Grumbles from the Town

What famous Mother Goose poem has been reinvented here with a new voice?

I love the sound of giggles

from the lace-wings in the tree,

the thump of running feet

as children race home to me.

But best is how I love them

when they dream inside my toe.

Do you doubt a shoe can love?

I have a sole you know.

By Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Jane Yolan

• One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

• There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

• Humpty Dumpty

• I Do Not Like thee Dr. Fell

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.5

What Mother Goose character is this poem about?

So there I was,

dangling and spinning

like spiders do,

minding my own business,

watching her chew

curdles and clumps

below my trapeze.

What was that? I asked

(in my best spidereeze)--

Achoo I sneezed.

She whooped.

She wailed.

Shouted Gesundheit!

and bailed.

By Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Jane Yolan

• The Queen of Hearts

• Mary Had a little Lamb

• Little Miss Muffett

• The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

Fill in the missing words to the first stanza of this reimagined poem.

I Am The Sock

I am the sock,

all black and blue

from too much use.

And when he's through,

the throws me out,

no wash, no rinse.

Does ___________ ___________

think he's a prince?

By Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Jane Yolan

• Humpty Dumpty

• Simple Simon

• Dumpling John

• Jack Horner

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.5

What Mother Goose rhyme did Dotlich and Yolen reference to tell this story about a maid and her troubles?

Maid Mutters to Herself

I was hanging sheets on the line

when birds attacked.

Insane! It began to rain

a downpour of blackbirds!

A bloke poked his head out the window.

King wants another pie! he cried.

I mumbled a few choice words, I did.

Who, I ask you, in their right mind

bakes pies of birds?

I stomped and shooed them all away.

Blackberries make sweeter pies

any day.

By Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Jane Yolan

• Sing a Song of Sixpence

• 8 Maids a' Milking

• The Queen of Hearts

• Old King Cole

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

What is the title for this poem, reimagined from "It's Raining, It's Pouring"?

It's raining, it's pouring,

and everyone is snoring.

Despite some cotton

in each ear,

the only sound

that I can hear

is snore-snore-snore

and snore some more

coming straight at me

though the doghouse door.

It's so dang loud,

I cannot think.

I cannot dream

or sleep a wink.

I much prefer

the drip-drop rain.

No wonder, then

this sad refrain:

It's raining, it's pouring

and everyone is snoring.

(Except for me!)

By Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Jane Yolan

• The Old Dog's Lament

• Snoring Short Story

• I Can't Wait for Rainbows

• Please Rain, STOP!

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.5

Who is this skateboarding poem about? Fill in the first 2 lines.

Not Another Fall

_____________ ____________

skates on a wall,

another big tumble,

another pratfall.

Another big grin

when he jumps to his feet.

He's got loads of jokes

that just cannot be beat.

He's our class clown;

that's never in doubt,

but that's why he's sitting

again

in time out.

By Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Jane Yolan

• Boy Blue

• King Cole

• Jack Sprat

• Humpty Dumpty

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.5

What famous Mother Goose rhyme are the authors reimagining here?

Plum Tuckered Out

Here it comes--

another thumb.

Is that the way to treat a plum?

I grew gentle

on the tree.

Sun and rain

were good to me.

But now there's heat

and boyish laughter.

What horrors might be

coming after?

Go away, hand,

Don't be dumb.

Don't you dare poke me

with that thumb.

By Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Jane Yolan

• Little Jack Horner

• Sing a Song of Sixpence

• Jack Be Nimble

• Jack and Jill went up the Hill

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

What two Mother Goose characters will be mentioned at the end of this poem?

Hill Memories

I remember ice,

I remember chill,

I remember climbers, I remember spill,

I remember tumble,

and voices shrill

I remember ____________

I remember ____________.

By Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Jane Yolan

• Cow and Moon

• Sam and Bill

• Jack and Jill

• Dish and Spoon

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.1.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

Who probably wrote this poem/letter?

Cat's got the fiddle,

cow's got the moon,

laughing dog sings

that same silly tune.

Dish has the best, though:

he's married my spoon.

You ran far away,

and left me alone.

Not a one of you writes,

or picks up a phone.

All is forgiven folks.

Please, please, come home.

Signed, your old friend ____________

By Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Jane Yolan

• Fork

• Dish

• Fiddle

• Cow

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

What Mother Goose Rhyme is this poem reimagining?

He longed to marry a wife who had perfected the tart.

When a lovely girl finally offered her heart, she said:

My hours are spent with books on my shelf.

So if you want tarts, you'll make them yourself.

He now owns a tart shop in the town of Reed.

And he keeps very, very busy indeed.

By Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Jane Yolan

• The Queen of Hearts

• Old King Cole

• Sing a Song of Sixpence

• Little Jack Horner

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.5