Book Review 6

Bibliography
Sierra, Judy. Schoolyard Rhymes, Kids’ Own Rhymes for Rope Skipping, Hand Clapping, Ball Bouncing, and Just Plain Fun. Ill. Melissa Sweet. New York, New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0375825169.

Plot Summary
Sierra fills the pages of this entertaining book with rhymes from childhood. The rhymes are organized seemingly by topic with rhymes about newborns taking up two pages and rhymes such as “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear” on the same pages as other bear themed rhymes. Some of these rhymes are recognizable to the reader and others are not. The front cover of the book promises "fifty of the funniest" rhymes, and Sierra accomplishes that goal. Desiging this book for pure fun, Sierra fills the pages with more verses than the average person probably knew existed and finds a way to take adults back to their days on the playground.

Critical Analysis

Sierra goes to great effort to fill this book with fun. She is not afraid to embrace the silliness related to nursery rhymes, and her selections range from easy to remember favorites to lesser known rhymes that are no less entertaining. All of her selections fit in perfectly with the book title; they are for jump roping, hand clapping, and playground fun, not meant to be taken seriously but included for the purpose of encouraging kids to match the rhythm and rhyme of the words to the physical expressions associated with this type of writing. More than anything, Sierra allows illustrations to take up the majority of each page, a great decision since the visuals by Melissa Sweet are a perfect partner for the words.

Judy Sierra acknowledges in her introduction that “many rhymes are pure nonsense”, and Sweet allows her illustrations to flow with this idea. A great example is the cover of the book which shows a lemon and a pickle, the pickle ready to strike with rolling pin in hand. Tiny Tim, who ate the soap and tried to eat the bathtub, is shown panicked as he is carried away within the alligator purse of the lady in the nursery rhyme. Facial expressions are key in the illustrations with Sweet fully partaking in the silliness and receiving sincere laughs due to her drawings of characters in hilarious situations. She uses bright colors generously, and the design of the entire book makes it feel suited for a playground with children jumping rope and reciting “Miss Mary Mack” repeatedly. Sweet moves effortlessly from page to page following Sierra’s given theme while making the words on the page jump from the book through visual interpretations. The illustrations make the book inviting, perfect for children or adults who want to remember the nursery rhymes and fun of their childhood.

Review Excerpts
“The illustrations bring a fresh focus to the collection with a sophisticated design.” Kirkus Reviews
“This collection highlights the similarities of all children at play and documents some of the playground's best oral expressions.” Children’s Literature


Connections
*Have students share chants and rhymes they know with the class, demonstrating hand motions or movements that go along with them.
*Have students interview parents, grandparents, or other family members to find out what nursery rhymes they remember. Lead a class discussion focusing on the interview results. Did parents and grandparents know the same nursery rhymes? How have the rhymes changed through the years? How did the family members remember learning the rhymes?