The Three Bears

The Three Bears by Robert Southey

I found the original Three bears in a Children's Literature collection. There is a later verse version by George Nichol in 1839. The story is very similar to the popular tale today. The key difference is that there is no Goldilocks. Instead, there is a bad, swearing old lady. The end has her jumping out the window to condition unknown. Maybe she broke all or bones or maybe she got away. The bears are also portrayed in a more positive light. They are out to let their porridge cool and keep their house very clean. It is interesting that we have an original story that is so much like what is handed down. (Though there are some variations that even predate this one.)

Mother Goose: The Classic Volland Edition

Mother Goose: The Classic Volland Edition Rearranged and edited in this form by Eulalie Osgood Grover, illustrated by Frederick Richardson

Mother Goose rhymes have become more sanitized over time. This collection of "classic" nursery rhymes goes back closer to the source. It is not uncommon for protagonists to suffer when they don't act properly. For some there have been improvements over time, while for others, this old version is best.

The book has some short poems with large illustrations as well as pages devoted entirely to poems. My kids grumble when we pull out the mother goose poems, so it takes a while to make it through. However, it finally grew on them towards the end. 

Animal Crackers: Bedtime

Animal Crackers: Bedtime by Jane Dyer

This is a short book of bedtime poems. Some like "Wee Willie Winkie". Others are more obscure to English speakers. It is short enough to hold the attention of kids. 

Animal Crackers: Animal Friends

Animal Crackers: Animal Friends by Jane Dyer

This book includes a variety of animal-related poems. Some are common nursery rhymes. There are some by well-known poets like William Carlos Williams, and others translated from other languages. Most are pretty good. The selection is short and easily readable.

The Fairy-Tale Detectives: The Sisters Grimm book 1

The Fairy-Tale Detectives: The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley

This book seemed very familiar. Then I realized I had read it a year ago. Two girls are orphaned and end up in very cruel fost families. Then they end up in a fairy tale land. The fairy tale characters are all there, but have different identities. Sometimes they come out - as the police may switch to their big form when they see food opportunities. The girls are thrown in to a detective case to try to find their grandma. There are a number of twists and turns connected to the involvement of Jack, Giants and Prince Charming. They use bits of fairy tale magic at times (including infiltration of a fairy tale ball.) The story has echos of Roald Dahl and feels like it must have been as fun to write as it is to read.

Curious George Pat-A-Cake

Curious George Pat-A-Cake by Cynthia Platt, designed by Joyce White

There are some monkey hands that can clap. There are also a few pictures from Curious George books, but at the core, this is just a nursery rhyme book, milking a Curious George brand extension.

The Three Little Kittens

The Three Little Kittens by Tracey Moroney

This board book has a short, simple telling of the three little kittens nursery rhyme with some anthropomorphic kittens. Nothing awful, but nothing very memorable either.

Nursery Songs. A Little Golden Book

Nursery Songs. A Little Golden Book by Arranged By Leah Gale. Illustrated By Corinne Malvern (Author)

This is a song book. It contains music and words for various classic nursery songs. It is not something you would read, but rather somethin gto play on the piano.

Pease Porridge Hot

 Pease Porridge Hot

This book came as a collection of mini board books. The parts of the original collection have disappeared, and there is no author information in the individual book.

It is a simple tale of the nursery rhyme. It is a quick little book that works well for little kids.