Hey Diddle Diddle and Other Nursery Rhyme Favorites
What’s inside...
Featuring Kate Toms' original hand-stitched illustrations, this charming adaptation of a classic nursery rhyme is full of whimsical humour and presented in a padded board book format. Another offering includes Sara Anderson's vivid, color-saturated cut-paper collages, which bring to life favorite nursery rhymes like Humpty Dumpty, the dish and the spoon, and Little Miss Muffet. This unique felt read-and-play kit contains a board book, 35 full-color felt pieces, and a foldout felt playboard, with a game-board wheel to select different nursery rhymes for interactive fun.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
2-13
Length
18 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think the cow wanted to jump over the moon in 'Hey Diddle Diddle'?
Which nursery rhyme did you enjoy the most, and what made it special to you?
How do you think the dish felt when it ran away with the spoon?
Can you think of a different ending for one of your favorite rhymes from the book?
What would you do if you were the little dog in 'Hey Diddle Diddle' and saw the cow jumping over the moon?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading techniques, like changing your voice for different characters, to make the rhymes more lively and engaging.
Ask your child to pick their favorite rhyme and act it out together. This can help deepen their understanding and enjoyment of the story.
Encourage your child to draw a scene from one of the nursery rhymes. Discussing their drawing can provide insights into their interpretation and feelings about the story.
After reading a rhyme, pause and ask your child what they think will happen next, even if they already know the rhyme. This encourages creative thinking and active engagement.
Relate the rhymes to real-life experiences, such as comparing 'The Cat and the Fiddle' to a time when they saw a musical performance or an animal doing something funny.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Language Development
Explanation: The rhythmic and repetitive nature of nursery rhymes in 'Hey Diddle Diddle and Other Nursery Rhyme Favorites' aids in phonemic awareness and helps children understand the basic structures and sounds of language.
Real-World Application: Children can use these foundational language skills to enhance their speaking, reading, and writing abilities, making them more confident in their daily communications both in school and at home.
Example Lesson: Memory Enhancement
Explanation: Memorizing short, catchy rhymes improves cognitive development in young children. This book encourages them to remember sequences and recall them.
Real-World Application: The skill of memory retention learnt through nursery rhymes can be applied in academic learning, helping children to remember information more effectively in various subjects.
Example Lesson: Social Skills
Explanation: The shared experience of reading or reciting these nursery rhymes can foster social interaction and collaboration among children.
Real-World Application: This practice promotes cooperative play and enhances children’s abilities to work in groups, share, and resolve conflicts, which are essential skills in both school settings and interpersonal relationships.
Example Lesson: Cultural Awareness
Explanation: Nursery rhymes are often part of a larger cultural heritage. 'Hey Diddle Diddle and Other Nursery Rhyme Favorites' introduces children to diverse aspects of cultural history and folklore.
Real-World Application: Understanding and appreciating cultural stories and rhythms can help foster a more inclusive worldview in young children, promoting acceptance and diversity.