Genre & Age: Fantasy picture book (ages 3-6) Format: Hardcover, 32 pages, 7" x 9" Publisher:Pelican Publishing
Enter an enchanted land of mythical creatures where manticores reign and ogres roar. With a unique twist on traditional rhymes, Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes presents a darker approach to these childhood classics, and yet the sing-song nature of the poems renders them playful and jovial at the same time. Little Witch Muffet is not frightened by a silly, little spider; she adds him to her stew! If you enjoy mischief and have a penchant for the morbidly hilarious, the rhymes will satisfy your mythological curiosity. The book also includes a "bestiary" with information about the book's legendary creatures.
"This distinctive collection deserves to be enjoyed year round."
— Publishers Weekly
"For all of us who grew up loving Dungeons & Dragons and Tolkien, Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes is an excellent way to introduce our little ones to the world of fantasy!"
— Drew Daywalt, author of the New York Times bestseller The Day the Crayons Quit
"Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes is an inventive welcome to the traditional rhymes we all grew up with. Both kids and adults, whose interest are a bit dark and creepy and off the beaten path, will revel in the rhymes' inventive dark humor. Bravo!"
— Dan Yaccarino, author and illustrator of Unlovable, Doug Unplugged, and more
"Monstrously clever—I'd rather Mary had a hippogriff than a 'little lamb' any day!"
— Molly Idle, Caldecott Honor winning illustrator of Flora and the Flamingo and more
"Monstrously clever and soon to be schoolyard standards."
— Tara Lazar, PiBoIdMo host and author of The Monstore, I Thought This Was a Bear Book and more
"Nursery rhymes have always had a dark edge to them from eating spiders to catching toes of tigers. Henry, Josh and Harrison have created a perfect Halloween treat by embracing the ghoulish side of Mother Goose, leveling up the beastly fun! Well done!"
— Ron Noble, Emmy Winning animation director of Rugrats, Rocket Power & The Wild Thornberrys
"What a clever concept! Henry Herz and sons have rewritten Mother Goose with a monstrous twist that will trigger giggles from little ghouls and goblins."
— Deb Lund, bestselling author of Monsters on Machines, Dinosauring, and more
"Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes is an elfishly edifying, bewitchingly funny, and just plain zombie-tastic take on well-loved nursery rhymes. It made me realize my inner child is actually an inner ogre."
— Mo O'Hara, author of My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish
"What a romp! Kids who love a bit of fright (but not so much to cause nightmares) will gobble up this delightfully dark offering from the Herzes. Larson's whimsical illustrations are spot on, setting the tone and yet keeping the fun. This is going to be a popular book with young readers."
— Larry Dane Brimner, author of Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor, winner of the Carter G. Woodson Award
"Dark, delightful, and full of twisted good humor. A monstrously good addition to the nursery rhyme canon."
— Bruce Hale, author-illustrator of the Chet Gecko Mysteries, Clark the Shark, and more
"With sly new takes on familiar favorites, the Herz team turns Mother Goose on her head. Both verses and illustrations evoke nursery rhymes of old, adding a deft, edgy touch. A Bestiary gives specifics about each creature, from harpies to ettins. Young readers will 'goblin up' these wickedly humorous re-told favorites."
— Edith Hope Fine, author of Sleepytime Me, and more
"A slightly spooky and dazzlingly delightful look at classic nursery rhymes, re-imagined with mythical creatures and unexpected outcomes. Filled with fascinating rhymes that will captivate an excite readers and transport them into an unearthly land. Herz pairs a whimsical playfulness with a mischievous flair that is sure to enchant young and old alike."
— Peggy Eddleman, author of the Sky Jumpers series
"What if Jack Horner were a troll? Or if Mary had a hippogriff? As a big fan of nursery rhymes, I loved seeing them transformed into monster lore, while keeping the perfect nursery rhyme rhythm and meter."
— Bridget Heos, author of Mustache Baby, Mustache Baby Meets His Match, and more
"A funny and clever reworking of classic nursery rhymes that will give parents a safe and pleasurable way of introducing their children to fantasy, the paranormal, and Dungeons & Dragons, with gorgeous non-scary illustrations."
— Gini Koch, author of The Night Beat and the award-winning Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Katt series
"The charm and wit of the poems in this book is matched only by Abigail's beautiful and timeless illustrations."
— Brian Kesinger, story artist for Walt Disney animation and author of Traveling with Your Octopus
