Do you know the name of this children's book?

May 9, 2006 10:31 AM

I'm looking for a children's book that was a collection of rhymes, based on the alphabet and kids' names.

Each letter of the alphabet was represented by a short rhyme about a child, and it was the child's name that started with the appropriate letter. I don't remember many of the rhymes, however I do remember a couple.

The letter "J" was "Jeremy Jimpson" - Jeremy Jimpson, alone by the river, singing and humming a well-a-down day...

The letter "X" was for "Xavier" - Xavier is frenchified...that's all I remember.

posted by OhPuhLeez to Grab Bag (7 answers total)

Sounds a little like The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey.
posted by blackkar at 11:13 AM on May 9, 2006

Definitely not the book you're looking for, but Gorey's Gashlycrumb Tinies is in the same vein, in a morbid sort of way.
posted by j-dawg at 11:14 AM on May 9, 2006

A My Name Is Alice, maybe?

These kinds of rhymes are very popular in children's lit, but anyway, the Gashlycrumb Tinies beats all, agreed.
posted by miagaille at 11:48 AM on May 9, 2006

Response by poster: It's not Gashlycrumb Tinies, but I had that poster on my wall when I was growing up, and it RULES! Thank you for reminding me of that :)!
posted by OhPuhLeez at 11:53 AM on May 9, 2006

Maybe this will help: it's a list of children's alphabet books.
posted by miagaille at 11:57 AM on May 9, 2006

Sounds like the book the mother was reading to her daughter in Ursula, Under (which is an awesome novel, btw)..
Do you remember if it starts with, "Annie, Annie, all about." and "Betsy, beneath the bridge"? If so, I can't help further, I'm sorry the author of Ursula Under didn't mention the title of the alphabet book. Email the author?
posted by ruelle at 3:44 PM on May 9, 2006

Response by poster: Great find! I found her listed in the phone book and am sending her a letter.
posted by OhPuhLeez at 4:38 PM on May 9, 2006