1. Who was
the real Mother Goose?
~ Many, many unknown writers--both
male and female--make up the persona who has been dubbed Mother Goose.
The fact is, there is no single author of the rhymes, despite various rumors
that persist.
~ For a fuller explanation,
see
Who Was Mother Goose.
2. Where can one find
a Mother Goose costume?
~ This is a creative make-it-yourself
project.
~ For ideas (as well as ideas
for Girl Character and Boy Character Costumes) see Mother
Goose Costume.
3. What is the value
of old Mother Goose books?
~ Talk to a Used-Book dealer.
So much depends on rarity, age of book, condition of book, reputation of
illustrator, etc. Sometimes a particular publication has mainly sentimental
value--which is a good enough reason to treasure it.
~ You can also check online
book-sellers, like E-Bay, Half-Bay, AbeBooks, aLibris, etc. to see if someone
has the book listed and what they re asking for it.
4. How can
one find a particular old edition one remembers only vaguely from childhood?
~ Used-Book stores, of course.
~ But also check E-Bay, Half-Bay,
AbeBooks, aLibris, etc. Frequently these online book-sellers show a photo
of the cover, which may help you to identify the edition for which you're
looking.
5. What is the
value of old Mother Goose dolls, puppets, stuffed geese, toys, story tapes,
quilts, wall hangings, dishes, cookie jars, etc.?
~ A
lot depends on the age, condtion, rarity, and demand for such items.
~ Your best choice here is
to see what is being asked for them on E-Bay or Half-Bay. Items change
frequently, so check back from time to time. It's also the place to find
such wares.
~ Sometimes an antique store
will have something of interest.
6. Where can one
get the words to (fill in the blank)?
~ The basic source of reference
is a good library--it's fun to get in there and dig for the information
one wants--librarians are trained reseachers and knowledgeable in pointing
you in the right direction to find the information you are looking for.
Don't overlook the Children's Section of the library for books of the rhymes;
they vary in how many rhymes they offer and whether or not they include
all the verses to the rhymes or only the best-known, but you may well find
what you are looking for.
~ There are also online resources
that specialize in creating anthologies of certain works. See Related
Links.
~ Two
possible source-books:
The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes by Iona & P:eter Opie
Mother Goose: From Nursery to Literature by Gloria T. Delamar
~ There are a good many Mother
Goose rhymes on this Web Site, but this is not intended to be an anthology
of all Mother Goose rhymes. What you'll find here is an assortment of applications
that go somewhat beyond simply giving the words to the rhymes.
7. What is the Mother Goose
rhyme about Loki?
~ Despite the frequent assumption
that there is a Mother Goose rhyme about Loki, there doesn't seem to be
one. ~ Loki was a god in Norse
and German mythology. Briefly, he is considered a problematical figure,
father of the cosmic serpent, of the wolf Fenrir, and of the goddess Hel
of the underworld. His deliberate acts of mischief or malice seem to menace
the security and self-satisfaction of the gods. His one irreparable act
was to cause the death of Baldr (Balder), whom all things had promised
to spare, save only the mistletoe. Hel offered to surrender Baldr if all
creatures would weep for him , but Loki, in disguise, refused. As a punishment,
he was chained in torment by the gods (his anguished writhing was said
to be the cause of earthquakes until he broke loose of them). Though some
say Loki's evil character has roots in Christian conceptions of the Devil,
the complexity of his satirical and disastrous nature must already have
been well-developed in heathen times. (Source: condensed
from Encycopledia Brittannica)
~ There is one possible connection
to a nursery rhyme--in relation to the Baldr myth--see Who
Killed Cock Robin?
8. Can anyone try
to sell or buy Mother Goose items via the Mother Goose Society Web Site?
~ No. Sorry, but we're not
set up to act as a go-between for sellers and/or buyers.
~ Try placing a free classified
in your local "green pages" or whatever the freebie is in your area.
~ Try E-Bay or other such
online resources.
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