Move Over, Mother Goose: Finger Plays, Action Verses and Funny Rhymes

No, I don't believe that Mother Goose should move over for this book although I would be quite willing to make Mother Goose do international.The intent of this book - to provide a resource for finger play and action verses - is admirable; as a resource it is well organized, chapters on: familar animals, exotic animals, seasons/holidays, people/places, cooking and eating, home and family, fun and games, color and numbers. The problem is that no author can write 100+ pages of one or two rhymes each and maintain the quality that you can find in the folk tradition or anthologies.Some of the animal verses seem influenced by Ogden Nash - but I would go the O.N. each time: Example: "A boa constrictor / May look like his sister, / But don't make a fatal mistake: / A boa constrictor / Can look like his sister / And still be a dangerous snake!" [I won't subject my children or grandchildren to this].On the other hand, I find some rhymes that are quite delightful: "Pierre the Bear! O tell me where / To look for honey trees. / If you don't mind, I'd like to find / The ones without the bees!"The book can be a useful resource but only as one of several resources.