Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes

Gr 2–4—Beloved nursery rhymes such as "Little Miss Muffet," "This Little Piggy," and "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" are given the fantasy treatment in this collection of copy change poems. Mythical creatures as diverse as witches and werewolves to hippogriffs and minotaurs are featured and do much to invite young minds to explore the world of fantasy. The authors excellently work within the rhyme schemes of the classic nursery rhymes and incorporate rich vocabulary invoking the world-building elements of the fantasy genre. Each rhyme is given a spread and is set against darkly delightful illustrations reminiscent of comic book art. The ancient creatures brought to life here do not frighten, but rather intrigue in much the same way that the macabre elements in J.R.R. Tolkien's and Neil Gaiman's work fascinates young readers. Dark here is synonymous with different, not bad; each spread includes a wealth of details sure to make readers linger and bring them back for subsequent rereadings. The infectious rhythm of the text complete with its delicious word choice makes this an engaging read-aloud title for sharing one-on-one or with an audience. A bestiary appendix follows the text and provides brief descriptions of the creatures appearing throughout the book as well as their origins.