Mother Goose for Grown Folks

"Mother Goose for Grown Folks" by A. D. T. Whitney is a collection of poems that rethink classic nursery rhymes for adults, crafted in the late 1800s. The author revisits well-known childhood verses, adding thoughtful ideas and moral lessons meant for grown-ups, inviting readers to see wisdom, foolishness, and life's struggles through the lens of familiar characters and fun scenarios. The book starts by introducing Mother Goose as a smart character, using different literary references to explain how she teaches lessons through simple rhymes. Early poems mix humor and deeper meaning while looking at the truths hidden in childhood rhymes. With playful retellings, like those of Little Boy Blue and Humpty Dumpty, the beginning sets the stage for looking at adult challenges using the wisdom learned as children.