And The Green Grass Grew All Around

Schwartz, Alvin. And the Green Grass Grew All Around. New York: Harper Collins, 1992.
ISBN 0-06-022757-5

Summary:
This collection of folk poetry contains a variety of types of poems. Some are songs with music written in, some are teasing, some are warnings, as well as riddles, stories, and good old tall tales. These are American poems and songs – some familiar, and some new to me. The stories are humorous, and entertaining with pictures that complement the lyrics and lines. Some of the rhymes are clearly meant to tease, and even leave blanks for you to insert the name of the person you intend to tease.

Reviews
Full of vigorous, swinging rhythms and funny, often nasty, sentiments, the pages are filled with well-known rhymes as well as new discoveries.
Horn Book starred (September, 1992)
There are also the universal rhymes that kids all over the world seem to learn from each other. As always, Schwartz's scholarship is unobtrusive and stimulating, with detailed notes at the back about sources and variants for any child or adult who's curious to find out more.
Booklist starred (Vol. 88, No. 17 (May 1, 1992))
Enrichment Activity
Recite some of the more commonly known verses of a poem, and then explore the other line. Children would enjoy memorizing these silly poems and songs, and perhaps some of the less than nice rhymes could be used for children to make nicer versions- turning some of the teases and taunts into rhymes that help them remember simple math equations or history facts.