Yolen, Jane. Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. Musical arrangements by Adam Stemple. 2005. This little piggy and other rhymes to sing and play. Cambridge, MS: Candlewick Press.

More than 60 lap rhymes, clapping rhymes, finger and foot rhymes, and songs are included in this oversized compilation by Jane Yolen. Each presentation includes a simple musical arrangement for guitar and piano, explanations and simple instructions so that even inexperienced parents can successfully play with their babies and toddlers. The accompanying CD contains 13 arrangements from the text that will get babies bouncing and toddlers dancing. The collection of familiar and less-well-known selections is paired with Hillebrand’s pastel illustrations portraying piggy families acting out the rhymes. The rhymes are arranged in sections from “Upsie, Downsie” to “Take a Bow” and the inclusion of an index of first lines makes finding and choosing a rhyme easy for readers. From “Catch Him, Crow” to “Down by the Station”, the rhymes and mixed-media images in this anthology will enchant even the youngest readers as they begin their journey to literacy with the help of parents, grandparents and siblings.