Most white people rarely think about racial discrimination except as something that happened "back then" "down south". We're (I write this as a white man) far more likely to whine about "reverse discrimination," about how unfair affirmative action is and how confusing PC speech has become (Are "they" black, African-Americans, people of color or *what* ?). We tend to think of black people three ways:

1) We see them as white people with extra pigmentation. We don't really notice any difference and blithely assume that they're "just like us".

2) We see them as gods and superheros, running faster, jumping higher, dancing better, and better endowed in various ways.

3) We demonize them--welfare mothers pumping out babies, gangstas, crack ho's & that junkie pulling a smash 'n' grab to feed his habit.

Rarely do we ever try to understand what it's like, growing up different. Langston Hughes, in this powerful little book, opens a window for us. Although aimed at children of all races, perhaps the people who benefit most from this work will be white "liberals" who think racism is horrible until an African-American family moves in down the block.

"Misery is when the taxi cab won't stop for your motoher and she says a bad word."

"Misery is when you first realize so many things bad have black in them, like black cats, black arts, blackball."

"Misery is when you go to the Department Store before Christmas and find out that Santa is a white man."

"Misery is when you start to help an old white lady across the street and she thinks you're trying to snatch her purse."

These, and a whole host of others, are poignantly illustrated by Arouni. The book is introduced by Jesse Jackson, who points out that some things are dated (society has evolved a bit since 1967), but that plenty of room for progress remains. Historical events, such as the presidential election of 2000, demonstrate that deep and systematic racism still pervades American life. This was the last work that Langston Hughes wrote. He died in 1967, while working on the manuscript.

Both my 13-year-old son and my 8-year-old daughter have found the book touching. Reading it with them has helped them to have a better understanding of what it might be like to be "different." I believe this book opens the way for genuine dialogue between people of different races, instead of maintaining projections and biases.

The Book of Rhythms is a wonderful book that teaches children how to create their own poems. It begins by teaching children how to create their own rhythm by drawing a pattern on a piece of paper. Then it goes on to describe some of the different rhythms you hear everyday, such as your own heartbeat. Hughes then teaches children how to vary their rhythms and how to put words to the rhythm the reader has created. Towards the end, the author tells you about all the different rhythms such as broken or unseen rhythms.
This book serves as a great source for teaching children how to compose their own poems. The author is very qualified to write on this subject, since he is such a renowned poet. The book is neatly organized with clear appropriate headings and helpful illustrations that allow the reader to visualize the author's point. The language is vivid and interesting, yet easy enough for even very young readers to understand and enjoy.
In conclusion, Hughes' Book of Rhythms is a great book introducing children to poetry composition. With interesting vocabulary and illustrations, it is enough to keep any reader's attention. This book serves as a great teaching tool for any elementary aged child.

This book will help you regain your faith in children and respect for their games. It has been the cornerstone of my work for twenty years. It should not be out of print. Accurate, honest, direct observations of children at play, without the constraints of adult supervision, outside the boundaries of their playgrounds.

I must say that I am not a very superstitious person; however, regardless of that fact (and state of mind one could possibly say), I am interested in superstitions on the fact that they have been part of human culture (and the human psyche) for quite some time and some of them are now so ingrained in culture that in order to fully understand this culture in question; well, then one needs to understand this cultures superstitions. This book, i.e., A Dictionary of Superstitionsby Iona Archibald Opie (Editor), Moira Tatem (Editor) does an good job of explaining various superstitions from the obvious (number 13, walking under ladders et al.) to the more bizarre (confirmation is supposed to be good against rheumatism). Highly Recommended.

A delightful book for kids of all ages! Each page of this book has delightful, light, charming prose. The illustrations by Maurice Sendak put the final touches on a lovely, well-bound volume of reading for a family to share or a child to escape to a cozy window-seat and read. I recommend this book for someone who wants to give a nice, lasting gift to a special child or friend.

This book has a large selection of wonderful poems. Some are funny, some are touching, and all of them were enjoyable to my children.

This book was a pure joy to read. Even though it's meant for children, I received it as a gift and intend to read it to my daughter when she's old enough to understand. The person who gave the book to me knew that I, like you, would appreciate the dreamlike environment in which the book is set. It makes for a golden-threaded background for another lesson based on the golden rule--with a twist. Instead of "Do Unto Others As You Would Be Treated", it's more of a "Do As They Want to Be Treated."

The words used and the way the story is told keeps the tale alive and interesting for both adults and children. (Adults in particular would enjoy the "knowing way" in which certain descriptions are slipped in.)

My 1-1/2 old granddaughter has many books - and she is often to be seen looking at books by herself, not to speak of the times she requests an adult to sit with her. This is the book that she most often wants and is the book we'll have to replace as it's the most worn. A great collection of "nursery" poetry and pictures have a lot of appeal for the young.

This has a fairly nice selection of rhymes, and the pictures are bright, but the pictures seem rather unrelated to the rhymes -
and for a child just learning to speak it seems important that
the pictures and the rhymes match. I was given a copy but I do
not read it to my 2-year-old. I much prefer the Orchard Book of
Nursery Rhymes which i found at the local library. (Why three stars and not fewer? Because I saw at the library many nursery rhyme books that were worse.)

I just want to respond to the person who said that there was an error on what boys and girls are made of (p.26-27). This is a children's book of the 90s and the reversal was made intentionally to try to rid of stereotypes of boys and girls. This book has wonderful illistrations and large print, perfect for young children!

What a wonderful book! The text is classic and the illustrations are, of course, marvelous! To the disappointed reviewer who thought there was an error in the illustrations, you are incorrect! I just returned from a conference at which Ms. Wells spoke. The switch in the "what are little girls/boys made of" indeed was intentional on the part of the illustrator to stamp out those gender stereotypes! As Ms. Wells told us this weekend, "Mother Goose should be the Shakespeare of children's literature."! READ ON!

If you are looking for good old classic Mother Goose that you grew up, with these are not the books you want. I was disappointed to find that I have never heard of over half of these nursery rhymes and the ones that are familiar have been changed. On the up side, the illustrations are great and the book is okay for a child who isn't familiar with classic Mother Goose.

I have two toddlers, and we have been reading both of these books at least twice a day for a year. My two year old has both books memorized and my one year old knows quite a few of the verses. I am also buying this for every expectant mother that I know. My husband wasn't fond of Mother Goose at first, but these books have turned him into a fan.

Wow! ... is collection had ALL the Mother Goose Rhymes that I remembered, and then some! The oversized format and bold pictures, all featuring sweet and funny animals playing nursery rhyme roles, will visually delight both the lucky listeners and the grown-ups sharing this treasury! I have been buying this set for EVERY expectant mother I know, it's a great shower gift (especially combined with Jim Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook). I know I was so grateful to have a good Mother Goose collection when I was a new mommy, it's surprising how many you forget once you leave kindergarten. My son, who is now six, loves this book (I like that BOYS are made of sugar and spice and everything nice in this edition...I think a little liberty may have been taken there, but as a mom of a son, I won't argue!). I am grateful to the Opies and to Rosemary Wells for compiling a collection in such a way that is true to the original rhymes yet appealing to children in our century!

As far as I'm concerened, the only egg this goose lays is a golden one!