A Delightful & Heartwarming Take on Classic Rhymes - "Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times" by Pam Gittleman
- Kim Bartosch
- Mar 5
- 4 min read
Nursery rhymes have been a staple of childhood for generations, but what if they were reimagined to promote kindness, empathy, and gratitude? That’s exactly what Pam Gittleman has done in Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times®, Vol. 2, a delightful follow-up to her award-winning first volume. Published by Mascot Kids, an imprint of Amplify Publishing Group, this 46-page picture book is a heartwarming collection of nine updated rhymes designed for children aged 3 to 7.
Winner of a Mom’s Choice Gold Award, this book takes traditional rhymes—like Rock-a-Bye Baby and Old Mother Hubbard—and gives them a fresh, feel-good twist. Instead of endings that leave children wondering, these stories focus on positive messages that encourage young readers to be kind and thoughtful.
Also, Pam Gittleman provided why she wrote "Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times" in a guest post below. Be sure to read this inspirational story and my full review. There is also a giveaway!
iRead Book Tours is sponsoring this book tour.
GUEST POST: NURSERY RHYMES FOR KINDER TIMES
by Pam Gittleman
As a preschool music teacher for the last 20 years, I was surprised by the fact that students were increasingly unfamiliar with many nursery rhymes/songs. After all, nursery rhymes have always played such an important and whimsical role in supporting language development and musicality, not to mention stimulating imagination and fun. Well, it didn’t take long to realize that millennial parents, teachers, and caregivers were avoiding those stories because so many of them are “dark” and outdated:
Three Blind Mice get their tails cut off by a carving knife! Ouch!
Humpty Dumpty falls off the wall and can’t be put back together again. Bummer!
Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater keeps his wife locked up in a pumpkin shell! Seriously?
The cradle in Rock a Bye Baby falls out of the tree with the baby in it? Yikes!
I realized that as a genre that benefits the development of language, literacy, musicality and imagination, nursery rhymes could be modified to have positive messaging and a strong impact. That’s why I decided to leverage the inherent appeal of traditional rhymes in a way that would be more socially responsible and compelling to everyone and created Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times®, Volume 1, with eight updated rhymes that nurture kindness, empathy and gratitude.
I really wanted to strike the right balance between a fun book to read and a book that stimulated young children and their grown-ups to engage in conversations about situational and emotional awareness as well as about compassion and caring. I wanted the situations and characters to model what children can aspire to, not lecture about what not to do. And, I wanted to make it easy for parents, teachers, and caregivers to build strong, positive relationships that are so critical to their children’s growth and development by having rhymes they could read together, talk about, and recall when the children found themselves in similar situations to the characters.
I was always very musical. From the time I was quite young, I had good rhythm and an ear for music that allowed me to participate in choruses, bands, and other musical ensembles, playing flute, piano and guitar. That joy for music led me to leave the corporate world and become a preschool music teacher. Creating updated nursery rhymes allowed me to combine my love for music, rhythm and rhyming with my passion for having joyful experiences with the population of learners that I knew and loved best: preschoolers!
Thank you Pam for sharing this lovely story about how "Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times" came to light! Be sure to scroll down to read my review and enter the giveaway!
My Review of "Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times" by Pam Gittleman
Have you ever wondered what happens after the baby falls from the treetop in Rock-a-Bye Baby? Or if Old Mother Hubbard’s dog ever finds something to eat? Gittleman has taken these age-old rhymes and rewritten them to have happier, more meaningful conclusions. With charming storytelling, these retellings help kids understand the power of kindness, sharing, and looking out for others.
Some of the featured rhymes in this volume include:
📖 This Little Piggy – A fun take on cooperation and working together.
📖 Peter Peter Pickle Eater – A clever twist on a classic tongue twister.
📖 Rub a Dub Dub – A sweet surprise about who’s really in the tub!
Each rhyme is not only entertaining but also comes with discussion questions and emojis to help little ones engage with the stories and build social-emotional intelligence.
Vibrant Illustrations Bring the Rhymes to Life
One of the standout features of Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times®, Vol. 2 is its adorable and colorful illustrations. Every page is filled with lively, expressive characters that capture the heart of the rhymes. The bright colors and fun details make this a book that kids will love to flip through again and again.
Why Kids (and Parents!) Will Love This Book
✅ Perfect for Bedtime or Storytime – Short, rhythmic rhymes make it an engaging read-aloud book.
✅ Encourages Positive Values – Each story promotes empathy, kindness, and gratitude.
✅ Great for Early Learning – Helps develop language skills and social-emotional learning in preschoolers.
✅ Interactive Elements – Discussion questions and emojis add an extra layer of fun and engagement.
As a parent or teacher, this book is a fantastic tool to spark conversations about kindness and helping others—all while having fun with familiar, well-loved rhymes.
Final Thoughts: A Must-Have for Every Bookshelf
Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times®, Vol. 2 is a charming and thoughtful collection that breathes new life into classic nursery rhymes. With its blend of sweet storytelling, engaging illustrations, and positive messaging, it’s a perfect addition to any young child’s bookshelf. Whether you're reading it at bedtime or using it as a classroom resource, this book will leave little readers with smiles on their faces—and big lessons in their hearts.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
📚 Helping to Raise Kind Kids, One Rhyme at a Time! 💕
This looks like a fun read. Thanks for sharing.
Great post!
Happy IWSG Day, Kim! I enjoyed your post and the piece by Pam. I was a second and third grade teacher and I would have enjoyed having this book in my classroom library. Happy creating in March!