  | Pop! goes the nursery rhyme Author: Bird, Betsy | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
The sensible Secretary Bird wants nothing more than to get on with their job of properly narrating a classic nursery rhyme book. But something is afoot in the orderly land of nursery rhymes, a zippy little Weasel has entered the scene! As the Secretary Bird tries to get through the rhymes-from Little Miss Muffet to Jack and Jill-the Weasel bursts in, throwing everything into a comical tailspin. Can the Secretary Bird put an end to the chaos.
| Illustrator: | Tsurumi, Andrea |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (02/15/25)
School Library Journal (02/28/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 01/13/2025 Bird (The Great Santa Stakeout) and Tsurumi (There’s No Such Thing as Vegetables) imagine the giggly-good havoc wrought by ending myriad nursery rhymes with "POP! Goes the Weasel." The story’s canon-tweaking mischief-maker-introduced in the book’s first featured rhyme-is a weasel in pink overalls who leaps into the framing of each classic final line, generally with arms and legs akimbo. Countering the repeated action with protests, a pearl-clutching secretary bird desperately tries to maintain decorum ("Oh my goodness, no, no, no. There are no weasels with Jack and Jill"), leading to a final scenario that employs jack-in-the-box tension. Throughout, the characters are elaborately choreographed: Mary, of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" fame, appears as a well-heeled but spunky mutton matron, the little lamb as her cosseted, coolly confident charge. Gaily upsetting the proverbial apple cart again and again, the creators craft a raucous celebration of rule- breaking that will have young readers eagerly anticipating each rhyme’s incoming "POP!" An author’s note concludes. Ages 3-5. Author’s agent: Stephen Barbara, InkWell Management. Illustrator’s agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House. (Mar.) - Copyright 2025
School Library Journal - 02/28/2025 PreS-Gr 1—In this spoof on popular nursery rhymes, Bird collects eight classics, including "Jack & Jill," "Patty-cake," and "Mary Had a Little Lamb," but unconventionally ends each with "POP! Goes the weasel." Much to the chagrin of an omnipresent goose, a weasel suddenly interrupts each rhyme, wreaking havoc on all concerned. Tsurumi illustrates each verse in a unique and often contemporary setting with different animals appearing as the main characters. For example, Mary, a sheep, is followed by her little lamb on a tandem bicycle and roller blades, while Little Miss Muffet is a buff mouse on a yoga ball tuffet in a gym. After each "popped!" rhyme, the increasingly exasperated goose responds with consternation via speech bubble, apparently to the weasel, but the two never interact. Tsurumi's vibrant, cartoon-style illustrations are a perfect match for this zany offering. An author's note at the end provides a bit of history on nursery rhymes in general, and "Pop! Goes the Weasel" in particular. VERDICT Readers familiar with traditional Mother Goose rhymes and those drawn to the absurd will most appreciate this additional purchase.—Lynn Van Auken - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
