Looks at the superstitions, practices and beliefs, rhymes and chants, jokes, nicknames and juvenile slang that continue to flourish among children in England, Scotland and Wales. Iona and Peter Opie also wrote "The Singing Game", "A Nursery Companion" and "The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book".
In this book, 24 well-known fairy tales are given in their original form, either as they were first printed in English, or in their earliest surviving text. Each tale has a historical introduction, showing the development of the story and noting particular points of interest.
A collection of rhymes that have been chanted by children for generations including rhymes of insult and retaliation, of teasing and repartee, rhymes for skipping and for counting out, riddles, tongue-twisters, narratives and nonsense.
The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book contains 800 nursery rhymes and ditties which are the heritage of our oral tradition. All the well-known rhymes are included as well as many rare ones. Special sections are devoted to lullabies and dandling rhymes, toe rhymes, catches, charms, traditional street cries, riddle verses, nursery maxims, and humorous ballads.