The Green Mother Goose: Saving the World One Rhyme at a Time

Classic nursery rhyme characters are recast in an eco-friendly platform. Yankee Doodle explores green transportation ("Yankee Doodle went to school,/ A-riding in a carpool"), Old Mother Hubbard rethinks her buying habits when her dog rebuffs the junk food in her cupboard ("She went to the market/ To buy only local./ Dog bounced and barked/ His approval was vocal"), and "Old King Coal" has a change of heart: "Though he was a meanie,/ Now he is a greenie,/ And he works to keep our skies smoke-free." Matte collages incorporate newsprint, bottles, cans, and other recyclable materials. Peck and Davis deliver their missive with humor and a touch of snark, but the often self-righteous tone drains much of the fun. Ages 5–up. (Apr.)