This book belongs on every shelf, possibly next to The Little Prince or Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. This beautifully illustrated fable (Sendak wrote to deal with the death of his beloved Sealyham Terrier, Jennie) stars the always hungry, always selfish and always charming little dog Jennie. Though Jennie has everything, she decides there must be more to life and sets off to find it.
Along the way, there are feline milkmen, job applications to theatre companies, babies who won't eat, lions and the bit of Mother Goose rhyme from which the book takes its title. Somehow, the ending manages to be both uplifting and very sad at the same time, and when you're done, the little voice in your head will plead "read it again!".
Sendak's art is brilliant, carefully rendered black and white illustrations with charming characters and whimsical details that add to the text of the story. Sendak's storytelling as at it's peak here as well. It's much wordier than Wild Things, and also aimed at an older audience. If your kids are too young for this, buy it anyway. That way, it's there when they're ready.