Review: AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND by Alvin Schwartz

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schwartz, Alvin. 1992. And the Green Grass Grew All Around. Ill. by Sue Truesdell. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0060227575

2. PLOT SUMMARY
And the Green Grass Grew All Around is a collection of poems, rhymes, and chants that have their roots in childhood traditions, games, and songs. Schwartz organizes the contents by subject areas such as “Teases and Taunts,” “Fun and Games,” and “Animals and Insects” just to name a few. Of special interest are the notes included at the end of the book which give the reader additional information about the sources of the rhymes. In addition, he also provides the reader with background information relating to the history of folk poetry and how it has changed over the years.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is a delightful collection of childhood memories. Children and adults will get lost in the familiar rhymes and songs presented in a very visually pleasing manner. The large pages with rhymes spaced between the comical drawings by Sue Truesdell are quite inviting for readers, both young and old.

These are poems that are just asking to be read aloud and repeated often. The ordinary language used in them accounts for their popularity. They are easy to learn, fun to chant, and perfect for jump rope games, hand jives, and counting out.
Sue Truesdell’s cartoon drawings add to the hilarity of the subjects. The drawing of the principal and teacher being tied to a chair that accompanies every school child’s favorite “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the closing of the school…” is just one example of the laugh out loud moments in this book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “A marvelous book that is sure to become a classic if children have any say in the matter.”
KIRKUS review: “It's hard to imagine a child who wouldn't greet this treasure trove with enthusiasm.”

5. CONNECTIONS
- Students could choose several of the rhymes they think are most popular and survey other students, school personnel, family and community members to find out which ones were popular years ago and how they may have changed over the years.

- Presenting some of the rhymes through performances at parent nights or at a local nursing home would also allow students to see how these rhymes have connected generations of people to one another.

- Children should be encouraged to make up their own versions of some of their favorites since one of the characteristics of oral poetry is to adapt it and pass it on.

- An interesting project for older children would be to research the origins of some of these rhymes especially those with social themes such as land ownership rights, labor unions, elections, and other historical events.

- My students really enjoyed trying to solve the riddles presented in chapter 10. So did I!