Mary Had a Little Lamb

PreS-K—Huliska-Beith has added two new verses to Hale's well-known nursery rhyme. Although both of them exemplify kindness in relationships, one comes as a surprise because it's humorously directed toward the animals in the book, not toward the girl or readers as might be expected. Mixed-media illustrations add texture and unexpected patterns to the trees and flowers that surround the path Mary and her lamb take to the one-room red schoolhouse. The lamb has pink cheeks and a little nose like the child and her classmates. He is always by her side, even when she's gliding down a slide or reading high up in a tree. With no repetition in the verse, this version of the poem is perfect for audiences with short attention spans. Suitable for a sing-along, it also introduces children to admirable characters, both young and old. The artist does give the poem a different ending, but honors the original by familiarizing readers with its history. A concluding note contains information about the publication and the authorship of the nursery rhyme.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada