Hickory, Dickory, Dock

by Robin Muller

A contemporary twist updates the traditional nursery rhyme in which a group of animal party guests searches for a hidden clock and encounters a series of alarming mishaps.

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens, Poetry

Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

He was an enterprising child who began his own small publishing house at the age of eight. His passion for storytelling continued into high school where he started a second, competing school paper named Exodus. Muller's paper featured creative writing by students including short stories, poetry, book reviews and paid advertising. Muller left high school at sixteen to make his living as an artist, in the Yorkville section of downtown Toronto. Muller enjoyed the six years he spent painting because "Art is self-indulgent as opposed to publishing books. Only one person has to buy a painting for it to be successful". (Writing Stories, Making Pictures, 234) Gradually, his interest in the fine arts waned and Robin Muller began looking for a new creative outlet. With his interest in narrative revived, he sought out a medium where he could marry his storytelling and illustrating abilities.

Muller's interest in children's books began in his teens, when he worked in a publisher's warehouse. He found the children's books so fascinating that he decided to try to write and illustrate his own book. However, his first book, Rupert's Star, was rejected by every publisher he sent it to. Disappointed by the publishers' responses, Muller waited ten years before he attempted another book. Muller was twenty-nine when his second book The Sorcerer's Apprentice, appeared in bookstores.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

We found this at the local library book sale and grabbed it because it’s my son’s favorite story. The illustrations inside are very magical and beautiful. Perfect length for bedtime.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to see in this gorgeously illustrated picture book about time. The author has taken the nursery rhyme - Hickory, Dickory, Dock - and altered it to create another whole story. A cat hides a clock, that a little mouse especially adores, and hides it before his guests arrive. All sorts of mishaps occur until finally there is an accident that the little mouse is quick to try to resolve. Wonderful story in which. The reader will see many clocks, each showing the time as the clocks strike each hour.

[A. Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has extremely cool illustrations that you could spend time looking at. Very similar to the SEEK and FIND kind of picture. You could even use it one on one to ask kids to find stuff while you read the story. The story itself, is told often, only slight differently each time. Hickory Dickory is a lovely rhyme.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rich illustrations. This book was well-loved in its time, but its very torn up now. I'll have to check records to see if I need to replace it or just recycle it.

[Blair Caswell]

Hickory, Dickory, Dock is by Robin Muller is about a special party hosted by an elegant cat, the guests go in search of a beautiful hidden clock. Hickory, Dickory, Dock has won several awards in general including: CLA Notable, 1992- The Society of Illustrators (NY) "The Original Art" Best Books Exhibition Selection, 1992- Canadian Children's Book Centre, Our Choice, 1992- Studio Magazine Silver, 1992- CAPIC Gold Award for Book Illustration, 1992- CAPIC Copper Award for Single Illustration, 1992- Shortlist, Governor General's Award for English Illustration, 1992- Shortlist, Mr. Christie's French Illustration, 1992- Alcuin Society Citation, 1992.

I enjoyed reading this book because there is a the nursery rhyme for Hickory, Dickory, Dock and the illustrations are busy, so it was a little hard to follow. It seemed that the story promised a hunt for the clock, but some clocks were oddly placed and visible in plain sight.

The song is catchy for kids and when you get higher in numbers, the kids can help the teacher come up rhymes for that number. It can be used a read aloud book in the class room. The song is easy to teach and it can also help the students learn rhyming, they can point out the rhyming words. The book can also be used to teach the concept of time to the kids.

[Molly Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was painful to get through. I thought it was really boring but it had some efficient integration tools in it. It focused a lot on rhyming and included many descriptive words. You could use this book for a math lesson when introducing time to your students.

[Julie Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Telling time with an expansion on the traditional rhyme

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 20 month old really liked the pictures and rhymes.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

So clever and the most beautiful artwork.

[Kimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun rhyming, and although the illustrations are a bit busy, they are beautiful. My kids really liked this book.