Murray, Stephen. Mother Goose, Inc. Eldridge Publishing Co. 1996. 41 pp. A K-6 Reviewed by Kathy Bruderer. The Brothers Grimm and Mother Goose Inc. have been fairy tale business rivals for over two hundred years. The Brothers Grimm always use twisted tactics to gain an edge in the fairy tale industry, and a perfect opportunity appears when Mother Goose leaves her responsibilities to Simple Simon so she can go on her long-awaited vacation. Simple Simon makes poor financial decisions that cost the company money and attempts to compensate by agreeing to broadcast a live television special with the Brothers Grimm. At the broadcast, they successfully mix up several fairy tales until Mother Goose arrives and saves the day. In order to encourage children to use their imaginations, Mother Goose and the Brothers Grimm agree to combine to form the ultimate fairy tale company-Goose and Grimm Inc. Familiar fairy tale characters are given new dimensions and comic twists in this entertaining musical. Only minimal props and a simple set are needed. A relatively simple piano score accompanies the script; many of the catchy songs provide solo opportunities for a handful of characters. The script calls for six male, nine female, and twelve other actors who can be either male or female. Overall, this musical provides a fun way to encourage kids to read books instead of watching T.V. From: Ellis, Roger, ed. International Plays for Young Audiences: Contemporary Works from Leading Playwrights. Meriwether Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1566080657. $16.95. 424 pp. K-12 Reviewed by Lindsay Adamson
