Catherine Elaine McPherson

The Good Mother Goose Catherine Elaine McPherson

Recognizing the power of words on the hearts of young children, Catherine set out to give the familiar Mother Goose nursery rhymes a Christian twist. The rewritten verses emphasize positive qualities instead of the sometimes-dubious meanings. For example, we remember "Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater. Peter had a wife but couldn't keep her, so he put her in a pumpkin shell, and there he keeps her very well." Unfortunately for Mrs. Pumpkin-eater, it sounds like she may be in the pumpkin shell against her will. And furthermore, Mr. Pumpkin-eater comes off as a bully. Wouldn't the following verse be a kinder, gentler version?

"Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater had a wife and loved to please her. He bought for her a pumpkin shell; they live there now, and all is well." (A picture of a happy couple!)

The Good Mother Goose not only provides revisited verses but original poems and nursery rhymes accompanied with appropriate Bible verses. Parents will find teaching their children poetry a fun and meaningful way to incorporate positive values and scripture.