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 in a meaningful way.

--Catherine Elaine McPherson

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