Books with title Mother Goose in Prose: Classics

Mother Goose in Prose is a collection of twenty-two children's stories based on Mother Goose nursery rhymes. It was the first children's book written by L. Frank Baum, and the first book illustrated by Maxfield Parrish. Lyman Frank Baum was an American author chiefly famous for his children's books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its sequels. He wrote 14 novels in the Oz series, plus 41 other novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts.

Lyman Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) is one of America’s most read authors, and he is widely considered one of the premier authors of children’s books. Baum wrote dozens of novels and short stories, as well as hundreds of poems, and he even foresaw technological innovations such as computers, televisions and mobile phones, all of which made their way into his writing. Baum, however, is still best known and best regarded for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and several other titles that took place in the fantasy world of Oz. Every American is familiar with Dorothy and Toto, and Oz has been adapted for movies, screenplays, and more ever since. Baum once humorously protested in one of the books that he hoped children would let him tell the other fantasy tales he knew, a clever comment about how popular the Oz books were with children. But one of the other tales he did publish was Mother Goose in Prose, Baum's take on some of the famous fairy tales like Little Miss Muffet and Little Bo-Peep.

Gilligren was an orphan, and lived with an uncle and aunt who were very unkind to him. They cuffed him and scolded him upon the slightest provocation, and made his life very miserable indeed. Gilligren never rebelled against this treatment, but bore their cruelty silently and with patience, although often he longed to leave them and seek a home amongst kinder people.

None of us, whether children or adults, needs an introduction to „Mother Goose”. Those things which are earliest impressed upon our minds cling to them most tenaciously. Published three years before L. Frank Baum achieved fame with „The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, this engaging volume added an exciting new dimension to old, much-loved verses. The book contains 22 prose fables based on famous nursery rhymes: „Old King Cole”, „Little Miss Muffet”, „The Cat and the Fiddle” and many others. Baum gives the stories English settings and ambience, with mentions of London, the Sussex downs, and the River Dee. His tactic in the book is to take the often-nonsensical nursery rhymes and weave coherent, or at least self-consistent, stories from them. This wonderful collection of short stories is another delightful addition to anyone who is a fan of Baum’s work. Based on famous „Mother Goose” rhymes, all stories are fascinating background tales of the various characters involved

Published three years before the author achieved fame as the creator of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, this engaging volume, inspired by well-known nursery rhymes, added an exciting new dimension to old, much-loved verses. In 22 captivating fantasies, Baum tells about Old King Cole; The Man in the Moon; The Jolly Miller; Little Bo-Peep; Tom, the Piper’s Son; The Woman Who Lived in a Shoe; Little Miss Muffet; The Cat and the Fiddle, and others. Twelve charming drawings by famed illustrator Maxfield Parrish enhance a unique collection that will delight Baum admirers, youngsters, and the young at heart.