Iona Opie Livres

A magnificent survey of over 40 games played by children, largely out of sight of adults, in the 1960s, in the street, playground and wasteland.

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".

A collection of more than sixty nursery rhymes including "Hey Diddle, Diddle," "Pat-a-Cake," "Little Jack Horner," and "Pussycat, Pussycat."

First published in 1959, Iona and Peter Opie's The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren is a pathbreaking work of scholarship that is also a splendid and enduring work of literature. Going outside the nursery, with its assortment of parent-approved entertainments, to observe and investigate the day-to-day creative intelligence and activities of children, the Opies bring to life the rites and rhymes, jokes and jeers, laws, games, and secret spells of what has been called "the greatest of savage tribes, and the only one which shows no signs of dying out."

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.

Is it good or bad luck to mention a pig to a fisherman? What does it portend when you break a double-yolked egg? How many frogs do you need to cure whooping cough? Ranging from the familiar to the bizarre, and including everything from spells and omens to rituals and taboos, this delightfully informative dictionary covers a wide array of popular superstitions, touching on virtually every aspect of human culture. They embrace family life and the lore of farmers, sailors, miners, and actors; offer advice on the signs to observe when contemplating a journey or a marriage; reveal the significance of animals, plants, stones, colors, food and drink, the elements, and heavenly bodies; and outline the precautions to be taken after a death in the house or during a thunderstorm. Each entry is arranged alphabetically according to its central idea or object, and illustrated with a selection of chronologically ordered quotations that indicate the history and development of each belief. Superstitions have never before been treated in such depth or on such a scale. An entertaining volume for anyone curious about the beliefs of the past, A Dictionary of Superstitions also makes a valuable contribution to the study of folklore, providing the first systematic account of beliefs that form an integral part of our social life

Classic nursery rhymes come to life in this engaging board book, designed to introduce young children to the enchanting world of Mother Goose. With vibrant illustrations and simple verses, it fosters early literacy and a love for storytelling, making it a delightful addition to any child's bookshelf.