And the Green Grass Grew All Around

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schwartz, Alvin. 1992. AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND : folk poetry from everyone. Illustrated by Sue Truesdell. New York, NY. Harper Collins. ISBN 0060227575

SUMMARY
This is a compilation of over 250 folk poems which "celebrates the vitality and originality of everyday language" (liner notes). The collection includes autograph rhymes, street rhymes, parodies, riddles, limerecks, love poems, and anything else heard on a playground.

ANALYSIS
The collection of poetry is truly exhaustive. Any child will eventually find a poem that they know and love. The power of this book is that it's basically a collection of children's secret lanuage, validated through being written down. Each generation of kids thinks they came up with these rhymes, and each one takes ownership of the language and passes it on to the next, with a few changes. The book is a wonderful incentive for kids to make more original poems to pass on. Scwartz says "A folk poet made up each of the poems in this book" (p. 153).

The book is broken into sections according to what the poems are about; people, food, school, weather and so on. Schwartz also provides and index of first lines, which is the best way to find a specific known poem. Schwartz's notes section on origins and sources is a wonderful resource for teachers and students. For instance, who knew that the "Swaaping Song" may have its origin in a "fourteenth-century political song from the days of King Richard II" (p. 179)?

Truesdale's lively and funny drawings are well suited to the subject matter, and her literal take on the rhymes are frequently more amusing than the poems themselves. The black and white pen and ink drawings look like sketches and doodles from a bright and very naughty student's notebook. They are the perfect accompaniment to the children's art of the folk tale.

The layout of the poems is loose and varies from page to page, with drawings interspersed between poems. Sheet music is provided when the poem has traditionally been sung to a certain tune.

REIVEWS
"A marvelous book that is sure to become a classic if children have any say in the matter. Schwartz has gathered sassy, funny, scary, and slightly naughty children's folk poetry heard on schoolgrounds and wherever else kids are having fun. Adults who stew over the appropriateness of Roald Dahl's books or Shel Silverstein's poetry may have concerns here, but kids will love having all their underground playground rhymes in one volume." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

"In b&w pen and watercolor, Truesdell's marvelous characters dance across the generously broad pages, peering inquisitively at the hilarious goings-on or gleefully joining in the shenanigans. It's hard to imagine a child who wouldn't greet this treasure trove with enthusiasm." KIRKUS REVIEWS

CONNECTIONS
This book is a great centerpiece for a folk poetry unit. Students can bring in their own variations of the rhymes, or share family expressions and poems. Students can discuss the differences between some of the rhymes in the book and the way the rhyme has changed on their playground. Schwartz includes a section on the origins of some ryhymes, and students might be interested in finding out how old some of the poems really are.