Mother Goose Picture Puzzles

PreS-Gr 1—Perfect for sharing in storytimes or classrooms, this oversize picture book presents 20 rhymes in a rebus format. Each one is accompanied by a mixed-media illustration that contains larger, labeled versions of the characters or objects that appear in the rebus pictures. Some of the lesser-known objects have a brief explanation; for example, "crown" is defined as "another word for top of head." Most of the rhymes are well known, though a few may be new to children ("The Black Hen," "The Little Bird"). Hillenbrand's colorful artwork is bold and inviting, and his characters, engaging and expressive. The pictures lead the way through the book, giving readers a clue about what's to come. On the opening spread, the cat and the fiddle tag along as Mother Goose rides her gander, then the cat takes center stage in "Hey, Diddle, Diddle" on the next page, while Jack and Jill run to a well in the background. The clues continue throughout, supporting beginning readers and adding yet another guessing-game element to participative reading.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD