Mary Had a Little Jam

Title: Mary Had a Little Jam And Other Silly Rhymes

Author: Bruce Lansky

Illustrator: Stephen Carpenter

Genre: Poetry

Awards: iParenting Media Back to School Award

Age Group: Pre-K–2nd

This book is a fun compilation of traditional nursery rhymes gone awry. Mother Goose now rides the cow that jumps over the moon, while Jack turns out not to be as nimble as he thought (cue his scorched pants...). Humpty Dumpty mourns the fact that super glue does not exist yet, and Old King Cole's pants take an unfortunate turn for the worse. Yankee Doodle can be seen riding fashionably on a booster upon a rooster. Luckily, the baby in the tree top sleeps peacefully and seems to avoid all disaster!

I would use this book in the classroom as a fun read aloud! It is very quick to read. I would probably read the traditional nursery rhymes before reading this version, because it could be a bit confusing if the students don't know the original stories. 

I would say that this book is especially great for Pre-K through 2nd grade! 1st and 2nd graders may say that this book is too babyish at first glance, but I can see them enjoying the silly rhymes. 

This book has SO many activities, crafts, and lessons that can be incorporated! Here are a few ideas...

1. Handprint Cow Jumping Over the Moon: paint hands with white paint and place (fingers pointing down) on black construction paper. Add googly eyes, ears, a mouth, and spots. Don't forget the moon!
2. Hickory Dickory Clock: the clock in this version may be sick, but ours don't have to be! This is the perfect nursery rhyme to accompany a lesson on telling time. Students can create their own clock using paper plates, brads, and arrows. Write or glue on the times around the face of the clock. Then each student can practice showing different times!
3. Humpty Dumpty Crime Scene: I saw this idea and thought it looked so fun! Other nursery rhyme characters are suspects in this crime scene. Who pushed Humpty Dumpty off the wall? Was it Little Miss Muffet? Or what about Jack or Jill? Or maybe Little Bo Peep? Students must gather clues and act as the detectives in this investigation!