Wee Willie Winkie: and Other Rhymes

My Very First Mother Goose Series

by Iona Opie (Editor), Rosemary Wells (Illustrator)

Inspired by our exciting new Gift Line.
Resized and featuring new covers, these bright board books based on My Very First Mother Goose, the award-winning modern day classic, bring timeless poems to the youngest children. Each of the four enchanting board books contains eight favorite rhymes collected in their most perfect form by folklorist Iona Opie. Every rhyme is accompanied by the incomparable art of Rosemary Wells, illustrations that THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW called "irresistible." Large letters and sturdy board pages make these treasures indispensable for any nursery.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Classics

16 pages, Board book

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Iona Margaret Balfour Archibald was born in Colchester, Essex, England. She was a researcher and writer on folklore and children's street culture. She is considered an authority on children's rhymes, street and playground games and the Mother Goose tradition. She was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) in 1998 and was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1999.

The couple met during World War II and married on 2 September 1943. The couple worked together closely, from their home near Farnham, Surrey, conducting primary fieldwork, library research, and interviews of thousands of children. In pursuing the folklore of contemporary childhood they directly recorded rhymes and games in real time as they were being sung, chanted, or played. Working from their home in Alton, Hampshire they collaborated on several celebrated books and produced over 30 works. The couple were jointly awarded the Coote Lake Medal in 1960. The medal is awarded by The Folklore Society "for outstanding research and scholarship".

Speaking in 2010, Iona speaks of working with her husband as being "like two of us in a very small boat and each had an oar and we were trying to row across the Atlantic." and that "[W]e would never discuss ideas verbally except very late at night."

Iona Opie died in 2017.

Reviews

[Aleisha Froude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up with these and now read them to my own children. The nursery rhymes are classic.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Direct excerpts from the large Rosemary Wells illustrated Mother Goose collection we own. I picked this out only because it was W week. Expected it to be just Wee Willie Winkie, but there are several others as well.

[Jessica Keepe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tempie loves the rhymes and can say most of them.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Rosemary Wells super cute illustrations this board book brings to life some old time nursery rhymes.

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

2000 Aug 16
2000 Oct 25

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not the biggest fan of Rosemary Wells's illustrations, but my son enjoys this book and I appreciate that the book includes some rhymes that are not often included in Mother Goose collections.