There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

January 15, 2016
A mostly new take on a very old rhyme. Cabrera makes many updates to the traditional Mother Goose rhyme about the "old woman who lived in a shoe." It's immediately apparent that this "old woman," while perhaps reinforcing some expectations with her appearance as a white woman with her gray hair in a bun, is apple-cheeked and kindly--she's definitely not one who would whip soundly the "so many children" in her care. Instead, the repeated refrain that she "kissed them all lovingly" punctuates moments in which innovation and love support her tender care of the diverse group of 10 children and five animals that live with her in a shoe-shaped house. They also have a car shaped like a shoe, and when it breaks down, or when the children break some furniture or need their clothes mended, the old woman is neither exasperated nor angry. She is resourceful, and a pocketful of tools in her dress helps her to "make do." Soft colors and the rounded forms of the characters against bright washes of background add to the gentle spirit of the text. The penultimate spread sets them against white space, which emphasizes the chaos of this scene, and all is resolved with a loving "cuddle" at book's end. Welcome to a new Old Woman and her little ones, too. (Picture book. 2-5)

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February 1, 2016

PreS-K-As she did in Baa, Baa Black Sheep (2015), Row, Row, Row Your Boat (2014), and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (2012, all Holiday House), Cabrera continues to adapt classic nursery rhymes and children's songs into engaging picture books. Here she reimagines the Old Woman as a warm, resourceful, and loving mother, doting on her brood of rambunctious, adorable children and animals. Over the course of the story, the Old Woman uses her problem-solving skills to help her family out of several quandaries, from hitching a ride with a gnu when the family's car breaks down to gluing and hammering furniture back together after it falls apart, while always maintaining an upbeat, positive attitude. The result is a sweet story that showcases a mother who loves and works hard for her family. Cabrera uses acrylic paint on paper with a little collage to create her familiar charming, colorful, and bright illustrations, which help to further portray the affection the Old Woman and her family have for one another. The rhyming text is bouncy and lively, making it suitable for sharing aloud with a group. This is a charming reimagining of an originally more cynical nursery rhyme. VERDICT A warm-and-fuzzy addition to any picture book collection.-Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
This upbeat, feel-good rhyming riff on an iconic nursery rhyme debuts a kinder, gentler old woman. Ten diversely cast children and five pets make for a chaotic household, but this gray-haired granny handles every crisis with resourcefulness--all the while meting out kisses and cuddles. The colorful palette of the acrylic and collage art adds energy and appeal.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)