Grumbles from the Town

Mother-Goose Voices with a Twist

Illustrated by Angela Matteson
Ebook (EPUB)
On sale Nov 16, 2021 | 40 Pages | 9781635928457
Age 5-9 years | Grades K-4
Reading Level: Lexile NP
Fourteen Mother-Goose rhymes enjoyed by generations of children are creatively presented as "poem pairs"—with a twist!—in this playful poetry picture book.

Mother Goose has a few secrets tucked in her feathers! Did you know that the shoe loved the Old Woman and her many children? And that the three blind mice weren’t actually blind, only near-sighted? Or that Humpty Dumpty fell when skateboarding on a wall?
 
Featuring wildly different voices and perspectives, this terrific read-aloud features with stunning illustrations and hilarious details. The book includes the original Mother Goose rhymes, endnotes that briefly describe their history, and an introduction that invites readers to imagine their own poems from unusual perspectives and "create magic."
“This quirky Mother Goose book turns convention on its head. Each of the 14 selections contemporizes a traditional rhyme and pairs it with a rebuttal or an aside by a grumpy protagonist... the artwork is lively and fanciful...”—Kirkus Reviews

"Whimsical, cartoonish acrylic-and-pencil illustrations incorporate playful details and decorative page embellishments, blending classic scenarios and contemporary settings and elements... a playful addition to any poetry section."—Booklist

"The imaginative poems can tickle the funny bone... an excellent choice for writing workshops and classroom prompts."—School Library Journal
Jane Yolen has been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America and the Aesop of the twentieth century. Her many awards include both the Kerlan Award and the Regina Medal for the body of her work. She lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts, and St. Andrews, Scotland. janeyolen.com. View titles by Jane Yolen
Rebecca Kai Dotlich is the author of over a dozen poetry and picture books, including Grumbles from the Forest (co-authored with Jane Yolen) and Lemonade Sun. She's been a poetry advisor and contributing columnist for Creative Classroom and Teaching K-8, gives numerous poetry workshops, including Highlights Founders workshops, and speaks at national conferences, retreats, libraries, and schools to teachers, aspiring writers, and students of all ages. She lives near Indianapolis, Indiana. View titles by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Angela Matteson is a children's book illustrator and a designer of greeting cards and gift packaging. Her paintings have been shown in galleries, both locally and nationally. This is her first picture book. She lives in Columbus, Ohio. angelamatteson.com View titles by Angela Matteson

About

Fourteen Mother-Goose rhymes enjoyed by generations of children are creatively presented as "poem pairs"—with a twist!—in this playful poetry picture book.

Mother Goose has a few secrets tucked in her feathers! Did you know that the shoe loved the Old Woman and her many children? And that the three blind mice weren’t actually blind, only near-sighted? Or that Humpty Dumpty fell when skateboarding on a wall?
 
Featuring wildly different voices and perspectives, this terrific read-aloud features with stunning illustrations and hilarious details. The book includes the original Mother Goose rhymes, endnotes that briefly describe their history, and an introduction that invites readers to imagine their own poems from unusual perspectives and "create magic."

Reviews

“This quirky Mother Goose book turns convention on its head. Each of the 14 selections contemporizes a traditional rhyme and pairs it with a rebuttal or an aside by a grumpy protagonist... the artwork is lively and fanciful...”—Kirkus Reviews

"Whimsical, cartoonish acrylic-and-pencil illustrations incorporate playful details and decorative page embellishments, blending classic scenarios and contemporary settings and elements... a playful addition to any poetry section."—Booklist

"The imaginative poems can tickle the funny bone... an excellent choice for writing workshops and classroom prompts."—School Library Journal

Author

Jane Yolen has been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America and the Aesop of the twentieth century. Her many awards include both the Kerlan Award and the Regina Medal for the body of her work. She lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts, and St. Andrews, Scotland. janeyolen.com. View titles by Jane Yolen
Rebecca Kai Dotlich is the author of over a dozen poetry and picture books, including Grumbles from the Forest (co-authored with Jane Yolen) and Lemonade Sun. She's been a poetry advisor and contributing columnist for Creative Classroom and Teaching K-8, gives numerous poetry workshops, including Highlights Founders workshops, and speaks at national conferences, retreats, libraries, and schools to teachers, aspiring writers, and students of all ages. She lives near Indianapolis, Indiana. View titles by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Angela Matteson is a children's book illustrator and a designer of greeting cards and gift packaging. Her paintings have been shown in galleries, both locally and nationally. This is her first picture book. She lives in Columbus, Ohio. angelamatteson.com View titles by Angela Matteson