Hector Protector and As I Went Over the Water

This book joins together two old nursery rhymes, illustrated and expanded by Maurice Sendak. In both, ordinary verses turn into strange little adventures: Hector Protector, who is “dressed all in green,” and the traveler who “went over the water,” each stumble into odd and sometimes unsettling situations.

Sendak’s pictures make the familiar rhymes feel fresh and full of mystery, mixing humor with a slightly darker edge. It’s a short, curious book that shows how traditional rhymes can take on new life through illustration.