Rimes de la Mère Oie is a striking bilingual collection that presents classic English nursery rhymes in lively French translation. Editor Ormonde de Kay Jr. renders sixty well-known verses into French, including beloved favorites such as “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,” “Old King Cole,” “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater,” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” . The book presents each rhyme in both languages, allowing readers to compare the original English with the French adaptations.
What makes this volume truly distinctive is its visual presentation. The illustrations were created by three legendary designers from the renowned Push Pin Studios: Seymour Chwast, Milton Glaser, and Barry Zaid. Their collective artwork fills the pages with bold, imaginative designs that reflect the distinctive Push Pin aesthetic—vibrant colors, playful typography, and graphic inventiveness that was groundbreaking for its time.
The book measures an oversized 36 centimeters, providing ample space for the elaborate illustrations to unfold across its 89 pages . Some illustrations appear in full color while others are rendered in black and white, creating visual variety throughout the collection.
This unique volume serves multiple purposes: it introduces English-speaking children to the French language through familiar rhymes, offers French speakers access to classic English nursery traditions, and showcases the work of three influential illustrators at the height of their creative powers. The result is a visually stunning bilingual treasure that bridges languages and cultures while celebrating the universal appeal of nursery rhymes.
