Genre 2 Traditional Literature: A Book Written by Alvin Schwartz

And the Green Grass Grew All Around: Folk Poetry From Everyone

1. BIBLOGRAPHY
Schwartz, Alvin. And the Green Grass Grew All Around Folk Poetry From Everyone. Ill. by Susan Truesdell. HarperCollins Publishers, 1992. ISBN 0-06-022757-5.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This book is a collection of over 250 folk poems from everyday life. It is Schwartz's personal record of folk poetry. This book focuses on fifteen different topics. It is in this book where Schwartz highlights the language of ordinary people.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Sassy, funny, scary and slightly naughty are just a few words to describe And the Green Grass Grew All Around. From rhymes and parodies to riddles and poems, this heartwarming book offers the entire family an opportunity to chant, sing and share their favorite folk poetry. Truesdell offers dramatic, energetic drawings with a sense of humor. Although the drawings may be in black and white it does not lack in humor. The characters tumble and guffaw across the pages. The watercolor illustrations will make you fall out of your seat with laughter. And the Green Grass Grew All Around sheds a funny spotlight on even one of the least talked about topics, an ant. "The ants go marching one by one..and the last one stops to have some fun" is just one example of the amazing humor that is found in this book. Schwartz celebrates the vitality and humor of everyday language. This wonderful book should be read by children of all ages. As soon as I read this book I couldn't help but think of my childhood. Also, if you are looking for just the right poem to write to the one you love I highly recommend this one, "Roses red, violets blue, Sugar is sweet but not like you. The violets fade, the roses fall, But you get sweeter all in all." (pg 53) You and the one you love will surely fall in "laughter".

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

"Not since Carl Wither's "A Rocket in My Pocket" (1948) has there been such a grand compilation... "

Kirkus Reviews

"This is a funny book, lets read more."

James Harry, 6 Years Old, My son

5. CONNECTIONS

Other Books by Alvin Schwartz: Chin Music:Tall Talk and Other Talk, Cross Your Finger, Spit in Your Hat: Superstitions and Other Beliefs, Flapdoodle: Pure Nonsense from American Folklore, Witcracks:Jokes and Jests from American Folklore.