Honey for You, Honey for Me: A First Book of Nursery Rhymes

Rosen (The Missing), who also contributes a thoughtful foreword, compiles a solid mix of nursery rhymes, mixing old favorites (“Miss Mary Mack”) and genuine head scratchers—at least for U.S. audiences (“Hab can nab/ The two-pound crab”). Typography occasionally receives a playful treatment, as with ever-shrinking type for a telescoping perspective of “This is the key of the kingdom.” Warmhearted, unfussy presentations by Riddell (Pirate Stew) feature lots of gallivanting animals (anthropomorphized and otherwise) and an inclusive cast of children in settings that range from white space to landscapes to sunny domestic interiors. One of the loveliest treatments is given to “Rain on the Green Grass,” which finds a bear cub snuggled cozily in bed while a gray- and rose-colored shower falls on timber-framed houses outside the window. There may be more rousing treatments of individual rhymes out there, but in terms of foundational texts for youngest children, this one should elicit as many smiles as “honey for breakfast, honey for tea.” Ages 3–7. [em](Mar.) [/em]