The inspiration for this book emerged from a comment my husband made about the nursery rhymes I sing daily. He had never heard most of them and assumed I had invented them. Despite being a writer, I'm not talented enough to create catchy tunes on the spot. This led me to wonder how many other children and adults might also be unfamiliar with these rhymes.
Upon delving deeper, I found that many traditional nursery rhymes have darker meanings than one might expect, which is why they are often no longer taught to children. For instance, the rhyme "Ring-a-Ring-o' Roses" is actually about the Black Death, and "Knick Knack-Paddywhack" refers to the Irish potato famine. These rhymes, which were a significant part of my childhood, are at risk of being forgotten.
During my childhood, we had to rely on our creativity for entertainment, a stark contrast to the abundance of gadgets available to today's children. The idea of singing rhymes might seem outdated to modern kids. However, I've curated this collection of songs and rhymes with the hope that you will find joy in them. Some are mischievous, some are simple and endearing, but all are steeped in history and deserve to be cherished.
A few of these rhymes are outrageous and NOT intended for today's children, although they never did us any harm—or did they?
Upon delving deeper, I found that many traditional nursery rhymes have darker meanings than one might expect, which is why they are often no longer taught to children. For instance, the rhyme "Ring-a-Ring-o' Roses" is actually about the Black Death, and "Knick Knack-Paddywhack" refers to the Irish potato famine. These rhymes, which were a significant part of my childhood, are at risk of being forgotten.
During my childhood, we had to rely on our creativity for entertainment, a stark contrast to the abundance of gadgets available to today's children. The idea of singing rhymes might seem outdated to modern kids. However, I've curated this collection of songs and rhymes with the hope that you will find joy in them. Some are mischievous, some are simple and endearing, but all are steeped in history and deserve to be cherished.
A few of these rhymes are outrageous and NOT intended for today's children, although they never did us any harm—or did they?
Used availability for Netta Newbound's Gran Ivy's book of Outrageous Rhymes