Forgotten Nursery Rhymes

Who couldn't put Humpy Dumpty together again?

What did Jack break when he fell down the hill?

How did Little Bo Peep get her sheep to come home?

What did the Old Woman in the Shoe feed her children?

What did Wee Willie Winkie wear running through the town?

Could you answer all of these questions? Last week I attended a baby shower for my niece. As part of the festivities, all guests who wanted to participate in a game were given a sheet of questions to answer about nursery rhymes. Prizes were then awarded to those answering all questions correctly. I was amazed at the number of people there (she had over 50 guests!) who knew only a few answers, if any at all.

Have we forgotten the value that these educational, interactive, sometimes nonsensical, and always fun rhymes have in contributing to a child's development and first introduction to literature?

All mothers-to-be should have "a book of nursery rhymes" listed on their baby shower's wish list. I know that I will include one in my baby gift bag from now on!

Here are a few suggestions for gift giving or for borrowing from our collection:
The Real Mother Goose by Blanch Fisher Wright
Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose: one hundred best-loved verses by Mary Engelbreit
Tomie dePaola's Mother Goose by Tomie dePaola
The Baby's Lap Book by Kay Chorao
The Lucy Cousins' Book of Nursery Rhymes by Lucy Cousins

Answers to questions:
1. all the king's horses and all the king's men, 2. his crown, 3. she left them alone, 4. some broth (without any bread), 5. his nightgown