Traditional Literature: AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND

Bibliography





Schwartz, Alvin. 1992. And the Green Grass Grew All Around. Ill. by Susan G. Truesdell. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-022757-5





Plot Summary

And the Green Grass Grew All Around is a collection of folk poems containing everything from jump rope rhymes and riddles to traditional sayings and parodies. Schwartz provides the tunes to many of the verses, as well as explanatory notes. He has organized his anthology by topic (food, school) and type (teases, games). An informative notes section follows the main body of the work explaining the development, purpose, and brief history of each category. This book also contains an extensive bibliography.

Critical Analysis

And the Green Grass Grew All Around reveals to both children and adults the cultural importance of children's oral poetry, which is perhaps overlooked and undervalued. The author points out that the everyday language and purpose, to be recited aloud, differs from formal poetry. Both differences enhance the appeal to children. The pace of the poems varies refreshingly from one as short as "No way, José" to the three page poem that comprises section seven. The author has organized his selections in a clear and manageable fashion. Students will relish the school section in which other students have expressed their frustration with teachers, principals, and homework.

Sue Truesdell rough black and white sketches ideally suite the informal and child oriented text. They are playful in subject and humorous in execution. Her images convey a sense of action and energy that enhance the lively poetry.

I enjoyed reading the differences between poems I grew up with and the author's recorded version. It highlights the dynamic nature of the oral tradition. The "Fun and Games" section which contains "ready or not" and "you're it" rhymes particularly interested me. Schwartz offered many that I had never heard.



Review Excerpt

School Library Journal: "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. . . . It's hard to imagine illustrations better suited to the book's silly, energized tone than Truesdell's big-eyed, animated, and humorous characters. . . . Read this outrageous volume before it is shelved; once the kids discover it, it will always be checked out."


Connections



Children could collect examples of folk poetry from their families and communities to create a class anthology.


Children, working in groups, could create their own parodies of familiar verses, such as "Roses are red,", the jingles of poplar products, or familiar nursery rhymes.

Children can learn the jump rope, marching, and dancing poems from the "Fun and Games" section and go outside to "perform" them.