Poems and Rhymes

Childcraft - The How and Why Library 1973-1982 #1

by Childcraft International, William H. Nault (Editor)

Mother Goose and Nursery RhymesPoems for OutdoorsPoems About Plants and AnimalsRhymes of Life at HomePoems of Play and Make-BelievePoems About Pets and GrownupsHighway, Byway, and City PoemsVerses Just for FunMore About Everyday ThingsPrayersPoems and Rhymes Set to Music

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, Reference, Classics, Fiction, Picture Books

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

“Character training, discipline guidance, and habit formation are processes in your child’s development that cause you serious concern. You want your child to develop habits and traits of character that are admirable and worthwhile—habits and traits that will ensure happiness and success in life.”

These are words of introduction from the inaugural 1934 Parent Guide Supplement to Childcraft, a 15-volume annual series launched as a home instructional and educational resource for parents. Childcraft remained a mainstay within American households over 7 decades, sold door-to-door, direct to parents.

Childcraft was succeeded by Discovery and Discovery Science. Discovery and Discovery Science are multivolume print and digital reference resources for elementary readers.

The iconic Childcraft brand remains in the public domain as an Annual Update to owners of an original Childcraft set and is displayed each year at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder’s meeting.

Reviews

[Georgia Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The FBI has its most wanted. This book is on my list since it went astray. If you see it, approach with caution. It is cunning. Offers short poems to get you hooked. Longer ones to follow. Targets children. Encourages reading. Possible writing. Long term use makes withdrawal from print all but impossible.

Any information concerning its whereabouts will be treated seriously and with confidentiality.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations alone make this worth it. The nursery rhymes are delightful and the selection of poetry is perfect. My 2 and 4 year old loved it and were constantly asking for me to read them the “mother goose book”.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up with this (these) books, my parents bought the set in 1956. I learned to read in the first grade when I was 6 (no one had bothered to give me any guidance till then, my parents weren't readers, I mean they could read it just wasn't their choice of leisure time activities.). It was also in the first grade that I was shown how to "sound out words" (I don't know if children are routinely taught "phonics" today or not). Once I could sound out words, there was no stopping. I read everything in the house. This set of books, the set of World Book that they purchased at the same time (at least they thought an encyclopedia might come in handy for school). I spent hours following subjects through the encyclopedia... finish an article and it would say "see also" and off I'd go...

But this is about a volume of Childcraft. This is the only volume I still have, my brother kept the rest. This one introed me to poetry and it did also to my siblings and my own children. It is liberally annotated in crayon...and full of memories. I hope the others still exist...I loved the stories and games that came from the other volumes.

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever have the immense pleaseure of getting your hands on one of these, do it!!!! I am amazed at how the illustrations take me right back to when I was a very young child having these read to me, or pouring over the pages enjoying the illustrations before I could read. My children now have all had it read to them and I see my oldest reading it to herself more than once a week. This is impressive because we have an extensive children's library. It is a sweet, simple, pure and beautiful book. There are one or two words I change to updated words with the same meaning as was originally intended, ie. pussy to kitty, etc. for obvious reasons. Other than that, it is such a delight and well woth finding! This is Volume 1 or 14. This one is the very best and timeless.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the 1961 set; it is excellent for its poetry and story volumes and for its music, art, and crafts volumes. The science volumes are too outdated to be any use. The illustrations in the poetry and story volumes are superb; I love them. I also love the selection of poems chosen. My favorite volume is number 2. If you have the opportunity to get it, do!

There is one volume of child psychology (number 15) that I found useless. But then, I was raised by wonderful parents and a lot of Dr. Dobson and John Rosemond, as well as many teachers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I didn't need more child psychology.

I've seen later editions of this set that were ugly, with poor poetry choices, and black and white photography of children instead of charming color illustrations. On the other hand, my dd found at a used book store an entire set from 1982 with several additional Childcraft annual volumes. They are called Childcraft: the How and Why Library. She really likes the set she got (knowing that I'm not parting with mine for many years yet).

The bindings and paper in both sets are sturdy, well-made. The covers can be cleaned. If you can get a set, do; if you can only get a couple volumes, go for the smaller numbers. In the 1961 edition, any volume number below 6 will be good; in the 1982 edition, the first and second volumes are the best, plus the annuals. Overall, the 1982 set is good, not sensational. The 1961 volumes 1 and 2 are classics!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not widely available, however, it is one of the best examples of traditional children's nursery rhymes and poetry. I found a copy at my aunt's house when I was a child and I adored it. In fact, I was so enthralled that my aunt allowed me to take it home. I loved the soft watercolor illustrations and had many of the poems memorized. I was heartbroken when my dad made me return the volume when I was in high school or college. I recently found a copy online and purchased it. It contains nursery rhymes like Old Mother Hubbard and Rain, Rain Go Away as well as classic poems by Robert Louis Stevenson, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and A.A. Milne. While more recent poets are funny and appeal to children, these classic poems are rich in imagery and yet remain simple enough for even the youngest child. One of my favorite poems is The Moon's The North Wind's Cooky by Vachel Lindsay. (I still recite it to the crescent moon frequently...)

The moon's the North Wind's cooky.
He bites it day by day,
Until there's but a rim of scraps
that crumble all away.

The South Wind is the baker.
He kneads clouds in his den.
And bakes a crisp new moon
that- greedy - North - Wind - eats - again!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I inherited a full set of these red-cover Childcraft books from my mother. They were hers as a child, and were lovingly well-worn when they came to me. "Poems of Early Childhood" was my favorite... and is, sadly, the only one of the set that I still possess. (The other were irreparably damaged in a flood, and I so want to replace them!)

These books earn a 7-out-of-5 stars rating, for their timeless appeal. The beautiful illustrations seem almost magical, many from original watercolors. 'Round the Maypole Now We Dance' was a favorite, as were 'The Swing,' and 'The Butterbean Tent;' all representative of simple things that I loved in childhood. I read the 'Poems' book to my son, when he was small, and he loved it too. Three generations so far...

I read these repetitively from ages 3 to 12, and while some things are out of date by today's standards, as a group these books are classics. ('Costumes from Many Lands' was, I believe, one book in the set that depicted traditional clothing of many cultures, and by today's standards might be considered old-fashioned. But how I loved the "unusual" clothing illustrated, and was inspired to travel and see other lands in later years.)

If anyone knows where to find a full set, please send me a message on my profile page. I would dearly live to track them down!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this set of books as a child, and as they were the only children's books we had in the house, I read them over and over again. I recently found a complete set on Etsy and now I have them again. It is January 2017 and comfort reading is the order of the day. This book takes me back to a simpler time when I didn't know or care who was the President . ( Although I do remember being in the car with my parents in the '50s as they were driving to the polling place and a boy on a bicycle yelling: " Vote for Ike!" ) Anyway these are lovely old-fashioned poems with wonderful illustrations that will take you back to another time long ago.

[Emily D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a nostalgic experience reading these books. I grew up with them and recently ordered three of the series online. The old poems range from strange to beautiful but the illustrations are at least half of the awesomeness. I spent just as much time looking at the illustrations as I did reading the poetry.

[Dominique Liongson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was very small, POEMS AND RHYMES (by Childcraft) was my all time favorite book. I took this book with me and asked any of my favorite grown-ups to read it to me. The attractive illustrations in this book was the springboard to ask questions as to... why is the picture is like that? When the passage from the book was read aloud to me, I listened to the words and tried to fit the meaning into the matching picture. Like then, nobody told me why the blackbird snapped the nose of the maid who was hanging out the clothes in the "Sing a Song of Sixpence" poem. No matter how hard I zoned in into the picture while I read this poem, I received no answer. Oh my, the things I paid attention to.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I treasured this since I was very small. The original got lost during shipping (when I was moving to California and shipping a few things from my childhood home). I was heartsick about it; luckily, my kind sister-in-law found another version online and purchased it for me. All the love I have for poetry came from THIS book. It's as dear to me as any book I've ever owned (I'm still sick about the loss of the original). But it's a treasure no matter how you find it.

[Alanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

We had this set when we were children and I remember my mom reading to us and later reading them myself. As a young child I especially liked the Mother Goose rhymes, poems, and fairy tales. I think my sister still has this set. I will have to ask her as I would like to see them again and bring back the memories.

[Sherry]

This set is one of my most precious treasures. My mother read to me from this set of books when I was little, and I read to my grandchildren from them. I remember the pictures and the delicious thrill of stories like "Tom Tit Tot."

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe all we had were Volume II, Storytelling and Other Poems, and Volume III, Folk and Fairy Tales. The illustrations were enchanting, and so many of the poems from Vol. 2 stay vividly with me:
- A Ballad of China (Dilliki Dolliki Dinah, niece she was to the Empress of China)
- Grandpa Dropped His Glasses (once, into a pot of dye, and when he put them on again, he saw a purple sky)
- The Pirate Don Durk of Dowdee (his sins they outnumbered one hundred and three, but, oh, he was perfectly gorgeous to see)
- Johnny Fife and Johnny’s Wife (round and round the world they went, and also stayed at home)
- Antonio, Antonio (was tired of living alonio)

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My parents bought a set of Childcraft encyclopedias in 2961. This is the first book I remember looking at. It’s mostly nursery rhymes. The illustrations are incredible, almost magical.

[Stennett Eberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are a stroll down memory lane. I love reading them to my children. I remember them so well, and I know they helped to inspire a love of books, poetry, and literature in me.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out my full review on my YouTube channel Ginny's Two Cents.

[Margaret Chind]

This is the first volume and part of the 1984 edition of Childcraft: The How And Why Library 1984. It is not the same material as the new Volume 1 in the 1988 edition, entitled, Once Upon a Time. While the poems in 'Poems and Rhymes' are mostly included in 'Once Upon a Time', some is removed, and the bulk of 'Stories and Fables is combined' into 'Once Upon a Time' as well.

[Dorotheen Strass · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 1949 set of Childcraft books are one of my most treasured possessions. My grandmother read me poems and stories from them, three of my cousins borrowed them and enjoyed them, I read from these wonderful books to my children, and I have also read from them to my grandchildren - three generations and I hope someday we can make it 4 generations. They have travelled with me to the United Kingdom and lived here with me for 37 years. Books one and two were my favourites and I have fond memories of my grandmother reading from books 5 and 6 - stories of great adventure. I will never forget the story in book 5 Nanette visits the Chateau and acted the story out often as a child.

[Tibby]

Excellent selection of poems and beautiful illustrations by a variety of artists. I am currently sharing this book with my own daughter, but I remember flipping through the pages of this book when I was small. It held such magic for me then and I see my daughter feeling the same way.

[Sarah Welton-Lair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as a kid, reading and rereading the poems. It's a really fun collection of poems, and it contains a large variety of different kinds, including riddles from around the world.

[Tamartime · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very favorite childhood book, in the 70's. From the ages of about 3 to 8, I would look at this book for hours. Now, I collect copies of it for my children.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy!! Love this book. Reminds me of my childhood.