Product Description

Sing your baby to sleep with . . . The Love Boat theme song? Children deserve better than that! With its hip approach, witty headnotes, and accompanying CD, Humpty Who? is the crash course for every new mom or dad who wants to give their child the simple pleasures of classic nursery rhymes . . . but can't remember what happens past the first line. A what-to-read as well as a how-to-read, this collection of 80 judiciously selected, edited, and annotated rhymes, songs, and finger play features all the timeless characters and their storiesJack and Jill, Georgie Porgie, Little Bo Peep, the Noble Duke of York, Contrary Mary, Wee Willie Winkie, the Three Blind Mice. But it's more than just Mother Goose. There are lullabies, rounds, and riddles. How to recite "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider," and make the hand-motions that have held children spellbound for generations. How to act out "I'm a Little Teapot," or really get a child rocking with "Banbury Cross." Plus, there are explanations for curious children (and grown-ups)for example, what exactly a "tuffet" is, how to make "pease porridge," what else on the bus goes round and roundand suggestions for reciting the poetry of the greats (Shakespeare, Blake, Dickinson); tips on how to improvise; and the secret weapon of the yoga "Om." The accompanying CD, featuring the rocking "Hell's Kitchen Moms and Babes Ensemble," is both great to play for baby, and the fun way for parents to learn the music that goes along with many of the rhymes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38191 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-29
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .66" h x 6.34" w x 6.12" l, .70 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

From the Back Cover
Once Upon a Time, Every Parent Knew... Little Jack Horner - Wee Willie Winkie - The Queen of Hearts - Georgie Porgie - Mary, with the lamb, and Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary - Old King Cole - Alice the Camel - Little Miss Muffet - Not to mention the intricate finger ballet called Itsy Bitsy Spider and the game of finding Thumbkin. Now, for every mom and dad who want to give their child the simple pleasures of nursery rhymes but can't remember what happens past the first line, help is here. Humpty Who? is a crash course in Mother Goose (and more), featuring 80 classic poems, songs, lullabies, rounds, and riddles. Plus, for curious kids and grown-ups, even more fun stuff: exactly what a tuffet is, how to make pease porridge, and the backstory of Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, baby's first protest song.

About the Author
Jennifer Griffin is a writer, literary agent, and mother who lives with her family in New York City.