AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Schwartz, Alvin, 1992. AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND. Ill. by Sue Truesdell. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN:0060227583



PLOT SUMMARY
There is not a plot to this book. This a collection of folk poetry that Schwartz has gathered from numerous children, librarians, and teachers. Schwartz has divided the poetry into 15 different and unique sections. For example, the first three sections deal with people, food, and school. Section six deals with love and marriage while section 14 deals with animals and other insects. He has even dedicated a section to poetry that did not fit into any of the other areas and simply labels it "other things." Schwartz has done extensive research and provides the reader with another fifteen rhymes in the "notes" section which details the "folk poets and folk poetry, street rhymes, nursery rhymes, paradoies, autograph rhymes, nonsense verse, and other subjects." Finally, Schwartz has a "sources" area that gives information about where each of the poems originated from and any other pertient details about each. He has included details such variants of the poem he chose for his collection, other spellings for the title of the poem like on page 104 where the poem is entitled "Sasparilla" but the standard spelling is "Sarsaparilla."



CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Schwartz has done extensive research to create a collection of folk poetry that will delight children and adults alike. Many of the poems lend themselves especially well to being jump-roped to-a lost art-that can be renewed to help children get active and moving again. What a wonderful way to incorporate physical activity with memorization. He gives new meaning to the term "an old beloved tune." To the tune of The Star-Spangled Banner we now have the words "Oh, say, can you see
Any begbugs on me?
If you do, pick a few,
And we'll have bedbug stew."

Truesdell's characters are either doing the action in the poem or "interpreting" the poem as to what it means to them. The illustrations will bring a smile to the face and put a song in the heart. The text and illustrations are a wonderful complement to each other.

REVIEW EXCERPT
School Library Journal:"A marvelous book that is sure to become a classic if children have any say in the matter."


CONNECTIONS:
A few other books written by Alvin Schwartz include:
SCARY STORIES 3: MORE TALES TO CHILL YOUR BONES ISBN 0060217944
THE CAT'S ELBOW: AND OTHER SECRET LANGUAGES ISBN 0374410542
WHOPPERS: TALL TALES AND OTHER LIES ISBN 0064460916