Korean Nursery Rhymes: Wild Geese, Land of Goblins and Other Favorite Songs and Rhymes

PreS-Gr 2—Brightly colored, predominately in oranges and purple, this book presents 14 nursery rhymes, many of which are songs. The CD follows the book with each tune first sung in Korean, and followed by the English version. All of the numbers are interpreted with a Western-sounding melody, acoustic guitar, and young people singing. Overall, they are soothing enough for bedtime listening. The stylized artwork appears to be digitally enhanced, with large swatches of saturated color and plenty of elements from the rhymes, such as butterflies, blossoms, and children at play. Just as the melodies have a familiar feeling, so do the rhymes, which feature topics such as jump-rope games, naming facial features, and getting a little fright from a goblin. Each line of the text is written in Korean, followed by the transliteration in bold print, and then the English translation. A pronunciation guide is included, as are explanatory notes of interest that situate the rhymes within Korean culture. Early language-learning and culture-appreciation classes will be aided by this fun and colorful volume.—Teresa Pfeifer, The Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA