Top 10 Nursery Rhyme Collections Every Family Should Own
I’ve been on the hunt for a great nursery rhymes collection. I’ve wanted something with charming illustrations and a solid collection of rhymes. So, I turned to the library and checked out 29 different versions! Here are 10 of my favorite nursery rhyme collections:
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My Very First Mother Goose*
Edited by Iona Opie and Illustrated by Rosemary Wells (beloved illustrator of Bunny Cakes and other classics)
The illustrations in this book are playful and clever. Here’s an example from Humpty Dumpty that had me smiling.
The Complete Collection of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes*
Illustrated by: Gina Baek
Oh goodness, this one is beautiful! Doesn’t just looking at the cover make you feel like Mother Goose is going to take care of you and your kids? I’ve never liked the traditional version of “The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe,” where she whips her kids before bed. In this version, the line has been sweetly changed to: “She kissed them all sweetly and put them to bed.” So much better!
Read to Your Baby Every Day*
Edited by Rachel Williams and illustrated (embroidered!) by Chloe Giordano
This would make a lovely baby shower gift and a great add to your nursery rhyme collections. It includes 30 classic rhymes, each paired with delicate, hand-embroidered illustrations. It’s truly a work of art.
The Jackie Morris Book of Classic Nursery Rhymes*
The illustrations here are highly detailed and imaginative. It has so many interesting way of illustrating different rhymes and it was fun to see how Jackie Morris was going to interpret each rhyme.
The Book of Nursery Rhymes: 50 Classic Poems for Children*
This one by Debi Gliori really stood out! It not only includes the rhymes but also shares fascinating historical tidbits. For example, next to Mary Had a Little Lamb, it explains how in the 1800s, families often hand-raised lambs as pets.
365 Stories and Rhymes: Tales of Magic and Wonder
My girls (ages 5 and 3) really enjoy this one. It includes both rhymes and short classic stories (like Goldilocks and the Three Bears), each just 2 – 4 pages long. It’s been a bedtime favorite in our house.
Michael Hague’s Mother Goose*
There’s something nostalgic about this version. It reminds me of my own childhood and was fun to see the different illustrations.
Mother Goose’s Storytime Nursery Rhymes*
Illustrated by: Axel Scheffler
(Originally published in 2006; reprinted in 2020 as Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes)
A keeper! Axel Scheffler (illustrator of Room on the Broom, The Gruffalo, and more) brings his signature whimsical style to this delightful collection. The rhymes are also nicely grouped and flow well from one to the next.
Mother Goose and Friends* by Ruth Sanderson
This one feels like a classic the moment you see the cover. The illustrations are beautiful, detailed, and full of imagination.
Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose*
The illustrations! Oh my goodness! So beautiful and rich! Each page is a detailed painting. Scott Gustafson did an absolutely lovely job capturing these rhymes.
If I were to recommend which ones to add to your nursery rhyme collections, I would buy:
- Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose: Illustrated by: Scott Gustafson.
- Mother Goose and Friends By: Ruth Sanderson
- Mother Goose’s Storytime Nursery Rhymes Illustrated by: Axel Scheffler
x.o. Grace
Check out more of our favorite children’s books here and here!
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