Kids These Days

I wonder where the cut-off in age occurs above which a solid knowledge of nursery rhymes is a given, and below which knowledge of such poetry is murky at best.

The age break must exist between the ages of thirty-ish and 10. I know this because Mother Goose and I are close friends. My children, however, wouldn't recognize her if she waddled up to them and began reciting Jack and Jill.

This lapse in my children's knowledge makes me a bit sad. What kind of mother doesn't read nursery rhymes to their wee ones? Instead, my children are well versed in the works of Dr. Seuss, Margaret Wise Brown, and especially Sandra Boynton.

Really, who could pass up ...

Barnyard Dance!

Hippos Go Berserk

and The Belly Button Book

So, between saying Goodnight to the Moon, Dancing in the Barnyard, and adventuring with The Cat in the Hat, we somehow slighted Mother Goose.  During a visit to our beloved library last week, I came upon a delightful little board book illustrated by a supremely talented author/illustrator entitled Mary Engelbreit's Silly Mother Goose.

Since I'm all about silly, I checked it out and brought silly home...boy did I ever.

A day or so later Cole plucked the little book out of the library bag.  Still a bit in denial about my kiddos' nursery rhyme short comings, I asked, "Do you know any of those rhymes?"

"No, not really," said he sensing my really wanting him to say otherwise.

"I bet you do, 'Hey Diddle Diddle..." I began pausing for him to complete the line.  Nothing.  I attempted a few more times with other rhymes with the same result...nothing.  He took the book from me and joined Meg in the next room.  In just a few minutes this is what I heard...(press the play triangle in the center, image is purposely pixelated)

 

I feel sooooo much better now! 
Geesh!