1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Schwartz, Alvin. 1992. AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND: FOLK POETRY FROM EVERYONE. Ill by Sue Truesdell. U.S.A.: Harper Collins Publishers.
ISBN: 0060227575.
2. STORY PLOT:
This book is a wonderful collection of 250 folk poems, chants, street rhymes and folk songs. The contents is divided into sections that relates to a particular topic: people, food, school, teases and taunts, wishes and warnings, love and marriage, work, stories, nonsense, riddles, fun and games, rain and shine, a tree, animals and insects and other things. The title song or chant appears in chapter13: and the green, grass grows all around and around. There are notes on folk poets, street rhymes, nurseries rhymes, parodies, autograph rhymes, nonsense verse and other subjects. A sources section explains where the poems come from and other information about them.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This is a collection of poetry, street rhymes, and folk songs that is truly entertaining. The collection reflects a cross section of American life as seen through children’s sayings. The text is often silly and would be humorous to the typical elementary school child. The pattern is predictable. Each chapter begins with a sentence of two that tell what the contents of the chapter are. For example, chapter 1, People, reads: the poems in this chapter are about you and me: how we look, how behave, how silly and sweet we can be. Chapter 11, Fun and Games: the rhymes in this chapter will help you do all sorts of things: choose who is IT, jump rope, bounce a ball and march and cheer. The riddles are solvable. There are familiar sayings: “one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go.”
Any adult reading this text would find some familiar sayings. Most of the poems were not familiar to me, but the tunes were: Farmer in the Dell, Alouette, John Brown’s Body and Battle Hymn of the Republic, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing. I did not see any stories that had a multicultural theme, although there were pictures of light and dark people, people with different hair texture, big, small, slim and fat people.
The collection is well-researched and documented with notes, sources, index of first lines and bibliography. Sue Truesdell’s illustrations are all in black and white. The cover is very colorful and would attract the interest of children of all ages. The illustrations are professional, cartoon like. This book would make an excellent addition to a teacher’s library
4. EXCERPTS:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Grade 3 Up-- A marvelous book that is sure to become a classic if children have any say in the matter. Schwartz has gathered sassy, funny, scary, and slightly naughty children's folk poetry heard on schoolgrounds and wherever else kids are having fun. Adults who stew over the appropriateness of Roald Dahl's books or Shel Silverstein's poetry may have concerns here, but kids will love having all their underground playground rhymes in one volume. Scores are included for ``On Top of Spaghetti,'' ``Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory/ Of the Closing of the School,'' and other songs. It's hard to imagine illustrations better suited to the book's silly, energized tone than Truesdell's big-eyed, animated, and humorous characters. Given plenty of white space, they tumble, goof, and guffaw across the pages, in ideal tandem with the poetry. These drawings may be in black and white, but readers will never pick up a more colorful book. Of additional interest to many people, adults in particular, are the ``Notes'' in the back on folk poets and poetry; ``Sources'' that trace the selections' origins are also helpful. Read this outrageous volume before it is shelved; once the kids discover it, it will always be checked out. --Lee Bock, Brown County Pub . Lib . , Green Bay, WICopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
ISBN: 0060227575.
2. STORY PLOT:
This book is a wonderful collection of 250 folk poems, chants, street rhymes and folk songs. The contents is divided into sections that relates to a particular topic: people, food, school, teases and taunts, wishes and warnings, love and marriage, work, stories, nonsense, riddles, fun and games, rain and shine, a tree, animals and insects and other things. The title song or chant appears in chapter13: and the green, grass grows all around and around. There are notes on folk poets, street rhymes, nurseries rhymes, parodies, autograph rhymes, nonsense verse and other subjects. A sources section explains where the poems come from and other information about them.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This is a collection of poetry, street rhymes, and folk songs that is truly entertaining. The collection reflects a cross section of American life as seen through children’s sayings. The text is often silly and would be humorous to the typical elementary school child. The pattern is predictable. Each chapter begins with a sentence of two that tell what the contents of the chapter are. For example, chapter 1, People, reads: the poems in this chapter are about you and me: how we look, how behave, how silly and sweet we can be. Chapter 11, Fun and Games: the rhymes in this chapter will help you do all sorts of things: choose who is IT, jump rope, bounce a ball and march and cheer. The riddles are solvable. There are familiar sayings: “one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go.”
Any adult reading this text would find some familiar sayings. Most of the poems were not familiar to me, but the tunes were: Farmer in the Dell, Alouette, John Brown’s Body and Battle Hymn of the Republic, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing. I did not see any stories that had a multicultural theme, although there were pictures of light and dark people, people with different hair texture, big, small, slim and fat people.
The collection is well-researched and documented with notes, sources, index of first lines and bibliography. Sue Truesdell’s illustrations are all in black and white. The cover is very colorful and would attract the interest of children of all ages. The illustrations are professional, cartoon like. This book would make an excellent addition to a teacher’s library
4. EXCERPTS:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Grade 3 Up-- A marvelous book that is sure to become a classic if children have any say in the matter. Schwartz has gathered sassy, funny, scary, and slightly naughty children's folk poetry heard on schoolgrounds and wherever else kids are having fun. Adults who stew over the appropriateness of Roald Dahl's books or Shel Silverstein's poetry may have concerns here, but kids will love having all their underground playground rhymes in one volume. Scores are included for ``On Top of Spaghetti,'' ``Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory/ Of the Closing of the School,'' and other songs. It's hard to imagine illustrations better suited to the book's silly, energized tone than Truesdell's big-eyed, animated, and humorous characters. Given plenty of white space, they tumble, goof, and guffaw across the pages, in ideal tandem with the poetry. These drawings may be in black and white, but readers will never pick up a more colorful book. Of additional interest to many people, adults in particular, are the ``Notes'' in the back on folk poets and poetry; ``Sources'' that trace the selections' origins are also helpful. Read this outrageous volume before it is shelved; once the kids discover it, it will always be checked out. --Lee Bock, Brown County Pub . Lib . , Green Bay, WICopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
KIRBUS REVIEW: “Not since Carl Withers's A Rocket in My Pocket (1948) has there been such a grand compilation of familiar (and unfamiliar) rhymes and chants from the children's own tradition: riddles, games, wishes and taunts; poems about love, food, school, or animals; parodies, nonsense, and stories. Schwartz organizes them by topic and/or form and provides all kinds of fascinating supporting material: an engagingly conversational introduction; general explanatory notes plus full item-by-item sources, many of which are intriguing in themselves (``Avik Roy, age 13, Detroit...1986''; ``Editor's recollection, Ten Mile River Boy Scout Camp...1940''), or which give alternate versions; even an occasional tune. In b&w pen and watercolor, Truesdell's marvelous characters dance across the generously broad pages, peering inquisitively at the hilarious goings-on or gleefully joining in the shenanigans. It's hard to imagine a child who wouldn't greet this treasure trove with enthusiasm. Extensive bibliography (items ``of interest to young people'' are starred); index. (Folklore. 4+) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
5. CONNECTIONS:
I recommend this book for read alouds for very young listeners. The young kids enjoy listening to and repeating rhyming verses.
This collection could also be adapted for children’s theatre and sing-alongs. It is also “interesting” to read poems written by young children. Parents can be invited to read the poetry; most of all let the children have fun with the poetry.
For more information on Alvin Schwartz, see the following post on Dr. Vardell’s blog, http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/2007/04/celebrating-folk-poetry-and-alvin.html
5. CONNECTIONS:
I recommend this book for read alouds for very young listeners. The young kids enjoy listening to and repeating rhyming verses.
This collection could also be adapted for children’s theatre and sing-alongs. It is also “interesting” to read poems written by young children. Parents can be invited to read the poetry; most of all let the children have fun with the poetry.
For more information on Alvin Schwartz, see the following post on Dr. Vardell’s blog, http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/2007/04/celebrating-folk-poetry-and-alvin.html
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