what it means to be a member of a human society. The subjects’ ages ranged from grade-school children through college freshman, located in forty-three states, the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone, and American military bases abroad. The materials in this collection were drawn from a random sample.

Genres: Folklore, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1976

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read about the games children play--and how old they are and how they've changed over time. Lots of examples of the variations, as well as the meanings behind some of the games. Brought back a lot of memories. Also, they commented frequently on how some of these games and traditions are fading due to television and over scheduled children--and the book was published in 1978. An updated edition would be fascinating (though it doesn't appear that that has happened).

[Zaman Raja · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book tells the story of a family who grows potatoes in their garden and cooks them in various ways. The theme is the joy of counting, cooking, and sharing food with family and friends. Through playful and rhythmic text and colorful illustrations, the book teaches children about counting, gardening, and cooking.

The literary devices used were rhyme and Alliteration. The book uses rhymes which makes the text fun and playful for children.The book also uses alliteration to create a sense of repetition and rhythm.

[Jim Erekson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply a must have--it goes beyond what you will remember from your own childhood, showing how rich in literature the playground is.