Doug Hansen

The illustrations are amazing - imaginative and very detailed. The visual depiction of California is brilliant although the adapted prose is a little simple - fine for ages 4-8 but a bit disappointing perhaps for older readers. Some of the stories were a little abrupt (Elephant Seal and Kelp Fly) but overall the fables are well represented and the use of California landmarks, habitats and wildlife make it a great fit for any reader and a perfect candidate for the spot of "favorite bedtime story book" in any house. The "Fabulous Facts" section at the end of the book provides details on the animal characters and locations of each fable, offering readers a deeper understanding of each. A truly scrumptious book, cover to cover.… (más)

Doug Hansen’s Mother Goose in California and Nina Crews’ The Neighborhood Mother Goose change the traditional setting of the classic collection of children’s rhymes to correspond (potentially) with a locale familiar to readers. Each book accomplishes this in a very different manner. Crews is known for her effective use of photography to illustrate children’s books. Neighborhood Mother Goose is likewise illustrated with photographs—showing ethnically diverse children re-enacting the rhymes in urban settings—sometimes through natural play and sometimes through dress-up. Inspired by her Brooklyn neighborhood, Crews gives children from different ethnic groups a Mother Goose book to which they might more easily relate. The photographs appear dated and the quality is below 21st century high resolution standards. There is a handy table of contents and the author addresses which version of Mother Goose rhymes she has used on the verso page. An ALA Notable Children’s Book of 2005. Ages Preschool-7.

Hansen has illustrated his book with iconography of California. In his introduction, he describes his native state as having rich geographic diversity and “drama” rich enough to give his Mother Goose a unique, western flair. The drawings are rendered in a traditional style, yet depict some unmistakable California sites (the Golden Gate Bridge, craftsman bungalows, Hearst Castle). Horn Book reviewed the book as being best suited for tourist shops, but I think fourth grade students would enjoy finding the California features while revisiting some rhymes. There is a wonderful key at the back of the book detailing the California components on each page—native plants, wildlife, regions, buildings, etc. Hansen’s book is also an alphabet book. Each rhyme has a random word in boldface type, which corresponds to a letter of the alphabet. To represent the letter “G”, for example, “garden” in Mary, Mary quite contrary, How does your garden grow is printed in boldface. This layer gives the book “too much to do”, and distracts from its charming California theme compared to the simpler The Neighborhood Mother Goose. However, it works on several levels, whereas Crews' book is suited for a narrower age span. No awards could be found. Ages Preschool-9.

Hansen, D. (2009). Mother Goose in California. Berkeley, Calif: Heyday Books.

Crews, N. (2004). The neighborhood Mother Goose. New York: Greenwillow Books.… (más)