The Green Mother Goose by Jan Peck and David Davis

Peck, Jan, David Davis, and Carin Berger (Illus.). The green Mother Goose: saving the world one rhyme at a time. New York: Sterling, 32 pages, 2011. Print.
Preschool and up.
Author website: http://www.janpeck.com/
Author website: http://www.davidrdavis.com/
Illustrator website: http://www.carinberger.com/


“Together we’ll do it—
We’ll help save the Earth,
Our emerald home,
The place of our birth.
Come now, rhyme with me,
Let’s turn our hearts loose,
And fly ‘round the world
With Green Mother Goose.”


Anti-revisionists beware! This book takes classics and rewrites them into an environmentally conscientious context. Of course, the authors maintain the original themes but replace the rhymes with rhymes of their own devising. For example poor Mary... she lives next to a coal-fired plant and her lamb's fleece is black. So, Mary works for cleaner air and spreads the word. Or, the Three Wise Mice... who don't run... they save! They shop at thrift stores and yard sales and catch all the drops of rainwater.

This book has heavy issues in it that are good to be discussed with older children. This book, actually, encourages are lot of didactic discussions. Without explanations much of the new rhymes might go over young children's heads. Nonetheless, it is a unique book that addresses contemporary themes that children should be aware of at an early age. It is up to the parent's to decide when and how these topics should be addressed. Personally, I think grade school is a bit late to wait. This book has been met with criticism from Mother Goose loyalists...