Marvelous Mother Goose Books for Children (Unit Study)

If there is one anthology you have in your house, hands down it should be one of these Mother Goose books for children!

As a child, there are some books that just stand out. And for me, the Real Mother Goose anthology really stuck with me…. even after all of these years I instantly recognize the cover with the checkered

You can find these delightful Mother Goose books at your local library or purchase through the affiliate links provided for your convenience. In addition to recommending Mother Goose books for children, I’ve teamed up with some fellow bloggers to offer you homeschool and classroom resources to teach kids about Mother Goose!

Mother Goose Books and Compilations

The Real Mother Goose: For more than seventy-five years THE REAL MOTHER GOOSE has been delighting millions of children, and today the magic is as strong as ever. Heralded as the “standard” Mother Goose by parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians, this wonderful book with Blanche Fisher Wright’s lively, colorful pictures makes an enchanting introduction for the very young.

Mother Goose rhymes are a vital part of childhood. And this collection of essential rhymes have been reproduced exactly as they have been repeated from generation to generation.

The Neighborhood Mother Goose (Ala Notable Children’s Books. Younger Readers Awards): Every day, children the world over sing, shout, and celebrate Mother Goose rhymes. And now there’s a new reason to cheer: Nina Crews has added her own remarkable, jazzy style of illustration to a collection of forty-one favorite verses. Whether it’s Jack jumping over a candlestick (atop a cupcake), Georgie Porgie kissing the girls (at the playground), or a fine lady riding a white horse (on the carousel), this exuberant treasury is sure to be read and enjoyed over and over again.

Mary Engelbreit’s Mother Goose: One Hundred Best-Loved Verses: From the vast and colorful imagination of Mary Engelbreit springs a Mother Goose world bursting with warmth and humor. All the favorite time-honored characters are here — Little Bo-Peep, Humpty Dumpty, Old King Cole, Jack and Jill, and many, many more, along with such treats as a mouse running up the clock, piggies going to market, and children dancing round the mulberry bush.

As complete as can be with one hundred rhymes in all, this is truly a book to treasure. It’s a masterful collection of the adorable, the zany, and the beautiful that will be cherished for generations.

My Very First Mother Goose: To a small child, words are magical. And the most magical of all are the beloved, venerable words of Mother Goose. Now folklorist Iona Opie has gathered more than sixty treasured rhymes in their most perfect, honest form. From “Hey Diddle, Diddle” and “Pat-a-Cake” to “Little Jack Horner” and “Pussycat, Pussycat,” these are familiar verses that have been passed from parent to child for generations; these are the rhymes that are every child’s birthright.

With watercolors by Rosemary Wells that may prove equally enduring, My Very First Mother Goose captures the simple joy and the sly humor that are the essence of Mother Goose. Parents and children will find themselves exploring this volume together, savoring delightful details and funny surprises on every page. This is a book that promises hours of quiet smiles and merry grins for readers of all ages.

Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose: From nonsense to lessons learned, these 45 rhymes include the very well known (Itsy Bitsy Spider) and the somewhat familiar (Hickety, Pickety, My Black Hen). The truly fantastic pictures speak more than a thousand words as artist Scott Gustafson riffs in paint on themes present and imagined in each verse. Nursery rhymes are classic, and so are some of the artist’s interpretations. But other paintings are surprises, like an anthropomorphic baking bear, a pelican sea captain, and Peter Piper as a pug on two legs. Welcome to a world where “There Was a Crooked Man” is not about a hunchbacked senior but rather a madcap, double-jointed dandy who might be “crooked” in more ways than one. Jack (Be Nimble) is a leaping cricket and Yankee Doodle a fun-loving chipmunk on a full-size horse.

Scott Gustafson’s unique style, influenced by legendary book illustrators Arthur Rackham and N. C. Wyeth, makes this a volume to be treasured by children and illustrated-book lovers of all ages.

Richard Scarry’s Best Mother Goose Ever (Giant Little Golden Book): Richard Scarry introduces toddlers to the nursery rhymes of Mother Goose! Featuring his unmistakable art (now restored to its original glory) and fifty of Mother Goose’s most beloved rhymes, Scarry’s timeless collection, now celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, is a must-have for readers of all ages.

Mother Goose Treasury: For centuries Mother Goose has been gathering a collection of magical, well-loved tales. Journey to remarkable places and faraway lands with her to meet all kinds of wonder people and animals, and see the words come to life. Parents and grandparents can share special moments with their children and grandchildren by reading and sharing these classic nursery rhymes.

Original Mother Goose: A glorious, full-color collection of Mother Goose rhymes, featuring the classic Blanche Fisher Wright illustrations. Favorite nursery rhymes fill the pages of this deluxe volume, complete with a real cloth binding and beautiful tipped-on cover art.

My First Mother Goose: From Humpty Dumpty and Georgie Porgie to Little Miss Muffet and the old woman who lived in a shoe, children will love reading and laughing along with all of their favorite characters. The accessible trim and beautiful illustrations by Tomie dePaola make this book the perfect addition to any child’s library.

Walt Disney’s Mother Goose: Vintage artwork and the classic Disney characters add a world of charm to these perennial Mother Goose nursery rhyme favorites–from “Peter Pumpkin Eater,” “Hey, Diddle, Diddle,” and “Little Miss Muffet” to “Jack Sprat,” “Simple Simon,” “Old King Cole,” and more. This Little Golden Book from the 1940s is a must-have addition to every Little Golden Book collector’s library.

Like these Mother Goose books? Find even more engaging book lists for kids with more than 100 book-themed reading lists!

Mother Goose Study Unit

In addition to recommending Mother Goose books for children, I’ve teamed up with some fellow bloggers to offer you homeschool and classroom resources to teach kids about Mother Goose! These unit study resources may contain affiliate links.

• Hey Diddle Diddle Math and Literacy
• Hickory Dickory Dock Literacy and Math
• Humpty Dumpty Literacy and Math
• Itsy Bitsy Spider Literacy and Math
• Little Bo Peep Math and Literacy
• Little Miss Muffet Literacy and Math
• Mary Had a Little Lamb Literacy and Math
• Muffin Man Math and Literacy
• Little Boy Blue: Free Printables & Activities by Faith and Good Works
• Mother Goose Word Search by Schooling a Monkey
• Mother Goose Rhyme Copywork by Look! We’re Learning!