Diamant-Cohen, B. (2006). Mother goose on the loose: A handbook and CD-ROM kits with scripts, rhymes, songs, flannel-board patterns, and activities for promoting early childhood development. New York: Neal-Schuman.In the award-winning Mother Goose on the Loose (MGOL) library program, inspired by Barbara Cass-Beggss work, Diamant-Cohen uses books, songs, instruments, rhymes, and props to promote early literacy, school-readiness, and other skills in children up to age two. This binder-and-CD kit provides overviews of early development and MGOLs benefits, program instructions and scripts in print and audio formats, evaluation tools, songs, rhymes, tips to share with parents, flannel-board patterns, templates, and promotional resources. Clear instructions for the structured program are given, making this an essential resource for MGOL implementation. The well-produced CD, with clear recitations of rhymes and songs by Diamant-Cohen and musician Rahel, will be particularly appreciated by childrens specialists new to programming for young children, whether they use this model or not. While others looking for content to incorporate into their established lapsits will not find this kit as flexible as Jane Marinos Babies in the Library! (Scarecrow, 2003), or as comprehensive as Linda Ernsts lapsit guides (Neal-Schuman), Diamant-Cohens developmentally appropriate ideas for incorporating musical instruments and music concepts, and promoting social and motor skills, can be useful additions to any program for the preschool-and-under set. -- School Library Journal
