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Down by the River: Afro-Caribbean Rhymes, Games, and Songs for Children
Down by the River Afro-Caribbean Rhymes Games and Songs for Children Author:Grace Hallworth, Caroline Binch With exuberant watercolor pictures of smiling girls and boys at play--singing, clapping, shouting, jumping rope, laughing out loud, dressing up--this large-size anthology celebrates more than 20 playground folk rhymes from the Caribbean. Hallworth says in her autobiographical note that she remembers most of these songs and games from her childho... more »od in Trinidad; only as an adult did she discover that many have African, European, and American roots. Some are familiar ("Rain, rain, go away" and "One potato" ); some will be new to most U.S. families; and Hallworth provides brief notes to local references and directions for playing the circle games. The rhymes are grouped on double-page spreads, including "Wake-up Time," "In the Playground," "Taunts and Teases," "Friendship," and "Time for Bed." Binch's paintings move from the more individualized focus of Amazing Grace (1991) and Hue Boy (1993) to a big cast of joyful children having fun together in a sunlit Caribbean paradise. Her pictures capture the rhythm and movement of the old loved rhymes that will be around for a long time. Of course, Caribbean American families will be thrilled with this collection, and so will all kids who love singing games and nonsense rhymes.« less