Quick Booktalk
This book is a brand-new collection of nursery rhymes and basic preschool vocabulary lists accompanied by Rosemary Wells's signature illustrations.
About the Illustrations
The illustrations in this book are in Wells's original style, not the cartoonish style of the Max and Ruby TV show. The pictures are timeless and appealing to preschoolers.
Story Time Possibilities
When I have used nursery rhymes in story time, my purpose has always been to connect with my audience using something familiar that everyone knows and feels comfortable with. The text of many of the rhymes included in this book has been changed, presumably to make the content more pleasant and/or more inclusive, but the result is that the possibility of everyone reciting the rhyme together from memory no longer exists. I shared some of the rhymes with my older kids (ages 4, 6, and 8) and they were annoyed by the changes. They were especially confused by "Maria had a little lamb." Since there are so many other options for sharing nursery rhymes in story time, I wouldn't make this my go-to choice.
Reader's Advisory
There are some parent-directed notes at the beginning of the book about early literacy that feel slightly more academic than they really need to. The advice isn't bad, but I always bristle when books suggest to parents that their toddlers need to be educated. Being a toddler is itself an education, and there are as many "right" ways to share this book with little ones as there are adults who read to little ones.
Altered nursery rhymes and heavy-handed advice aside, however, this book is perfect for my toddlers. They can look at it alone, or their older siblings can use it to "teach" them. It is a picture book, not a board book, so its days are most likely numbered, but it will be fun while it lasts.
Disclosure
I received a review copy of My Very First 100 Words from Paula Wiseman Books in exchange for an honest review.
